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Asbestos roofs: what the rules let you do yourself

All three states draw a line at about 10 square metres. Who the line applies to, and what you need past it, is where they differ.

Every figure verified on or after

Rules 4 min read Published

In New South Wales, removing more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos, or any friable asbestos, needs a licensed asbestos removalist. In Queensland a homeowner removing more than 10 m² of bonded asbestos from their own home needs a certificate approved by Queensland Health, while a business doing that work needs a class B asbestos removal licence. In Victoria the limit on unlicensed work is 10 m², and 1 hour in any 7 days, but it is written for employers and self-employed people, and the state says removal is best done by a licensed asbestos removalist even at home.

The 10 square metre asbestos limit drawn on a roof plan A plan of a hip roof with a small patch marked as the 10 square metre limit. Below it, two panels: at or under the limit, non-friable asbestos may be removed without a licence subject to each state's conditions; past the limit, or for any friable asbestos, a licensed removalist is usually required; Queensland homeowners can hold a certificate instead, while businesses there need a licence. 10 m² limit At or under 10 m² Non-friable asbestos only. Each state sets what you must do first: a code of practice, a time limit or safety precautions. Past 10 m², or friable Usually a licensed asbestos removalist. Queensland homeowners can hold a certificate; businesses need a licence.
New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria all draw the line at the same area. What each one asks of you past that line is where they differ.

Could my roof contain asbestos?

The NSW Government's asbestos site says many homes built or renovated before 1990 still contain asbestos. Australia's total ban on using, re-using, making, importing, transporting, storing and selling it has applied since 31 December 2003.

The two dates that matter
The two dates that matter A year axis from 1985 to 2010 with two marked events. 1990: Many homes built or renovated before this still contain asbestos; 31 Dec 2003: Total ban on asbestos across Australia. 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 1990 Many homes built or renovated before this still contain asbestos 31 Dec 2003 Total ban on asbestos across Australia
Show the dates
DateWhat happenedSource
1990 Many homes built or renovated before this still contain asbestos NSW Government asbestos website, when was asbestos banned in Australia?
31 Dec 2003 Total ban on asbestos across Australia NSW Government asbestos website, when was asbestos banned in Australia?

Official source: NSW Government asbestos website, when was asbestos banned in Australia?.

A date only tells you how likely asbestos is. Plenty of older houses have tile or steel roofs with no asbestos in them, and plenty of fibro eaves sit under a newer roof. If the answer changes the job, have the material tested before work starts rather than after a sheet breaks.

How much can be removed without a licence?

State Without a licence Past that point
NSW up to 10 m² of non-friable asbestos in total, by a homeowner or a tradesperson working for them, following the Code of Practice A licensed removalist for more than 10 m²: a Class B asbestos removal licence for non-friable, and a Class A asbestos removal licence for any friable asbestos
QLD, your own home 10 m² or less of bonded asbestos, with no certificate needed A Queensland Health approved certificate for more than 10 m², and a class A asbestos removal licence for any friable asbestos
QLD, a business Small amounts of non-friable asbestos, below the Class B threshold a class B asbestos removal licence for the larger non-friable jobs, and a class A licence for friable asbestos. A homeowner's certificate does not cover a business.
VIC, tradespeople and employers Non-friable only, capped at 10 m², and 1 hour in any 7 days All other non-friable asbestos, and any friable asbestos, must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist
VIC, your own home No area limit is set for homeowners Victoria says the work is best done by a licensed asbestos removalist

What does New South Wales ask of you?

SafeWork NSW allows up to 10 m² of non-friable asbestos in total without a licence. Anyone doing it is expected to read and follow the Code of Practice on safely removing asbestos, understand the health risks, and make sure anyone helping has asbestos awareness training. Past that, removing more than 10 m² means a licensed removalist, and the licence class matters: a business needs a Class B asbestos removal licence for bonded sheeting and a Class A asbestos removal licence for friable material. SafeWork NSW's own advice goes further and recommends a licensed removalist for any amount of asbestos.

What does Queensland ask of you?

Queensland splits the rule by who is doing the work. At home, the Public Health Regulation lets you remove 10 m² or less of bonded asbestos without a certificate. To remove more than 10 m², you need a certificate from a course Queensland Health has approved. Friable asbestos is different again: even in your own home, removing it takes a class A asbestos removal licence.

A roofing or removal business is covered by the work health and safety rules instead. Removing the larger amounts of non-friable asbestos takes a class B asbestos removal licence, issued by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, and friable asbestos takes a class A licence. The homeowner's certificate is not a licence, so a contractor who offers one in place of a Class B or Class A licence is not licensed for the job.

What does Victoria ask of you?

Victoria's numbers apply to employers and self-employed people, which takes in the roofer or builder you hire. They may remove non-friable asbestos without a licence only within 10 m², and 1 hour in any 7 days. Beyond that the rule is plain: all other non-friable asbestos, and all friable asbestos, must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist.

Homeowners working on their own house are not given an area limit on the state's homeowner page. It still says the work is best done by a licensed asbestos removalist, and it sets out the safety, packaging and disposal steps for anyone who goes ahead.

How big is 10 square metres on a roof?

Smaller than it sounds. A standard 3 to 4 bedroom Melbourne home has a roof of 120 to 170 m², going by Singh Roofing's restoration guide. If the roof itself is asbestos cement sheeting, a whole-roof job is far past 10 m², so it is licensed removalist work, or in Queensland work for a certificated homeowner on their own house. A tile or steel roof over fibro eaves is a smaller question about the eaves.

What to ask before a roofer starts

  • Whether the roof, eaves or flashings have been tested, and what the report says.
  • How much material the job disturbs, measured, and which side of the 10 m² line that puts it on.
  • Their asbestos removal licence class and number, or the name and licence of the removalist they bring in. In Queensland that means a current Class B licence for bonded sheeting, or Class A for friable material.
  • How the waste leaves the site, written into the quote.

Every rule on this page comes from an official state page or regulation, linked below with the date it was verified. Rules change, and this is a plain summary, not legal advice.