What Does Asbestos Look Like? Identification Tips

Astonishingly, asbestos was once hailed as a miracle material for its fire-resistant properties. Fast-forward to 2024, and we now know that this seemingly wondrous material actually carries serious health risks. Widely used in Australian construction up until the late 1980s, it still lurks in many older homes and buildings. Therefore, identifying asbestos is crucial for your safety, but it’s not always an easy task.

In this article, we’ll discuss what asbestos looks like and provide key tips for recognising it in your work and home environment. While we’ll answer some of your questions, always remember that the best way to confirm the presence of asbestos is to consult a professional.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals previously hailed for their strength, heat resistance and insulation properties. For decades, asbestos was used in a wide range of building materials across Australia, from roofing and insulation to floor tiles and cement products. As a result, it became the go-to material for many construction projects.

In Australia, three main types of asbestos were commonly used in building materials:

• Chrysotile (white asbestos): This was the most widely used type of asbestos, often found in roofing, walls, ceilings and floors.
• Amosite (brown asbestos): Primarily used in cement sheets, insulation, and tiles.
• Crocidolite (blue asbestos): Less common but still dangerous, typically found in high-heat environments like boiler insulation.

Why Identifying Asbestos is Important

The risks of asbestos exposure are well-documented. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to severe health conditions, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases can take years and sometimes even decades to manifest and are life-threatening.

Due to the time it can take for symptoms to manifest, it wasn’t until the 1970s that people began to fully realise the dangers of asbestos exposure. Before that, asbestos was widely used in homes, schools and businesses across the country, with little awareness of the long-term health risks. By the time the health impacts became clear, millions had already been exposed, leading to a global movement to ban the material and implement safe removal procedures.

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Spotting asbestos can be tricky; its fibres are microscopic and often mixed with other materials, making it difficult to see with the naked eye. However, some visual cues can help you recognise potential asbestos-containing materials in your home.

• Insulation: Asbestos was frequently used in older insulation materials. It can appear as a fluffy, fibrous substance that is grey and white. If you’re living in, or renovating, a home with insulation that looks like this—especially around pipers or in the attic—there’s a chance asbestos could be present.
• Tiles: Asbestos was commonly used in flooring, particularly vinyl tiles. Older vinyl flooring (from the 1950s to the 1980s) of any colour can be a telltale sign of asbestos. If you find a black adhesive, often called ‘cutback glue’, underneath the tiles, it’s another red flag.
• Cement Products: Asbestos cement sheeting was widely used in exterior walls, roofs and fences. It usually appears grey with a smooth or corrugated texture. Over time, these materials may become brittle and start to crumble, increasing the risk of airborne asbestos fibres.
• Pipes: Asbestos insulation around pipes can appear as grey or white cardboard wrap. This material can become friable (easily crumbled), releasing dangerous fibres into the air.

Even with these visual cues, it isn’t possible to determine for certain if asbestos is present, and the only way to be sure is with professional testing – it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Signs Asbestos May Be Present

In addition to looking for visual cues, there are also several indicators that asbestos might be present:

• Age of the Building: If the building in question was constructed before the 1990s, especially between the 1950s and 1980s, there is a far higher likelihood that asbestos was used in its construction. Properties built during this era were often riddled with asbestos-containing materials.
• Damaged or Deteriorating Materials: Cracked, fraying or crumbling insulation, tiles or cement products could be signs of asbestos. Asbestos is at its most hazardous when materials deteriorate or are disturbed, so tread with care in this situation and make contact with a professional who can take an asbestos sample as soon as possible.
• Specific Products: Certain products that were used during the 1950s to 1980s are more likely to contain asbestos. If your home has a popcorn ceiling, old vinyl flooring and asbestos cement sheeting (commonly used in cladding and roofing), it may be time to call in the professionals.

Where Asbestos Is Commonly Found

As asbestos was considered a versatile material, it was used to make a variety of building products across Australia. Homeowners need to be aware that asbestos may be present in the following materials:

Roofing and ceiling materials: Corrugated asbestos cement roofing was a popular product across Australia. You might also find asbestos in insulation and ceiling tiles.

• Flooring: Vinyl floor tiles and linoleum, along with the adhesives used to install them, often contained asbestos products.
• Pipes and Plumbing: Asbestos lagging was used to insulate pipes, particularly in older homes. This insulation is highly friable and poses a significant health risk if disturbed.
• Walls and Fencing: Asbestos cement sheets were frequently used for external walls and fences and for cladding of exterior walls.
• Fireproofing Materials: Asbestos was incorporated into fire doors, fireproof boards and coatings around boilers to provide heat resistance.

What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos

If you suspect that asbestos is present in your home or office, the number one rule is do not disturb it. Asbestos materials are most dangerous when fibres are airborne and can quickly enter the lungs. Asbestos easily becomes airborne if you start drilling, sawing or breaking these materials.

Instead, seek help from an asbestos removal professional. A licensed asbestos inspector can assess your house and take samples for laboratory testing. If asbestos is confirmed, a professional removal team will handle the process safely, ensuring that you and your family remain protected.

Be Certain with Professional Testing

Asbestos identification is not something to be taken lightly. Remember, you can’t visually determine to be 100% certain that it is or isn’t asbestos, the only way to be sure if asbestos is present is through professional testing and removal by licensed experts.

With over two decades of experience, P&D Envirotech is a trusted name in asbestos removal in NSW. Our team specialises in friable and bonded asbestos removal, lead abatement and contaminated soil removal. If you suspect there may be asbestos in your home, contact us today to protect yourself from these serious health risks.