Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos
Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos Removal
Friable and non-friable asbestos are the same mineral, but they behave very differently, and that difference decides how the asbestos removal has to be done. Friable asbestos crumbles to powder under light hand pressure when it is dry, so it releases fibres into the air easily. Non-friable asbestos, also called bonded asbestos, has its fibres locked into a solid material like cement, so it only sheds fibres if it is cut, drilled, sanded or badly damaged.
Because airborne fibres are the real danger, friable asbestos removal carries much stricter controls. In NSW, it can only be done by a licensed Class A removalist. Here is what separates the two types, where each one hides in real buildings, and why the removal rules are so different.
Friable versus non-friable asbestos: the key difference
The difference comes down to how tightly the fibres are held. One type gives them up at the lightest touch. The other keeps them locked away until something breaks it.
How friable asbestos is defined
Friable asbestos is any asbestos-containing material that can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when it is dry. That state lets asbestos fibres float free with almost no effort. Sprayed coatings, old insulation and loose-fill all fall into this group. Once the fibres are airborne, they are easy to breathe in and impossible to see.
How non-friable (bonded) asbestos is defined
Non-friable asbestos, often called bonded asbestos, has its fibres bound into a solid matrix, usually cement. Picture a fibro sheet: the asbestos is mixed through the cement sheeting and set hard, so the fibres stay put. Left alone and in good condition, bonded asbestos-containing material is stable and unlikely to release fibres. You cannot crumble a sound fibro sheet with your fingers.
When non-friable material can become friable
The line between the two is not permanent. Non-friable asbestos can turn friable once it is disturbed, and that is the part people miss. Cut it with a power saw, drill it, sand it, or let it weather and rot for decades, and the bonded material starts shedding fibres like the friable kind. A cracked, water-damaged sheet that has been baking on a roof for years is a very different risk from a painted, intact one. This is why condition, not just type, drives every removal decision.
Where each type is found
If your home or building was built before the late 1980s, there is a fair chance that asbestos is in it somewhere. It was used in Australian construction until a full ban took effect at the end of 2003, and it turns up in very different products depending on whether it is bonded or friable.
Non-friable: fibro, cladding, roofs and fences
Bonded asbestos is the common one in Australian homes. It shows up as fibro wall sheeting, external cladding, corrugated roofing, eaves, fences and the backing boards behind tiles in older bathrooms and laundries. Cement sheeting is the classic example. Because these products were cheap and hard-wearing, they went almost everywhere in mid-century housing.
Friable: insulation, pipe lagging and loose-fill
Friable asbestos is less common in ordinary houses but far more hazardous where it exists. It was used as pipe lagging, boiler and heater insulation, sprayed fireproofing and, most notoriously, as loose-fill ceiling insulation. The Mr Fluffy loose-fill scandal in NSW and the ACT, where raw asbestos was pumped into roof cavities, is the case most people know. Loose-fill is friable in its purest form.
The pre-1990 and pre-2003 timeline
A rough guide: homes built before 1990 are likely to contain some asbestos-containing material, and anything built or renovated before the end of 2003 could. If you are not sure, do not go poking around to find out. Assume it is there, and if you want it confirmed, before you touch anything, give us a call.
Why friable asbestos is more dangerous
Friable asbestos is more dangerous for one simple reason. It puts fibres into the air with almost no provocation, and airborne fibres are what harm people. You cannot see them, smell them or feel them. You just breathe them in.
How exposure happens
Asbestos does its damage when fibres become airborne and are inhaled. With friable material, that can happen from a light knock, a gust through a roof cavity, or simply age. Bonded material has to be broken, cut or ground before it releases much, which is why an intact fibro fence is a lower risk than a bag of crumbling pipe lagging.
The health risks
The health risks are serious, and there is no known safe level of exposure. Inhaled asbestos fibres lodge in the lungs and can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lung lining. These diseases often take decades to appear, which is exactly why people underestimate a one-off exposure. The damage is done long before any symptoms show.
How removal differs: licences and safety controls
In NSW, the type of asbestos decides who is legally allowed to remove it. SafeWork NSW runs a two-tier licence system built around safety, and friable work sits at the top of it.
Class A and Class B licences in NSW
A Class A licence covers friable asbestos, and the holder can remove any amount of friable or non-friable asbestos-containing material. A Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos only, in any quantity. Class A is the harder licence to hold, with more training and stricter conditions, because friable work is the more dangerous job. In practice, a licensed Class A removalist can do everything a Class B holder can, plus the friable work a Class B licence does not allow.
Why licensed asbestos removal matters & Why You Need a Licensed Removalist
Even where the law lets you remove a small amount of non-friable asbestos yourself, a licensed removalist is the safer call. They keep the material intact, suppress dust, bag and label the waste, and dispose of it at a licensed facility instead of your kerbside bin. For the sake of a stable sheet turning into an airborne problem, it is rarely worth the risk. Booking a licensed removalist for even a small non-friable asbestos removal job means it is done once and disposed of properly. If you have already found damaged material, asbestos removal with The Strip Out Kings is the safer path than handling it yourself.
About the Author
The Strip Out Kings Team, Licensed Asbestos Removalists, Class A and B (NSW)
The Strip Out Kings are a licensed and insured asbestos removal and demolition company based in Kirrawee, servicing homes and businesses across Sydney and NSW. The team works to SafeWork NSW codes of practice on every job, from single fibro sheets to full friable removal under containment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between friable and non-friable asbestos?
Friable asbestos can be crumbled to powder by hand when dry, so it releases fibres into the air easily. Non-friable, or bonded, asbestos has its fibres held in a solid matrix like cement sheeting, so it only releases fibres if it is cut, drilled or badly damaged. Friable is treated as the higher risk, and its removal is more tightly controlled.
Can non-friable asbestos become friable?
Yes. Non-friable asbestos can become friable when it is disturbed or breaks down. Cutting, drilling, sanding, or years of weathering can damage the bonded material enough that it starts releasing fibres like friable asbestos. A cracked, rotting fibro sheet is a good example. This is why the condition of the material matters as much as the type when deciding how to handle removal.
Do you need a licence to remove non-friable asbestos?
In NSW, you can legally remove less than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos without a licence, measured across any seven days. Above 10 square metres, non-friable asbestos removal needs at least a Class B licence. Even under the limit, it is not risk-free, so a licensed removalist is still the safer option for most homeowners.
Why does friable asbestos removal need a Class A licence?
Friable asbestos releases fibres so easily that it demands the strictest controls, and only a Class A licence covers that work. Class A removal requires containment, negative air pressure, air monitoring by an independent assessor, decontamination and an independent clearance certificate before reoccupation, plus at least five days’ notice to SafeWork NSW. A Class B licence does not authorise any of this.
Is it safe to remove asbestos yourself?
It is not recommended. Friable asbestos removal is never a DIY job due to the risk of airborne fibres and the controls required. Small non-friable jobs may be legal, but breaking a bonded sheet still releases fibres, and most people lack the right PPE and licensed disposal. The safest approach is to leave suspected asbestos alone and call a licensed removalist.
