Introduction
Occupational lung diseases or dust diseases including asbestosis are overwhelming in Australia. This is particularly prevalent in the building industry as until relatively recently in Australia’s history asbestos was used in almost every type of building and construction.
The vast majority of asbestos-containing products used in houses were bonded asbestos cement materials, including:
- roofing
- shingles and siding (villaboard and similar)
- exterior and interior wall cladding
- eaves
- fencing
- thermal boards around fireplaces
- water or flue pipes.
Friable asbestos products have been commonly used in commercial and industrial settings since the late 1800s for fireproofing, soundproofing and insulation. Some friable products were also used in houses and may still be found in houses built before 1990.
Some friable asbestos products found in houses include:
- asbestos-rope door gaskets in wood stoves
- loose fill roofing insulation (not common)
- spray-on insulation or soundproofing
- low-density asbestos fibre board
- insulation on hot-water pipes, domestic heaters and stoves (e.g. lagging)
- backing material on floor tiles and vinyl flooring
- carpet underlay (not common)
- textured paints, decorative ceiling coatings
- heat-resistant fabrics
- brick and plaster sealants, fillers and some adhesive products
- hail or fire damaged, or badly weathered asbestos cement materials.
At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.
Expertise in Action
Having the right expert that is aware of the rigorous work health and safety requirements when dealing with asbestos is essential to fully addressing the various nuances of these long term and complex cases. Our experts are experienced and qualified to comment on the assessment, inspection, removal and emergency response to asbestos in building and construction, both domestic and commercial.
Sample Reports
For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.
Cost
The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:
- The need for a view or inspection of a location
- The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
- Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
- Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype
