For Consumers > Asbestos

Where could I find materials containing asbestos?

Inside my house

An example of vinyl floor tiles (Image courtesy of Dept. of Human Services, Victoria)

Bonded materials containing asbestos were often used inside houses for wall sheeting, particularly in ‘wet’ areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and laundry (eg. the glazed patterned panels around showers and baths that are held in with screws). They were also used as ceiling sheeting. Asbestos might also be found bonded in plaster patching compounds, textured paint and vinyl floor tiles.

Loosely bound materials containing asbestos might be found in a few older forms of insulation used in domestic heaters and stoves. Asbestos-felt was used as a backing for many vinyl and linoleum sheet floorings and does not pose a health risk while it remains undisturbed. However, these materials become loose when the floor covering is damaged or removed.

Asbestos insulation was not routinely used in residential buildings, although there have been isolated cases in New South Wales and the ACT. Loosely-bound asbestos was generally used in commercial buildings and industrial workplaces.

Asbestos-felt vinyl flooring and other forms of loose asbestos must only be removed by an asbestos removal business that holds an A class certificate.

Outside my house

Super 6 Roof Sheeting
(Image courtesy of QBM)

Externally, bonded materials containing asbestos were commonly used for roof sheeting and capping, guttering, gables, eaves/soffits, water pipes and flues, wall sheeting, flexible building boards and imitation brick cladding. They have also been used for fencing and building car ports and sheds.

Loosely bound materials containing asbestos were not designed for use on the outside of houses.

As mentioned before, bonded materials containing asbestos are the most common asbestos materials in domestic houses. They are not dangerous if they are in good condition (ie. undamaged, undisturbed). Loosely bound asbestos materials are not common in domestic houses.

A graphic example of asbestos locations within the house

Last Updated: 24 May 2007
Last Reviewed: 24 May 2007