Why visual identification isn't enough
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) rarely look distinctive. Fibre cement sheeting with asbestos looks the same as fibre cement sheeting without it. Vinyl tiles with asbestos are visually identical to those without. The only reliable way to confirm whether a material contains asbestos is to have a sample analysed by a NATA-accredited laboratory (in Australia) or an IANZ-accredited lab (in New Zealand).
That said, knowing what materials commonly contained asbestos and when they were manufactured helps you identify where sampling and professional assessment is needed.
Fibre cement (fibro) sheeting
This is the most widespread ACM in Australia and New Zealand. Flat and corrugated fibre cement sheets were manufactured under brand names including Hardiflex, Villaboard, and Super Six. They were used for wall cladding, interior lining, eaves, fencing, and roofing.
Asbestos was typically mixed into the cement at around 10-15% by weight. It gave the sheets strength and fire resistance.
Common use period: 1940s to mid-1980s. Some products continued until the early 1990s.
Corrugated roofing sheets
Asbestos cement corrugated roofing (often called "Super Six" due to its profile shape) was standard on sheds, carports, industrial buildings, and many houses. It weathers over time, and older roofing often has a grey, chalky surface where the cement matrix has begun to break down.
Common use period: 1920s to mid-1980s.
Vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring
Vinyl floor tiles containing asbestos were manufactured in large quantities. They're often 9 inches (225mm) square, though other sizes exist. The asbestos content is typically in the tile itself or in the paper backing of sheet vinyl. The black adhesive (bituminous mastic) used to stick tiles down can also contain asbestos.
Multiple layers of flooring are common in older buildings, with asbestos-containing tiles sometimes hidden beneath newer coverings.
Common use period: 1950s to 1980s.
Pipe lagging and thermal insulation
Asbestos was widely used to insulate hot water pipes, steam pipes, boilers, and calorifiers. The insulation was applied as a wet paste that set hard, or as pre-formed sections wrapped around pipes. This type of insulation is typically friable, meaning the fibres can be released easily when the material is disturbed or deteriorates.
Pipe lagging is most commonly found in plant rooms, ceiling cavities, and service risers. It represents one of the highest-risk ACMs in any building.
Common use period: 1940s to 1970s, with some use into the 1980s.
Textured coatings and decorative finishes
Textured coatings applied to ceilings and walls (sometimes called stipple, swirl coat, or artex-style finishes) often contain chrysotile (white asbestos). The asbestos was mixed into the compound to improve workability and durability. These coatings become a hazard when sanded, scraped, or drilled into.
Common use period: 1960s to 1980s.
Gaskets, rope seals, and woven products
Asbestos rope and woven tape were used for sealing around flues, furnace doors, and pipe joints. Compressed asbestos gaskets were standard in pumps, valves, and flanged pipe connections. These materials are still occasionally found in older plant and equipment that hasn't been upgraded.
Common use period: 1930s to 1990s (some gasket materials were among the last products to be phased out).
Millboard and insulation board
Asbestos millboard is a dense, compressed sheet that was used for heat protection behind stoves, in fire doors, and as general thermal insulation. Asbestos insulating board (AIB) is a lower-density product used for ceiling tiles, partition walls, and fire protection. AIB is typically friable and considered high-risk.
Common use period: 1940s to 1980s.
Sprayed insulation and fireproofing
Sprayed asbestos coatings were applied to structural steelwork, concrete ceilings, and walls for fire protection and thermal or acoustic insulation. This is one of the most hazardous forms of asbestos in buildings because it is friable and can release fibres with minimal disturbance. It was used less commonly in Australia and New Zealand than in some other countries, but it does exist in certain commercial and industrial buildings.
Common use period: 1950s to 1970s.
Brake and friction materials
While not a building material, asbestos brake pads and clutch linings were used in vehicles, lifts, hoists, and industrial machinery. If your building has older lifts or plant equipment, these components may contain asbestos. Maintenance and replacement of friction materials should be handled by someone aware of the potential asbestos content.
Common use period: 1930s to early 2000s.
The bottom line
If your building was constructed or refurbished before 2000, assume any of these materials could be present until proven otherwise. A professional asbestos survey is the starting point. The surveyor will identify suspect materials, take samples for laboratory analysis, record findings in an asbestos register, and advise on management or removal.
Don't drill, cut, sand, or demolish suspect materials without having them assessed first. When in doubt, leave it alone and get professional advice.