Recently we worked on a site where we were replacing a Klip Loc roof. The underside of the roof (a garage) was lined with what appeared to be fibre cement sheeting. Two very experienced trades people advised that the sheeting would not be ASBESTOS. Well......when we removed the roof to reveal the sheeting there were stickers on it warning of Asbestos. More often than not, these stickers are not present. The moral of the story; Safety first! it is best to assume fibre cement sheeting in any structure prior to 1990 could contain Asbestos and it should be treated accordingly. FACT: Asbestos was not banned in NSW for building product use until 1988 and it was not FULLY banned in Australia until January 1 2004!
There is no easy way to tell if sheeting is Asbestos. The only real way is to have it tested in a NATA accredited Laboratory. To the trained eye, some of the very early Asbestos sheeting is identified by the pattern on the reverse side.
The safest way to remove Asbestos building materials is by engaging a licensed professional. In fact, in NSW, any amount of bonded Asbestos material above 10 square meters, must, by law, be removed by a licensed contractor. There are also strict laws and regulations regarding handling and disposing of smaller amounts by the DIY'er.
It is also worth considering that in older homes, Asbestos my be present in many different forms. This could include, insulation, pipe lagging, Chimney Flues, vinyl floor tiles and general hidden construction debris.
Remember: Always be cautious. It is must safer to assume Asbestos is present and treat it accordingly. Its also worth noting that if left undisturbed and painted the Asbestos sheeting is largely harmless
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