What is bonded asbestos?
Non-friable asbestos is otherwise called as bonded asbestos. The bonded asbestos is generally hard to crumble with hand pressure and are present in solid form. The asbestos has been mixed with a bonding agent such as Portland cement. Bonded asbestos fragments if damaged or crumbled, it may cause the release of fibres. Bonded asbestos is often called under various names such as fibro, Asbestos Cement (AC sheet) and is present in various forms such as asbestos walls, roof sheets, vinyl tiles, drainage pipes, flue pipes etc
Who can remove bonded asbestos?
If more than 10 m2 of bonded material is removed, the removalist must hold a Class B asbestos removal licence. The Class B licenced removalist can remove any amount of non-friable asbestos and asbestos-containing dust associated with the removal of non-friable asbestos.
What is friable asbestos?
Friable asbestos means asbestos in a powder form or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry. Generally, friable asbestos can become airborne and become a respirable fibre and hence rigorous control measure and management procedures must be in place to minimise exposure to asbestos fibres.
Who can remove friable asbestos?
Only personnel with friable asbestos removal ticket (class A asbestos removal licence) can remove friable asbestos. The Class A licenced removalist can remove asbestos-containing dust (ACD), bonded (non-friable) asbestos and any amount of friable asbestos or ACM.
Respirable asbestos fibres?
Respirable asbestos fibres mean that the fibres are:
- Less than 3 micrometres wide;
- More than 5 micrometres long; and
- Hand a length to width ratio of more than 3:1.