Home / Building structures & components / Pipes and Plumbing / Asbestos cement rainheads Asbestos cement rainheads Description Rainheads, aka hoppers, are designed to slow heavy rainwater flow into downpipe. May contain removable interior leaf catcher. Positioned directly under structural end of gutter or just where downpipes are located.Modern equivalents produced in PVC and steel. Years of production/use Prior to 1990 Brands/products FibroliteDurabestosTasbestos Residential uses Houses Industrial uses All roofed industrial and commercial structures Be aware Accumulation of asbestos debris and dust.Original installation and repair may have seen the use of asbestos compounds or sealants. James Hardie image circa 1950s Wunderlich Durabestos external rainhead, 1950s AC rainhead and downpipe inside industrial building, from AC sawtooth roof – James Hardie image – State Library NSW