Building Age Guide
Asbestos use in Australia and New Zealand peaked between the 1950s and 1980s. Australia imported and mined millions of tonnes of the stuff — more per capita than almost any other country. A building's construction date is one of the easiest ways to gauge the likelihood of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) being present. But it's not a guarantee either way. Any building constructed or renovated before 2003 (AU) or 2016 (NZ) could contain ACMs.
Pre-1940s
Asbestos use in this era was limited and largely confined to industrial and infrastructure applications. Residential buildings from this period rarely contain widespread ACMs, though isolated occurrences are possible in mechanical and electrical services. Many buildings from this era are increasingly rare or heritage-listed, which can add complexity to survey and removal work.
- Pipe lagging on hot water and steam reticulation systems
- Boiler and furnace insulation in commercial and industrial buildings
- Electrical wiring insulation and switchboard components
1940s to 1960s
The post-war building boom drove a huge expansion in asbestos use. Fibre cement was cheap, durable, and fire-resistant, so it became the default choice for residential and commercial construction. James Hardie (AU) and Fletcher Building (NZ) were the main producers. Suburban housing estates, schools, hospitals, and government buildings from this era are very likely to contain ACMs in multiple locations.
- Fibre cement sheeting for interior and exterior walls, eaves, and soffits
- Fibre cement fencing panels and posts
- Vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring
- Pipe lagging on plumbing and heating systems
- Electrical backing boards and switchboard linings
1960s to 1980s
This is the highest risk era. Asbestos was in virtually every part of a building — roof to subfloor. Commercial and industrial buildings from this period often contain friable (easily crumbled) asbestos in fireproofing and insulation, which is the most dangerous form. The Mr Fluffy loose-fill insulation was pumped into ceiling spaces of over a thousand homes in the ACT and parts of NSW during the late 1960s and 1970s. The government eventually bought back and demolished affected houses.
- Super Six corrugated fibre cement roofing
- Flat fibre cement sheeting throughout interiors and exteriors
- Tilux splashback panels in kitchens and bathrooms
- Textured and decorative ceiling coatings, including stippled finishes
- Sprayed limpet fireproofing on structural steel in commercial buildings
- Loose-fill insulation (Mr Fluffy) in ceiling spaces in the ACT and NSW
- Vinyl flooring, sheet flooring, and bituminous adhesives (black mastic)
- Gaskets, rope seals, and millboard around heating systems and fireplaces
1980s to 1990s
Health risks associated with asbestos became widely recognised during the 1980s, and Australia began phasing out the most hazardous products from the mid-1980s onwards. Manufacturers progressively reformulated products to remove amphibole asbestos (amosite and crocidolite), though chrysotile-only products continued to be manufactured and installed for several more years. The likelihood of encountering ACMs in buildings from this period is reduced compared to earlier decades, but it is far from eliminated.
- Fibre cement sheeting in chrysotile-only formulations
- Vinyl floor tiles and adhesives
- Gaskets and seals in plumbing and mechanical services
- Brake components and friction products in plant and equipment
1990s to 2003 (AU) / 2016 (NZ)
Residual asbestos use continued during this transitional period. Australia implemented a total ban on the manufacture, use, and importation of all asbestos products in December 2003. New Zealand banned asbestos imports in 2016, although the use of asbestos in new products was restricted earlier. During the years leading up to these bans, some imported and stockpiled asbestos-containing materials were still being installed, particularly in industrial settings and infrastructure projects.
- Imported building materials containing asbestos from countries still mining and exporting
- Stockpiled fibre cement products installed before existing supplies were exhausted
- Industrial gaskets, seals, and friction products sourced from older inventory
Post-ban considerations
Buildings constructed after the respective ban dates should be free of ACMs in their original construction materials. However, this assumption only holds if no salvaged, recycled, or non-compliant imported materials were used during construction or subsequent maintenance. Renovation work on newer buildings can introduce ACMs if tradespeople reuse materials from older structures or install imported products that have not been properly tested. Australian Border Force has intercepted asbestos-containing goods at the border on multiple occasions, including automotive parts, gaskets, and building materials sourced from countries where asbestos is still mined and manufactured.
Key takeaway
Building age tells you the odds, not the answer. A 1975 building almost certainly contains asbestos. A 1995 building is less likely to — but you can't confirm either way without testing. The only way to know is to get a licensed asbestos assessor to inspect, sample, and have the material analysed by an accredited lab.