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Asbestos cement water pipe couplings and connections

Description

Moulded AC couplings for connecting lengths of pipe: tees, bends, reducers, and air or sluice valves.

Tees and other connections for mains water supply for larger diameter piping were often cast iron.

Coupling (outside) diameters ranged from 6.90” (175mm) to 29.40” (747mm).

Hardies converted pipe production to metric sizing in April 1974.

See separate pages for AC agricultural and sewer piping/couplings.

Brands/products
  • Fibrolite
  • Supertite
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses
  • Used for pipes underground or within built infrastructure within multi-story buildings
Industrial uses
  • Mains water supply
  • Boiler rooms and factories requiring water cooling flows, waste runout from premises, mine sites.
Be aware
Appearance of aged AC pipes in-situ can be mistaken for concrete. Before commencing work with AC pipes in-situ, refer to: Asbestos-Cement Water and Sewer Pipe Management Guidelines.

Asbestos cement water and pressure pipes

Description

For mains freshwater infrastructure, hot water infrastructure, tank water supply, industrial wastewater, and stormwater drainage. White/off white/light grey in colour.

Pipe diameters ranged from 2” (51mm) to 2’ (610mm). See separate pages for AC couplings, agricultural and sewer piping.

Asbestos content generally 8-15%, mainly chrysotile asbestos with a smaller amount of amosite asbestos.

Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan water authorities installed AC water pipes imported from Europe in 1925 as a trial for water mains, before local production and supply commencing, by James Hardie, of Fibrolite AC pipes in 1927.

Fibrolite pipes manufactured between 1956-1968 will likely contain around 12% chrysotile asbestos, with 2-3% crocidolite asbestos.  

Brands/products
  • Dominated by Hardie’s in Australia
  • Fibrolite
  • Wunderlich-Hume
    • Production occurred for short period between 1961-1964
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990.

Metric pipe production commenced April 1974.

Hardies AC pipes produced from 1978 should be marked with a warning label about asbestos content.

Hardies ceased production of AC pipes in 1987. Pre-sold stocks were likely used after this date.  

Residential uses
  • Stormwater, mains supply to residence underground or within multi-storey residential buildings water infrastructure – pipe riser cupboards, ceiling spaces and into plant rooms.
Industrial uses
  • Industrial and mains freshwater, sludge and wastewater applications – pumping, gravitation and reticulation.
  • Mines tailings slurry, power station transport of coal ash slurry from boilers to settling ponds
  • Bore casings for mining activity
  • Potable and storm water piping in commercial multi-storey structures
Be aware

Appearance can be mistaken for sand-cement pipes. Exposed AC pipes left subject to long weathering will degrade and expose fibres.

Hot water pipes may have asbestos woven textile material insulating as a wrap or under pipe brackets.

Jurisdictional regulations may require electricity isolation/shut off before entering ceiling spaces for inspection purposes.

Before commencing work with AC pipes in-situ, refer to: Asbestos-Cement Water and Sewer Pipe Management Guidelines.

Asbestos cement water tanks

Description

Once commonly installed as header tanks in the roof space of older houses. If bypassed directly to mains water supply, they remain in situ unused.

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Not yet identified
Residential uses

Roof spaces

Industrial uses

Flat roof areas

Be aware

Removable AC lid for access to valve components. Edging of tank/lid can be damaged.

Externally installed tanks may be damaged due to weathering.

Asbestos cement toilet cisterns

Description

Moulded AC cisterns first produced around 1930s. Brisbane manufacturer produced Syphonia from around 1939.

Other models may be primarily Bakelite with asbestos, or asbestos resin composites, which were manufactured in UK. Often black in colour.

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Master Plumbers Manufacturing Co (MP)
  • Syphonia
  • Others not identified
Residential uses

Any residential toilets

Industrial uses

Any industrial or commercial building or public toilet

Be aware

Damage exposing fibres around top edge with lid.

Used cisterns obtained from demolitions are being sold on online shopping sites. Sellers may be unaware of asbestos content.

