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Vinyl flooring and tiles with asbestos

Description

Asbestos backed vinyl flooring and tiles, or asphalt tiles that have visual appearance of vinyl or linoleum.

Large range of colours and patterns marketed to DIY homeowners over decades.

Produced in Australia 1950s-1970s.

CSR Vinylflex asbestos flooring was still being marketed in 1979. In 1982 CSR sold their Vinylflex production arm to US-based manufacturer Armstrong-Nylex.

A large amount of production occurred in USA. Imported tiles for sale in Australia during this period cannot be estimated.

Asbestos content could range 20-45%.

Years of production/use

Production: Prior to 1980s

Use: prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Vinylflex (CSR)

    • Vinylflex is also a current brand name for PVC based tiles and other goods with no asbestos.

  • Kentile (USA)
  • Asphalt tiles (CSR)
  • Johns Manville (USA)
  • Dermide
  • Vinylcraft (Nairntile)
  • Dunlop Vinyl
  • Olympic Tyre and Rubber
  • Supervinyl (Nylex)
  • Royal Flexyl
Residential uses
  • Kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, and offcuts used to line cupboard shelving
  • Splashbacks and feature walls in kitchen or laundry areas
Industrial uses
  • Offices and commercial buildings, commercial kitchens, shops, cafés, restaurants, department stores, bowling alleys – community buildings/halls with high foot traffic
  • Government buildings – Defence, telecommunications, hospitals and other offices
Be aware

Paint-on adhesives for attachment to floorboards/slabs may also contain asbestos. Particularly if black in colour.

Non-asbestos flooring may have been overlaid on top to reduce cost/workload of removal.

Underlays of AC flat sheeting or asbestos felt.

Further information

Linoleum flooring is made of linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, pine resin and pigments, and then pressed into cotton scrim fabric. 

Vinyl is a synthetic product made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When combined with asbestos, which acts as a binder, the product had durability and firmness for high foot-traffic areas. Also known as a thermoplastic tile, asbestos was added as to the vinyl resin during the manufacturing process. It may be incorporated as a backing on the tile, or in the main tile material itself.

The tiles were marketed for both flooring and walls. Tiles were not only square but produced in rectangular sizes and (feature) planks and strips. As well as plain colours, tiles and flooring imitated terrazzo, marble and woodgrain. Tile and flooring manufacturers also supplied asbestos felt underlay and adhesives for use when laying.

Tiles and feature strips were marketed to be installed in pattens at the discretion of the customer, including vertically on walls and other structures.

Asbestos cement cornice

Description

Moulded structures plastered into interiors. Aesthetic designs may vary. Will not break as easily as plasterboard-type equivalents.

More likely in structures of inter-war period to mid-1940s. 

Years of production/use

Early to mid-20th century

Brands/products
  • Tasbestos
  • Asbestolite
  • Durabestos
Residential uses

Housing

Industrial uses

Offices

Be aware

Disturbance and breakages around fittings – lights etc.

Asbestos cement tween panels (Fillets) and beam insulation for fire rated flooring/ceilings in multi-level structures

Description

Fillets were constructed from recommended low density board (LDB) or AC sheeting.

Fillets were designed to be screwed/glued to joists between the ceiling tiles or AC sheeting to achieve fire rating.

Identical use as in single storey but with added layers of fillets to allow insertion of insulation around beams in tween flooring space. Beam insulation covered with AC or LDB sheeting.

LDB sheeting/strips needs particular care due to low density of product matrix that tears and damages easily.

Brands/products
  • Asbestolux (LDB)
  • Duralux (LDB) (Wunderlich Qld)

    • Duralux is also a current brand name for a fibre board product manufactured in Australia with no asbestos

  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Bevelux (LDB)
  • Any brand AC sheeting cut to size
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses
  • Blocks of flats or apartments
Industrial uses
  • Commercial and government offices buildings. Tween space above suspended ceiling tiles
  • Multi-level factories/warehouses
Be aware

Damaged material with accumulated asbestos debris and dust in vicinity.

Adhesives may also contain asbestos.

LDB estimated asbestos content is up to 70%.

Since May 2021, LDB is classified as friable in all circumstances under Queensland law.

Asbestos cement tween panels (Fillets) for fire rated ceilings

Description

Fillets were constructed from Asbestolux low density board (LDB) or AC sheeting.

Fillets were designed to be screwed to joists between the ceiling tiles or AC sheeting to achieve fire rating.

They were also fixed into upper wall areas behind cornice or moulded scotia lengths.

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Asbestolux (LDB)
  • Duralux (LDB) (Wunderlich Qld)

    • Duralux is also a current brand name for a fibre board product manufactured in Australia with no asbestos

  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Bevelux (LDB)
  • Any brand AC sheeting cut to size

Removal of LDB sheeting/strips needs particular care due to low density of product matrix that tears and damages easily. Must be removed by a qualified and/or licensed asbestos removalist.

LDB estimated asbestos content is up to 70%.

Safe Work Australia Guide: How to identify and handle low density asbestos fibre board.

Residential uses

Unknown

Industrial uses

More likely in commercial, office or government building

Be aware

May require roof space inspection to identify.

Might easily be missed by DIY renovators or previously covered with non-ACM panelling.

Ceiling tiles and panels

Description

Panels and tiles may be perforated with holes or solid with no perforations.

