Bituminous coated imitation roof tiles
Description
Imported product marketed through Australian franchises under the name ACI Decramastic and AHI Harveytile. Other roofing companies installed the Harveytile product as well.
Decramastic was shaped steel sheet of imitation roof tiles 1350x400mm (also known as Decrabond). Harveytile was a similar product.
The shaped steel sheet was covered on the top side with a bituminous coating which contained asbestos. A fine stone/pebble chip was added to the coating at the point of manufacture, to provide the appearance of cement tiles. Marketed in six colours.
Decramastic was first produced in 1957 by the manufacturer AHI Roofing (NZ), it gained Australian popularity in the 1970s.
Marketed as colour-fast and maintenance-free, as a cheaper replacement for older cast iron and asbestos roofing and for extensions.
In mid-1977 ACI Decramastic stated 30,000 Australian homes had the product on their roofs. An estimate of ACM amongst this is unknown. Use of the ACM coating ceased in the early 1980s.
In the mid-1970s the Harveytile product was introduced to the Australian market.
Brands/products
- Decramastic
- Decrabond
- Harveytile
Years of production/use
1957 – early 1980s (ACM risk)
Residential uses
- Housing
Industrial uses
- Government buildings including housing commission and military
- Public buildings
Be aware
Similar models of non-ACM sheets were marketed from the early 1980s. Assume asbestos is present until determined otherwise. Affected models of this product can only be determined by sampling and testing at a NATA accredited laboratory.
In 2016 AHI Roofing (NZ) published an industry alert about the ACM product.
The coating adhesion may deteriorate overtime through weathering. Asbestos containing debris is likely in roof guttering.
Some installations left original AC roof sheeting in place, installing the roofing onto new purlins over the top.