Asbestos cement flue pipes, cowls and fittings

Description

AC flue components for attachment to slow combustion (gas and briquette) heaters, gas hot water systems, cookers and central heating units. 

Pipe straight sections, bends, reducing connectors, socket connectors, adapters, bafflers and cowls of various shapes and sizes.  Pipe shapes were rounded and rectangular with a range of diameter sizes.

Brands/products
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses
  • Houses, garages, apartment blocks
Industrial uses
  • Community buildings
  • Plant rooms for multi-story buildings with central heating units
Be aware

Heater units still present may have AC millboard sheets as insulation liners in vicinity.

Accumulation of asbestos containing dust/ash in pipework.

AC parts covered with other materials, such as steel or tin throughout life.

Larger rounded pipes may have visual appearance of PVC.

The installation of AC flues, particularly for solid fuel burners or barbeques, may be a fire hazard due to splitting of the pipe structure from use. 

Asbestos cement disconnector trap surround (DT surround)

Description

Moulded AC surround placed at the base of downpipe and/or dry waste outlets.

Used in isolating or disconnecting waste pipes from the property sewer and soil pipes and for providing inlet ventilation to the waste pipe or pipes discharging into it.

Brands/products
  • Hardies
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses

Houses, flats, rural buildings

Industrial uses

Potentially any building structure

Be aware

May deteriorate through weathering or interference. 

AC top cover may have been replaced with concrete after damage with vertical AC sides remaining.

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
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Tasbestos
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.

Asbestos cement gutter sump outlets

Description

Positioned at fall-end of roof gutter and designed to allow flow into downpipe. Moulded AC in range of downpipe diameter fittings and shapes to suit – round, rectangle and oval (Cottage).

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Durabestos
  • Fibrolite
  • Tasbestos
  • Fibrock
Residential uses

Houses, garages

Industrial uses

Any potential industrial, commercial and community buildings

Be aware

Sumps, guttering and pipework installed with an AC roof will likely accumulate asbestos debris and dust.

Original installation fixings or repairs may incorporate asbestos cord and sealants, see fixings information page

Asbestos cement downpipes, junctions and spreaders

Description

AC downpipes, adapters, junctions, shoe bends and offset pipes. Usually had matching connections with AC gutters to enable supply and install together. T-shaped spreaders  designed for tiered roof systems (eg Queenslanders).

AC downpipes, particularly if painted, may have appearance of PVC. If original AC gutters exist, chances are downpipes are also AC.  

Pipe shapes were round, oval (cottage) and rectangular with hub ends for junctions.

Spreaders were connected to upper level downpipes for flow onto lower level roofs.

Brands/products
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Tasbestos
  • Fibrock
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses

Houses, garages, sheds

Industrial uses

All industrial and commercial buildings

Be aware

Weathered or damaged sections. Accumulation of asbestos dust and debris.

Bituminous membrane – felt rolls and compounds

Description

Used for waterproofing and termite prevention, as well as a durable underlayer below carpet or flooring such as linoleum or vinyl.

Applied as a rolled on felt and a bitumen paint compound applied over top or just a painted compound.

Some product had asphalt base and appearance.

Mid-20th Century applications were coloured (red or slate) and allowed use as the top layer flooring. Advertised as having acoustic qualities and being polishable.

Advertised for use on timber and concrete.

May have appearance as that of thick adhesive.

Some products were coloured with complementary lacquers: red, blue, brown and green.

Brands/products
  • Ormonoid
  • Lastoleum
  • Pabco
  • Mastipave
Years of production/use

1900s – 1970s

Residential uses

Layer under linoleum, kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.

Industrial uses

Office and commercial flooring, tram flooring, plant rooms, factories, plant rooms, laboratories, hospitals, hotels, clubs etc with high foot traffic.

Be aware

May be covered by multiple floor coverings over time.

May be mistaken for asphalt rubber compound.

See also: Chemicals/adhesives.

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Email: enquiries@asbestossafety.gov.au

Phone: 1300 326 148

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The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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