Glossary of Asbestos Terms
Common terms you'll encounter when dealing with asbestos surveys, registers, removal, and compliance in Australia and New Zealand.
- ACM
- Asbestos-containing material. Any material that contains asbestos fibres.
- Amosite
- Brown asbestos. One of the regulated asbestos types, commonly found in insulation and cement products.
- Asbestos register
- A document recording the location, type, and condition of all known or assumed ACMs in a building. Required for commercial buildings in AU under WHS regulations.
- Asbestos management plan (AMP)
- A plan outlining how identified ACMs will be managed, monitored, and maintained. Required alongside the register.
- Chrysotile
- White asbestos. The most commonly used form, found in roofing, walls, floors, and thousands of manufactured products.
- Class A licence
- AU licence required for removal of friable asbestos.
- Class B licence
- AU licence required for removal of non-friable (bonded) asbestos exceeding 10m².
- Clearance certificate
- Issued by a licensed assessor (independent of the removalist) confirming an area is safe for reoccupation after asbestos removal.
- Crocidolite
- Blue asbestos. The most hazardous form, commonly found in sprayed coatings, pipe insulation, and cement products.
- Division 2 survey
- Management survey. Identifies ACMs in accessible areas during normal occupancy.
- Division 3 survey
- Refurbishment or demolition survey. More invasive; required before any work that may disturb building fabric.
- Duty holder
- The person or entity responsible for managing asbestos risks in a workplace. Called PCBU in AU, duty holder in NZ.
- Encapsulation
- Sealing ACMs with a protective coating to prevent fibre release, as an alternative to removal.
- Friable asbestos
- ACM that can be crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Higher risk; requires Class A removal in AU.
- HEPA filter
- High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. Captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger. Required on vacuums and air scrubbers during asbestos work.
- In-situ management
- Leaving ACMs in place and managing them through labelling, monitoring, and an asbestos management plan rather than removing them.
- NATA
- National Association of Testing Authorities (AU). Accredits laboratories for asbestos sample analysis.
- Non-friable asbestos
- ACM in which asbestos fibres are bonded in a solid matrix (e.g. fibre cement sheeting). Lower risk when undisturbed.
- PCBU
- Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking. The AU legal term for the entity with primary WHS duties.
- Presumed ACM
- Material assumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise by laboratory analysis.
- Restricted work (NZ)
- Asbestos removal work in NZ that requires a WorkSafe-licensed removalist.
- WHS
- Work Health and Safety. The legislative framework governing workplace safety in AU.
- WorkSafe
- The WHS regulator in NZ and several AU states (e.g. WorkSafe Victoria, WorkSafe Queensland).