May be constructed from AC sheeting, but often made from low density board (LDB) when installed in commercial structures to achieve fire rating. Refer to LDB information page.

Perforations provided an acoustic insulation. Number and pattern of perforations may vary between manufacturers and product specs marketed.

May be fixed in place with sheer point nails, adhesive or clicked into position on suspended frames for access to ceiling space for air conditioning ducts etc.

Brands/products
  • Asbestolux (LDB)
  • Versilux
  • Duralux (LDB) (Wunderlich Qld)

    • Duralux is also a current brand name for a fibre board product manufactured in Australia with no asbestos

  • Bevelux (LDB)
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos

Since May 2021, LDB is classified as friable in all circumstances in Queensland.

Years of production/use

1950s – 1970s

Residential uses

Perforated acoustic panels marketed to children’s, family rooms and utility areas

Industrial uses

Office spaces, community buildings, schools and other government buildings, commercial offices with suspended ceiling systems

Be aware

Removal process hazardous if not undertaken with care due to low density of product matrix that tears and damages easily. Must be removed by a qualified and/or licensed asbestos removalist.

LDB estimated asbestos content is up to 70%.

Asbestolux was advertised as ‘…protection from fire, sound, heat, cold and condensation.’

Designed to be cut to size for edging etc. Exposed fibres would result.

Asbestos cement ceiling sheeting

Description

Appearance can be identical to seamless plasterboard (non-ACM) ceiling sheets.

Older ceilings may have AC or wooden battens over jointing. Butted jointing of sheets may have v-edging with shear point nail heads (clouts) visible.

Early to mid-20th century ceilings may have moulded patterns such as rectangles or diamonds.  Usually installed in conjunction with AC cornices and walls.

Commercial buildings built from late 1960s onwards may have aluminium moulded jointing strips.

See also: Low Density Board

Brands/products
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Tasbestos
  • Asbestolite
  • Fibrock
  • Wunderflex
  • Versilux
  • Asbestolux (LDB)
  • Duralux (LDB) (Wunderlich Qld)

    • Duralux is also a current brand name for a fibre board product manufactured in Australia with no asbestos

  • Bevelux (LDB)
Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Residential uses
Houses, apartments and all residential applications. Sheds, enclosed garages.
Industrial uses

Offices, community and government buildings, workshops, factory structures etc

Be aware

A ceiling lower than normal height or suspended tiles/panel system in an older building may still have original AC sheeting in place.

Asbestos cement louvres

Description

Louvres to allow air flow into structure. May be moulded AC fixed into place (horizontal or vertical) with gutter bolts and no hinged movement, moulded AC for fitting into adjustable (hinged) frames, or adapted AC sheeting cut and placed into hinged frames that allows open and closing.

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Fibrolite
  • Durabestos
  • Any AC sheeting
Residential uses
  • Window systems in tropical locations
  • Attached car ports, garages, screening
Industrial uses
  • Ventilation installed within for flat walling on warehouses, plant structures
  • Ventilation for HVAC cooling towers
Be aware

Environmental damage to exposed flat surfaces

Asbestos cement corner and angle mouldings

Description

Designed for vertical use, but may also have been applied horizontally or on pitched roofs.

Corner right angles for external and internal application of sheeting for flat wall sheeting and panels of different aesthetic design (refer planks and moulded panels).

Some barge moulding for roof edges was also used for vertical corner angles.

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

Prior to 1990

Residential uses
  • Houses, sheds, garages, fences
  • Internal walls and ceilings subject to structural requirements
Industrial uses
  • Factories, warehouses, community buildings, schools and offices
Be aware

External positioning may have been more subject to damage by environmental forces over time.

Asbestos cement ventilators

Description

Moulded vent, sitting external to, or plastered into wall or ceiling sheet.

May be rectangular or round, in shape. May be a sheet adjacent to and covering insect mesh.

Internal and external use.

Years of production/use

Prior to 1990

Brands/products
  • Asbestolite
  • Durabestos
  • Fibrolite
  • Fibrock
Residential uses
  • Houses
Industrial uses
  • Offices, government and public buildings
  • Community buildings, churches
Be aware

Damaged vents may leave debris behind wall or in duct space if installed as point of entry for air duct. 

May have identical appearance to plaster cast vents.

Asbestos cement architraves and window components

Description

Moulded AC fittings for around windows and architraves (interior and exterior) to allow structured fit with AC corrugated sheeting used for walls. Mainly designed for exterior.

  1. Door and window head
  2. Windowsill
  3. Vertical window stile
  4. Windowsill stop-end – spigoted
  5. Door and window head stop-end – spigoted

Jointing coverstrips were also used for this function.

Spigoted sections and stop-ends produced.

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

Prior to 1990

Residential uses

Houses, garages, sheds

Industrial uses

Offices, community and government buildings and all industrial building applications

Be aware

Damaged or weathered product may have exposed fibres or be easily crumbled.

Bituminous felt washers were often used with the screws for fixing.

Hardie’s 1961 instructions:

For 1 and 2 – Fixings:  4” roofing screws or 4” roofing bolts, together with round galvanised iron washers and bituminous felt washers, fixed through moulding into window girt.

For 3, 4 and 5 – Fixings:  3½” roofing screws or 3½” roofing bolts, together with round galvanised iron washers and bituminous felt washers, fixed through moulding into window trimmers.

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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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