FAQ’S
ASBESTOS FAQ’S
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that were historically mined for use in a wide range of building materials. It was used due to its properties of strength, fire resistance and insulation.
Yes! Breathing asbestos fibres is a direct cause of serious lung diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and pleural plaques.
If your house was built before 1990 it is likely to have asbestos containing material. Houses built after 1990 are unlikely to have asbestos containing materials, however asbestos wasn’t completely banned in Australia until 2004.
If you think asbestos has been damaged in your home or work place, you should immediately seal off the area. Close and seal the door to the room and make sure everyone is kept well away from the area. Do not attempt to do any further work in the area or clean up any damage. Call your insurer or call us directly to attend and complete an ‘asbestos make safe’ to ensure all fibres are contained so the next steps in the process can then safely take place.
The difference between bonded (non-friable) and friable asbestos is that bonded asbestos is a type of asbestos-containing material in which the asbestos fibers are tightly bound in a matrix, whereas friable asbestos is a type of asbestos-containing material in which the asbestos fibers are loosely bound and can become airborne easily. Bonded asbestos may be removed by a Class A or B licensed asbestos removals team. However, friable asbestos can only be removed by companies with a Class A license. Omega Hazmat operate under a Class A license and can safely remove all forms of asbestos.
Examples of bonded (non-friable) asbestos include asbestos-cement products, such as pipes, roofing sheets, and wall claddings, as well as vinyl floor tiles and asbestos-containing insulation materials that are in good condition and not damaged or deteriorating.
Friable asbestos can be found in various products such as thermal insulation on pipes, boilers, and ducts, spray-on fireproofing materials, soundproofing materials, and certain types of ceiling tiles.
Asbestos testing is the only way to be certain if materials contain asbestos or not. We can arrange for a sample to be safely collected and sent for NATA approved laboratory analysis. Results are available within 3-5 days, which can be expedited if required for an additional charge. If the test for asbestos is positive, we will prove a quote for the safe removal with the test report.
When removing bonded asbestos that is less than 10m2, an asbestos license is not required. However, it is essential to adhere to all aspects of the Code of Practice ‘How to Safely Remove Asbestos,’ including following the requirements for disposal, methods, personal protective equipment (PPE), and tools. It should be noted that an asbestos removalist with the appropriate class of license must perform the removal of all friable asbestos and bonded asbestos greater than 10m2.
The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) advises against removing asbestos from your home yourself and strongly recommends seeking the assistance of a professional team to take care of all your asbestos needs.
A licensed contractor is required to remove bonded asbestos over 10m2, and any friable asbestos.
Our Omega Hazmat team will:
- Notify Safework NSW of the asbestos removal (minimum 5 days prior)
- Prepare a SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) and ARCP (Asbestos Removal Control Plan), assessing any risks and outlining the safe removal of the asbestos.
- Notify any neighbours of the asbestos removal, as required by Safework NSW
- Safely remove asbestos, in accordance with the Code of Practice ‘How to Safely Remove Asbestos’
- Engage in an independent hygienist for to inspect the work area following asbestos issue an Asbestos Clearance Certificate deeming the area safe.
It is mandatory to dispose of all asbestos at a waste facility that holds a license to receive asbestos waste. The disposal process requires burying asbestos in designated areas, covered with a capping layer of soil. Prior to leaving the site, asbestos must be double wrapped or double bagged in 200um plastic. The EPA must be notified of the collection and disposal of each load by the licensed removalist through the EPA Waste Locate app.
To ensure lawful disposal of all asbestos, we take extra precautions such as tracking our tippers and retaining all weigh bridge receipts. By doing so, we can provide you with complete assurance that all asbestos is disposed of correctly.
To disconnect services that penetrate asbestos being removed, you may need to arrange for a plumber or electrician, or your insurer, builder, or our team can make the arrangements for you. In preparation for asbestos removal, small items in the affected area or room should be moved. However, in most cases, our team can cover large items with plastic.
During the asbestos removal process, it will be necessary for you to vacate the premises, and our team can provide an estimate of how long the work will take. Prior to our arrival, our team will provide a comprehensive briefing and will be available to address any questions or concerns you may have.
If more than 10m2 of bonded asbestos or any friable asbestos is being removed, it is mandatory to notify your neighbours a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Our team will take care of this notification process and be available to answer any questions your neighbours may have.
If more than 10m2 of bonded asbestos or any friable asbestos has been removed, obtaining an asbestos clearance certificate is essential. Our team will make arrangements for an independent hygienist to examine the finished work and issue a clearance certificate to you.
DEMOLITION FAQ’S
Obtaining a quote from our team is easy. Just let us know some information about your project to get started. Our team gather further information from you and also make use of online resources such as ariel mapping tools, Dial Before You Dig, google street view and real estate websites. A site visit can also be arranged where required. Quotes are normally available within 2-5 business days.
The necessity to obtain approval for your demolition project is subject to the regulations of your local council. Generally, for small-scale demolition projects like the removal of a shed or garage at the back, council approval is not necessary. In some cases, major incidents such as fires or floods affecting your property may exempt you from seeking council approval. However, for more significant projects, submitting a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) through a building certifier is typically required to obtain approval. If you opt to apply for a separate demolition works approval, it will enable you to commence the demolition project while your new building DA is still in council.
An optimal and safe demolition plan is developed by our highly experienced team for each project, which may involve a combination of hand dismantling and machine work. The methods used for demolition are determined by the nature of the site and the structures to be demolished.
Before carrying out demolition, it is necessary to ascertain the presence of hazardous materials, including asbestos. In case asbestos is present, safe removal is mandatory before proceeding with demolition. To obtain an asbestos clearance certificate, we will hire an independent hygienist. This certificate is a prerequisite for council or your certifier upon project completion.
This depends on the size of the property and any additional works you need us to do in order to prepare your site for your new home. We recommend you allow around 2 weeks from our commencement for the demolition of an averaged sized home.
Yes. Electricity, phone, gas, sewer and NBN services must be disconnected for demolition works to proceed safely. Your water account should be left active, with a tap being installed inside of the water meter so there is access to water onsite. You should allow 4-5 weeks for disconnections to take place. In many instances it is simpler for you to arrange for disconnects directly with your service providers but please let us know if you need any assistance.
No. We will allow to install site fencing in our quote, unless your builder has already arranged for a site fence.
Your approval conditions will likely require you to notify your neighbours and this would be a good thing to do anyway. Where asbestos removal is required, we will inform your neighbours as part of our normal procedures.
Many materials can be recycled including bricks, roof tiles, concrete, metal, timber and green waste. Sustainability is a something our team and our customers value. We take pride in carrying out our works to ensure we are able to recycle and reuse as much material from each project as is practically possible.
We understand that every house holds a wealth of memories. If there is a particular item that you would like to retain, please let us know so we can discuss if that is possible.
Smaller trees, stumps, shrubs, gardens, can all be removed as part of the demolition process, while larger trees may need to be removed by a specialist arborist. You should speak to your local council to find out whether approval is required for removing trees.
Any requirements for documentation will be noted as part of your approval for the demolition works. This may include a demolition certificate or an asbestos clearance certificate if asbestos was removed. Please let us know the requirements and we will provide them for you upon full payment of our invoice.
Yes. There are insurances that must be maintained by all licensed demolition contractors. We are fully insured for asbestos removal liability, public and product liability, workers compensation and vehicle insurances.
