Why asbestos has to be tested
You cannot identify asbestos by eye. The fibro on a 1970s house and the fibre cement on a new one look almost identical. Vinyl tiles, textured ceilings, pipes and sealants give no visible clue either.
What you can judge by eye is likelihood. If a building was built or renovated before about 1990, assume asbestos may be present until testing shows otherwise. After that, it becomes much less likely, and after the national ban at the end of 2003 it is unlikely in building materials — though not impossible.
Likelihood is not enough when you are about to drill, cut, sand or demolish. For that, you need a test.
The three kinds of asbestos testing
1. Bulk sample testing. A small piece of the suspect material is taken and sent to a laboratory. This is what most people mean by an asbestos test, and it answers the question "is this material asbestos?"
2. Air monitoring. Air is drawn through a filter, which is then analysed for fibres. It is used during and after licensed removal work, especially friable removal, to check that controls are working and that an area is safe to reoccupy. It does not tell you whether a material contains asbestos.
3. Soil testing. Where broken fibro or other material may have been buried, burnt or spread across a block, soil samples are taken and analysed. This is common on old sites being redeveloped.
For a homeowner, bulk sample testing is almost always the starting point.
Option 1: use a professional (recommended)
A licensed asbestos assessor, occupational hygienist or other competent person will:
- Inspect the building and identify suspect materials, including in places you may not think to look — eaves, wet-area linings, under floor coverings, roof spaces, meter boards and outbuildings.
- Take samples using controls that limit fibre release: wetting the material, sealing the sample point and bagging the sample.
- Send samples to an accredited laboratory for analysis.
- Report what was found, where, how much, what condition it is in, and whether any of it may be friable.
For a renovation or demolition, the report is usually an asbestos register or asbestos survey. A survey for demolition goes further than a general inspection: because the whole building is coming down, the assessor needs to find asbestos in hidden places too, which can involve opening up walls, floors and ceilings.
A professional survey is the only kind of result most demolition contractors, builders and certifiers will rely on.
Option 2: taking a sample yourself
Some laboratories accept samples taken by homeowners, and sampling kits are sold for this purpose. It can be cheaper for a single suspect item. But it involves deliberately breaking off a piece of material that may be asbestos, and doing that carelessly is exactly the kind of disturbance that releases fibres.
If you are considering it, read SafeWork NSW's current guidance first, and follow the laboratory's instructions exactly. As general principles:
- Only ever sample material that is in good condition and non-friable, such as an intact fibro sheet. Never sample anything that is crumbling, powdery, fire-damaged or loose insulation — that is a job for a licensed assessor.
- Keep people and pets away, and do not sample in a windy spot or with fans running.
- Wear suitable disposable protective clothing and a correctly fitted respirator rated for asbestos.
- Wet the area first and use hand tools, never power tools.
- Take the smallest sample the laboratory needs, seal it in the bag provided, and seal or paint over the sample point.
- Clean up with damp wipes, and dispose of wipes and protective clothing as asbestos waste.
If any step feels uncertain, stop and call a professional. The cost of a professional inspection is small compared with the cost of contaminating a room.
How the laboratory tests it
Choose a laboratory accredited by NATA for asbestos identification. Bulk samples are typically analysed under a microscope using polarised light microscopy and dispersion staining, following the Australian Standard method for identifying asbestos in bulk samples.
The report will usually say one of:
- No asbestos detected.
- Asbestos detected, with the type — chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) or crocidolite (blue).
- Organic or synthetic mineral fibres detected, meaning fibres were found but they are not asbestos.
A negative result applies only to the sample tested. A house can have asbestos-free sheeting on one wall and asbestos sheeting on the next, particularly where it has been repaired or extended over the years. One test does not clear a whole house.
What to do with the result
No asbestos detected. You can proceed with that material, keeping the report. If other suspect materials exist elsewhere, they need their own samples.
Asbestos detected, in good condition, not being disturbed. It can generally be left in place and managed. Record where it is and tell anyone working on the house.
Asbestos detected, and work is planned. It needs to be removed before the work disturbs it — by a licensed removalist for anything beyond the small quantities a homeowner is permitted to handle. Friable material always needs a Class A licensed removalist. Our guide to what friable asbestos is explains the difference.
The rules on what a homeowner may remove, and how it must be wrapped, transported and disposed of, are specific. Check with SafeWork NSW or your council before doing anything yourself.
Testing before demolition
Before a house or outbuilding built or renovated before about 1990 is demolished, asbestos needs to be identified, removed by a licensed removalist and cleared. The survey comes first because it decides everything else: whether removal is needed, which licence class applies, how long it will take, and what the demolition price includes.
Surveying before a price is final is also what stops the most expensive outcome in residential demolition — a machine breaking unidentified fibro and contaminating the block.
If you're on the Central Coast, we can arrange the asbestos survey, licensed removal and demolition in order, and quote it after a site inspection.
Where to go next
- Asbestos removal — the survey, licensed removal and clearance sequence before demolition.
- House demolition — what happens once asbestos is cleared.
- Demolition cost guide — rough price bands, and why a survey is needed before a demolition price is final.
Talk to someone who knows Coast blocks. Seven days, 6am–7pm.
Questions people ask before they commit
Can you tell if something is asbestos by looking at it?
No. Asbestos cement sheeting and the fibre cement that replaced it look the same, and many other asbestos products have no visible sign either. The age of the building gives you the likelihood; only laboratory analysis of a sample confirms it.
Who should take asbestos samples?
A licensed asbestos assessor or other competent person, such as an occupational hygienist, is the safest choice. They know how to take a sample without spreading fibres, can judge whether the material may be friable, and can produce a report you can rely on for renovation or demolition.
How long do asbestos test results take?
It depends on the laboratory and how many samples are submitted. Many laboratories return bulk sample results within a few working days, and some offer faster turnaround. Ask the assessor or lab when you book.
Do I need an asbestos test before demolition?
For any building constructed or renovated before about 1990, asbestos should be identified before demolition, and work health and safety rules place obligations on those carrying out the work. The demolition contractor or a licensed assessor can confirm what survey your job needs.