Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that were widely used in construction materials throughout the 20th century due to their heat resistance, durability, and low cost. In New Zealand, asbestos was used extensively in building materials from the 1940s until the late 1980s, and its legacy is still present in hundreds of thousands of homes and commercial buildings across the country. JP Asbestos is New Zealand's trusted source for asbestos information, inspection, and licensed removal services.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals: chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. Of these, chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite were the most commonly used in commercial applications.
These minerals occur naturally in rock formations worldwide and can be mined and processed into fibres. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, the fibres become airborne and can be inhaled where they lodge permanently in lung tissue and cause serious, life-threatening diseases over decades.
What made asbestos so attractive to builders was its combination of desirable properties: it is fire-resistant, electrically non-conductive, heat-insulating, chemically resistant, and extremely strong for its weight. These properties made it the go-to additive for construction materials, brake pads, insulation, and dozens of other industrial products.
Asbestos in New Zealand A Brief History
New Zealand imported and used significant quantities of asbestos-containing materials from the 1940s onwards. The post-war housing boom of the 1950s and 1960s saw asbestos-cement (AC) products including corrugated roofing sheets, flat sheets, and fibro-cement weatherboards become the standard building materials for affordable housing construction across the country.
State housing programmes, which built tens of thousands of homes from the late 1930s through the 1970s, relied heavily on asbestos-cement materials for their cost-effectiveness and durability. Private housing developments of the same era followed suit. By the 1970s, it was estimated that asbestos-containing materials were present in the majority of New Zealand homes built after 1945.
Concern about asbestos health effects began mounting internationally in the 1970s, and New Zealand progressively introduced controls on asbestos use throughout the 1980s. The most hazardous forms of asbestos crocidolite and amosite were banned from new use in the late 1980s, and chrysotile use declined sharply through the 1990s as safer alternatives became available. A comprehensive import and manufacture ban was implemented in the early 2000s.
Did You Know?
The New Zealand government estimates that up to 20% of New Zealand homes that's roughly 500,000 properties contain some form of asbestos-containing material. The highest risk properties are those built between 1945 and 1990.
Where Is Asbestos Found in NZ Homes?
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used in a wide range of building products in New Zealand homes. Common locations include:
- Roofing: Corrugated asbestos-cement sheets and flat sheets used as roof cladding
- External cladding: Fibro-cement weatherboards and flat sheet cladding
- Eaves and soffits: Flat asbestos-cement sheet used for underside of eaves
- Internal wall linings: Flat sheet in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens
- Floor coverings: Vinyl floor tiles and the adhesive backing material
- Thermal insulation: Loose-fill asbestos insulation in ceiling spaces
- Pipe lagging: Insulation wrapped around heating and water pipes
- Textured coatings: Some decorative ceiling and wall coatings
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos causes disease when its fibres are inhaled and become lodged in lung tissue. Because the fibres are microscopic and light, they remain airborne for long periods after disturbance and can be inhaled deeply into the lungs without being detectable by smell, taste, or sight. The diseases caused by asbestos exposure are serious, incurable, and often fatal:
- Mesothelioma: A rare but aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Typically fatal within 1 2 years of diagnosis.
- Asbestosis: Progressive scarring of lung tissue that causes irreversible breathing difficulties and may lead to heart failure.
- Lung cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly in combination with smoking.
- Pleural disease: Scarring and thickening of the pleura (lung lining) that causes chest pain and reduced lung function.
A critical feature of asbestos-related diseases is their long latency period the time between first exposure and the onset of disease can be 20 to 50 years. This means that people exposed to asbestos in the 1970s and 80s are only now developing asbestos-related diseases, and the true burden of asbestos-related illness in New Zealand will not peak for some years yet.
The Law on Asbestos in New Zealand
Asbestos removal in New Zealand is regulated under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, which came into force on 4 April 2016. Key requirements include:
- Class A asbestos (friable can be crumbled by hand pressure) must be removed only by a person holding a Class A asbestos removal licence issued by WorkSafe NZ.
- Class B asbestos (non-friable bonded in cement or resin) must be removed by a person with appropriate training and certification.
- WorkSafe NZ notification is required at least 5 working days before commencing any Class A asbestos removal work.
- Clearance certificates must be obtained from an independent licensed assessor before a Class A work area is reoccupied.
- Asbestos management plans are required for workplaces where asbestos is identified.
It is illegal under NZ law for a homeowner to remove Class A asbestos themselves. Attempting DIY asbestos removal exposes you, your family, and your neighbours to serious health risks, and may result in significant fines under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
In Plain English
If your home was built before 1990 and you're planning any work that involves your roof, cladding, or internal linings, get a professional asbestos inspection before you start. It's the law and it could save your life. JP Asbestos can assess your property and tell you exactly what you're dealing with.
What Should You Do If You Think You Have Asbestos?
If you suspect asbestos is present in your property, the most important rule is: do not disturb it. Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed poses a very low risk. The danger arises when asbestos-containing materials are damaged, drilled, sanded, cut, or demolished releasing fibres into the air.
The appropriate steps are:
- Don't disturb it. Stop any work that might be disturbing the material.
- Get it inspected. Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removal company like JP Asbestos to conduct an inspection and, if necessary, take samples for laboratory testing.
- Get it tested. Only laboratory analysis can confirm whether a material contains asbestos. Don't rely on visual inspection alone.
- Get a management plan or removal quote. Based on the test results and condition assessment, decide whether the asbestos should be managed in place or removed.
- Use a licensed removalist. For any Class A asbestos, ensure you use a company holding a WorkSafe NZ Class A removal licence like JP Asbestos.
Summary
Asbestos is a serious but manageable health risk in New Zealand's older housing stock. If your home was built before 1990, there is a good chance some asbestos-containing materials are present. The key is to identify them through professional inspection and testing, and then manage or remove them safely and legally using a licensed removalist.
JP Asbestos provides inspection, testing, licensed Class A and Class B removal, and clearance certification services across Auckland and NZ-wide. Contact us for a free quote or to arrange an inspection of your property.
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