Friable Asbestos Removal
Pipe lagging and insulation, removed under enclosure and monitoring
Removal of friable asbestos: material that can be crumbled by hand when dry. Pipe lagging, loose insulation, sprayed coatings and sheeting that has been damaged badly enough to behave the same way. A different licence class from bonded work, with an enclosure, negative pressure and air monitoring throughout.
Removal by licensed asbestos removalists. Max holds demolition licence AD214737
Before anything starts
Six things have to be settled first, and not all of them are ours
Most jobs that run late run late on this list rather than on the work itself. Each line says who owns it.
- 01
Survey confirming the material is friable
Who Max, through an accredited laboratory
This is the finding that changes the licence class, the method and the cost.
- 02
Class A licensed removalist engaged
Who Max
Friable work requires a higher licence class than bonded. We arrange the right contractor.
- 03
Notification
Who Max, with SafeWork NSW
Friable removal is notifiable, with a notice period set by the regulation.
- 04
Building vacated for the duration
Who You
Not negotiable in most cases. The enclosure and the negative pressure only work if the area is clear.
- 05
Independent assessor engaged
Who Max
Air monitoring runs throughout, not only at the end, and it is done by somebody independent of the removalist.
- 06
Power and water available
Who You
An enclosure under negative pressure needs both, continuously.
Scope
What the quote does and does not cover
Stated side by side so there is nothing to discover later. Anything in the right hand column can be added, it is simply priced separately.
Included as standard
| Item | What that means |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Sealed, under negative pressure, with a decontamination unit |
| Removal | By a licensed asbestos removalist of the appropriate class |
| Air monitoring | Throughout the work, by an independent licensed assessor |
| Clearance | Visual inspection and clearance air monitoring before the enclosure comes down |
| Wrapping, transport and disposal | To a facility licensed to receive asbestos, with dockets |
| Clearance certificate | Issued by the independent assessor |
Quoted separately
| Item | Why it is separate |
|---|---|
| Bonded material | A different licence class, usually quoted alongside |
| Contaminated soil | Excavation work, classified before pricing |
| Reinstatement | Lagging, insulation or linings replaced by others afterwards |
| Relocation costs | Where the building has to be vacated |
| Structural work | Where the material was part of something load bearing |
| Areas outside the enclosure | Scope follows the survey and the enclosure boundary |
The detail
Why friable work costs what it costs
- The enclosure is most of the job. Building a sealed enclosure, running it under negative pressure and setting up decontamination is substantial work before any removal starts.
- The licence class is higher. Friable removal requires a Class A licensed removalist. The pool of contractors is smaller and the controls are heavier.
- Monitoring runs throughout. Not a single test at the end but continuous monitoring by an independent assessor, which is a separate engagement.
- The building has to be empty. Which usually means relocation costs that sit outside the removal quote entirely.
- Clearance is stricter. Visual inspection plus clearance air monitoring before the enclosure comes down, and if it fails, the cleaning repeats.
- There is often more of it than expected. Lagging follows pipework into subfloors and roof spaces, and the quantity is rarely obvious from the access point.
What we need to quote it
- The address
- So we can look at access and what is around it
- Photographs
- One from the street and one of the work itself
- Any reports you hold
- Hazardous materials, structural, survey or levels
- Your dates
- What has to be finished by when, and what is waiting on it
We attend the site before quoting anything substantial.
Found it during a renovation?
Stop. Disturbed friable material in an occupied building is the scenario the controls exist for. Do not continue working in the area and do not attempt to clean it up.
Before you book
What people ask about this one
What is the difference between friable and bonded?
Does the building have to be empty?
Who does the air monitoring?
How long does it take?
Does Max hold the asbestos licence?
Get a quote
Tell us where it is and whether it has been disturbed
Whether the material is intact or already damaged is the first question, because it changes the urgency as well as the method. Do not disturb it further to find out.
- Class A licensed removalist engaged for friable work
- Enclosure, negative pressure and continuous independent air monitoring
- Clearance certificate issued independently before the enclosure comes down
Special demolition offer
Get your free demolition quote
Demolition and removal services from $15,999*. Tell us about your project and we'll help you understand the costs.
*Starting price applies to eligible demolition and removal projects only. Final pricing depends on structure size, materials, site access, location, waste disposal requirements, hazardous materials and any necessary approvals. A final quote will be provided following project assessment.