Friable Asbestos Ceiling Removal at Kenmore Village Shopping Centre
Total Asbestos removed approximately 100 square metres of low-density friable asbestos ceiling from a hairdressing tenancy at Kenmore Village. Night works and staged hygienist inspections meant the centre reopened at its normal time and the fit-out builder started as scheduled.
| Location | Kenmore Village Shopping Centre, Brisbane west |
|---|---|
| Client | Fit-out builder (Total Asbestos recommended by centre management) |
| Completed | July 2026 |
| Material | Approximately 100 m² of friable, low-density asbestos ceiling |
| Purpose | Remove the existing ceiling so new services, including lighting, could be installed in the refurbishment |
| Work sequence | Daytime setup, overnight removal, next-day enclosure dismantling and demobilisation |
| Removal crew | One asbestos supervisor and five Class A asbestos technicians (three technicians for setup, two for demobilisation) |
| Equipment | In-house: AMS 5000 negative air unit, wet decontamination units, new plastic enclosure |
| Waste disposal | Double-wrapped, passed through decontamination, taken to BMI at Stapylton |
| Verification | Air monitoring during and after removal; hygienist inspections; clearance certificate |
| Outcome | Centre reopened normally; fit-out commenced as scheduled; no complaints from management or neighbours |
The Challenge: A Refurbishment Inside a Tight Overnight Window
The existing low-density asbestos ceiling in a hairdressing tenancy was in the way of new services, including lighting, that the refurbishment needed. Centre management decided the whole ceiling should come out, and the fit-out builder engaged Total Asbestos to do it.
Kenmore Village is an operating shopping centre, so removal had to happen at night while the centre was fully closed. There was very little room for error: the work had to support the centre reopening at its normal time and the builder taking over the tenancy the following day.
Planning the Crew and Using Equipment Owned In-House
Total Asbestos had worked for centre management before and had been recommended by them. That familiarity with the centre made it easier to plan the resources and work around its expectations for timing and handover.
Three asbestos technicians prepared the enclosure during the day. One asbestos supervisor and five Class A asbestos technicians carried out the night removal. Two technicians returned the following day to dismantle the enclosure and demobilise. Every piece of equipment on the job was owned in-house, including the wet decontamination units and an AMS 5000 negative air unit.
Enclosing the Work Area and Removing the Ceiling
New plastic sheeting formed an enclosure around the work area. Wet decontamination units provided shower facilities, and the negative air unit kept the enclosure under negative pressure, with exhaust ducting routed to the outside of the building.
Approximately 100 square metres of friable, low-density asbestos ceiling were removed under Class A conditions during the overnight window. Air monitoring ran during and after the removal; Total Asbestos reports the results were within limits.
A Dedicated Route for Removing Waste
Centre management closed the rear alleyway behind the tenancy, which gave the crew a dedicated loading-out area. The ceiling waste was double-wrapped in black plastic, passed through the wet decontamination units and carried out through the rear alleyway, then transported to BMI at Stapylton.
Inspection, Clearance and Handover
The occupational hygienist inspected the work that night and clearance was achieved on the first inspection. After the enclosure came down the following day, a further inspection confirmed nothing had been left behind. The hygienist provided both a clearance certificate and an air monitoring report.
The tenancy was handed back clean and ready for the builder to continue the fit-out. The shopping centre reopened at its normal time and the builders started as scheduled. No complaints or issues were raised by centre management or neighbouring tenants.
What This Project Demonstrates
Planning a commercial refurbishment involving asbestos?
Our Class A friable asbestos removal service covers enclosures, negative air, decontamination, air monitoring and clearance for shopping centres, offices and commercial fit-outs across Brisbane. Contact Total Asbestos to discuss the scope, access arrangements and program for your project.
Talk to Us About Your Fit-out
Send us the scope, the trading hours we need to work around and the handover date, and we will come back with a program and a fixed quote.
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