Asbestos Containing Materials
Bonded Asbestos
When asbestos fibres are bonded to another material, such as a cement or resin binder, it is known as bonded asbestos. It cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry. Common uses in buildings include: flat (fibro), corrugated or compressed asbestos-cement (AC) sheeting; water, drainage and flue pipes and floor tiles.
Friable Asbestos
Friable asbestos material is any asbestos material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the pressure of an ordinary human hand. Friable materials include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, millboard, sprayed fire retardant material on steel work. Friable asbestos is most commonly found in plant room where high heat machinery occurs.
From Bonded Asbestos to Friable Asbestos
Often bonded asbestos materials have become friable as the other materials in them have broken down with age and weather or have been, subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting or extreme heat (fire). Friable asbestos is dangerous because it releases toxic fibres into the air. Breathing in these microscopic mineral fibres is what makes people sick, even though symptoms may not show for decades.
Check Out the Safety Basics of Asbestos on the WorkSafe Victoria Website