Although Australia prohibited the manufacture, importation and use of asbestos more than 20 years ago, the country’s asbestos legacy is far from over. An estimated 6.1 to 7.5 million tonnes of asbestos-containing materials remain in buildings and infrastructure across Australia, with approximately 95% comprising aging asbestos cement products. Many of these materials are now 40 to 70 years old, and as they deteriorate with time, weather and wear, they present an increasing challenge for building owners, employers and facility managers responsible for protecting workers and the public.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) have remained safely hidden in millions of Australian homes, schools, hospitals, factories, offices and public buildings. However, a growing concern is emerging that many building owners and facility managers have overlooked.
Australia’s asbestos materials are aging.
Many asbestos-containing products installed between the 1940s and the late 1980s are now more than 40 to 70 years old. While asbestos itself does not deteriorate, the materials that bind the asbestos fibres together do. As these products age, they become increasingly brittle, weathered and susceptible to damage, significantly increasing the potential for dangerous fibre release.
Time Is Becoming the Biggest Risk
When asbestos cement sheeting, vinyl flooring, insulation, pipe lagging, roofing, fencing and textured coatings were first installed, many were expected to provide decades of service.
Today those same materials have often been exposed to:
- Constant weathering
- Moisture intrusion
- UV radiation
- Structural movement
- Renovations
- Vehicle vibration
- Building maintenance
- General wear and tear
Each year these materials become more fragile, making accidental disturbance far more likely.
The Growing Compliance Challenge
Across Australia, many asbestos registers were created years ago and have not been updated to reflect the changing condition of asbestos materials.
An asbestos register prepared five years ago may no longer accurately describe today’s risks.
Materials previously assessed as “Good Condition” may now show:
- Cracking
- Surface erosion
- Delamination
- Water damage
- Broken edges
- Impact damage
- Deteriorating paint coatings
- Exposed asbestos fibres
Without regular inspections, building owners may unknowingly expose workers, contractors and occupants to unnecessary health risks.
Every Maintenance Activity Increases the Risk
Routine activities such as:
- Installing air-conditioning systems
- Electrical upgrades
- Plumbing repairs
- Roof maintenance
- Security system installation
- Cabling works
- Painting
- Demolition
- Renovations
can disturb aging asbestos materials if accurate information is unavailable.
For contractors, knowing exactly where asbestos is located before work begins can mean the difference between a routine maintenance job and a costly asbestos contamination incident.
Duty of Care Is Increasing
Under Australian workplace health and safety legislation, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), property owners and facility managers have an ongoing duty to identify and manage asbestos risks.
This responsibility does not diminish simply because an asbestos register already exists.
The condition of asbestos-containing materials must be reviewed regularly and whenever circumstances change.
As Australia’s building stock continues to age, the likelihood of deterioration increases every year.
Technology Is Transforming Asbestos Management
Traditional paper-based asbestos registers and static PDF reports are rapidly becoming outdated.
Modern asbestos management platforms enable organisations to:
- Maintain live asbestos registers
- Record photographic evidence during inspections
- Track deterioration over time
- Instantly locate asbestos materials
- Provide contractors with real-time access
- Generate compliance reports automatically
- Monitor remediation programs
- Maintain complete audit trails
Having current, accessible asbestos information allows maintenance teams and contractors to make safer decisions before commencing work.
Waiting Can Be Costly
Ignoring aging asbestos materials can lead to:
- Unexpected fibre release
- Costly building contamination
- Workplace shutdowns
- Regulatory action
- Significant remediation costs
- Worker exposure
- Reputational damage
- Increased legal liability
Early identification of deteriorating asbestos materials is almost always less expensive than responding to an uncontrolled asbestos incident.
The Time to Review Is Now
Australia has one of the world’s highest numbers of buildings containing asbestos. While many materials remain safe if left undisturbed and in good condition, age alone is becoming a significant risk factor.
Building owners should not assume that asbestos identified years ago remains in the same condition today.
Regular inspections, accurate records and modern asbestos management systems are becoming essential tools for protecting workers, contractors and building occupants.
As Australia’s buildings continue to age, asbestos management is no longer just about knowing where asbestos is located—it’s about understanding how its condition is changing over time.