Friable asbestos is any asbestos-containing material that can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. Because the fibres are loosely bound, they become airborne easily — which makes friable asbestos far more hazardous than the bonded (non-friable) sheeting found in many older homes. Common examples include pipe lagging, sprayed insulation, millboard and fire-proofing.

Under Queensland work health and safety law, friable asbestos may only be removed by the holder of a Class A asbestos removal licence. A Class B licence — the licence most general removalists hold — covers bonded asbestos only and doesn’t permit friable work. Total Asbestos holds a current Class A licence, so we can legally and safely carry out friable removal that other removalists can’t.

Friable removal is a controlled, high-containment process. It typically requires a sealed enclosure, negative-pressure air units, decontamination facilities and air monitoring by an independent licensed assessor throughout the job. Bonded removal is lower-risk because the fibres stay locked in the material. The equipment, controls and licensing for friable work are significantly more stringent.

Yes. For friable asbestos, an independent licensed asbestos assessor carries out air monitoring and a clearance inspection once removal is complete, then issues a clearance certificate confirming the area is safe to reoccupy. You’ll receive full documentation for your records, insurer or regulator.

It depends on the amount of material, site access and the containment required. Many jobs are completed within one to a few days, but we’ll give you a realistic timeframe after the on-site assessment — along with a fixed quote, so there are no surprises.

Yes. We carry out Class A friable removal for residential, commercial, industrial and government clients across Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan — with the insurances, documentation and compliance reporting these projects require. Need whole-of-site work? See our asbestos site decontamination service.