What Is an Asbestos Assessment?
An asbestos assessment is a professional inspection of a building to identify whether asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are present, determine their type (friable or non-friable), and assess their condition. Asbestos was widely used in Australian construction from the 1940s through to the late 1980s, and any building constructed or renovated before 31 December 2003 may contain asbestos products. A formal assessment is required before most renovation, refurbishment, or demolition work on these properties.
What the Assessment Involves
A licensed asbestos assessor will:
- Conduct a visual inspection of the property, checking common locations such as eaves, wall cladding, wet areas, flooring, roofing, and fencing
- Take samples of suspected materials for laboratory analysis (polarised light microscopy)
- Prepare an asbestos register documenting the location, type, condition, and risk rating of any ACMs found
- Recommend a management plan — whether materials can be safely left in place, encapsulated, or must be removed
There are two classes of asbestos removal licences in Australia:
- Class A — removal of any type of asbestos, including friable (crumbly) asbestos
- Class B — removal of non-friable (bonded) asbestos only, such as fibro sheeting
State Variations
| State/Territory | Regulator | Assessment Required Before Demolition? |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | Workplace Health and Safety QLD | Yes |
| NSW | SafeWork NSW | Yes |
| VIC | WorkSafe Victoria | Yes |
| WA | WorkSafe WA (DMIRS) | Yes |
| SA | SafeWork SA | Yes |
| TAS | WorkSafe Tasmania | Yes |
| ACT | WorkSafe ACT | Yes |
| NT | NT WorkSafe | Yes |
How It Relates to Licence Verification
Asbestos removal must be performed by a licensed asbestos removalist holding the appropriate class of licence. Unlicensed removal is illegal, dangerous, and can result in heavy fines. Before hiring anyone to remove asbestos, use TradieVerify to verify they hold a current asbestos removal licence for your state or territory.