Do you suspect you have asbestos under your roof or in your roof cement? Residents of NSW can refer to the Asbestos Checker, provided for the government, to identify the presence of asbestos. The checker provides a handy guide using both the appearance of the material and its location to determine whether it is asbestos or not. As a rule of thumb, if your home was built before 1990, it could contain asbestos. Houses built after 1990 are asbestos-safe.

Currently, around one-third of Australian houses contain some amount of asbestos in their structure. Typically, if you have asbestos in the roofing area, it can be either in the insulation or mixed in the cement.

Is DIY asbestos removal safe?

The simple answer is: no. Asbestos is a highly dangerous material that can lead to serious health complications. Therefore, the Australian government strictly prohibits the use, manufacturing, and purchase/selling of asbestos in the country. Unfortunately, there is still a lot remaining in situ in buildings.

In many cases, it is safer to leave asbestos undisturbed inside your home than to remove them yourself. Indeed, asbestos fibres are dangerous. Inhaling fibres could cause scarring and inflammation inside the lungs. In the long term, it could also develop into lung cancer and mesothelioma. If the removal disturbed the fibres, such as by breaking them, the process could have severe health consequences.

In which states is it legal to remove asbestos myself?

While the Australian government does not recommend self-removal, they do not prohibit it. However, each state has its own asbestos removal regulations. As a general rule of thumb, homeowners can legally proceed with DIY asbestos roofing removal (and other areas) inside their own homes except in the ACT. Residents of ACT must reach out to a licensed technician for the removal of any amount of asbestos.

In NSW, homeowners can remove any amount of asbestos themselves. However, if they choose to reach out to a non-licensed contractor, they can only remove 10m2 of non-friable asbestos. Please refer to the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for all precaution measures.

Non-friable materials are sealed and fully undisturbed and undamaged. The asbestos fibres can't escape as long as the seal doesn't break. Unfortunately, asbestos is brittle, which means that even non-friable materials are at risk of breaking during removal.

Why you should entrust asbestos removal to a specialist

While DIY asbestos is legal in NSW, it doesn't make it safe. If you confirm the presence of asbestos in your home, the safest approach is to call a professional. A qualified asbestos roofing remover has the licence and legal authorisation to remove any amount of friable and non-friable asbestos inside your roof.

Expert removers understand the safety precautions to avoid risks to their workers and your family. They also know how to decontaminate the area and dispose of asbestos safely.

In conclusion, if you suspect your roofing has asbestos, we strongly recommend planning the removal according to the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, including PPE and tools. To keep health risks to a minimum, residents of all states except the ACT can legally remove non-friable asbestos. Yet, for any amount and type of asbestos, working with professionals trained and equipped for safe removals will help protect your family and property.