Pinnacle Safety and Training Blog

Industry news - Changes to Queensland asbestos regulation

From 1 May 2021 in Queensland, low density asbestos fibre board (LDB), also known as asbestos insulating board, will be classified as a friable material. This means LDB can only legally be removed by a class A asbestos removal licence holder.

What is LDB?

James Hardie manufactured LDB as a material with the asbestos bonded to a calcium silicate. This material had brand names of ‘Asbestolux’ and ‘Duralux’ and was manufactured as flat sheets, sometimes with perforations to assist with noise attenuation. It is a lightly compressed board which looks similar to asbestos cement (AC) sheeting or plasterboard. It is different because it can be easily bent by hand or dented by soft pressure. That is, LDB tends to bend or flex when pressure is first applied and then will tear rather than snap once it reaches its breaking point. Nails and other fasteners cannot easily be removed from LDB without it tearing and breaking into very small pieces.

More information on how to identify Low Density Board is available here.

Where was LDB used?

LDB was manufactured from the 1950s to the 1970s as flat and perforated sheet products and was used for wall and ceiling panels, thermal and acoustic insulation, fire protection and for general building work in industrial and commercial buildings, education facilities and domestic premises.

What does this mean for our asbestos students?

If you hold a class B asbestos removal licence and you need to remove LDB after 1 May in Queensland, you will need to:

  • Undertake Remove Friable Asbestos training, and
  • Apply to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for a class A asbestos removal licence prior to this deadline.

Images below

Left: LDB perforated ceiling sheets Note, the flush finish of the nail fixings

Right: The differences between asbestos cement sheeting (labelled A) and LDB (labelled B). The LDB has a matt finish compared to the smooth finish on a non LDB sheet. The LDB is also lighter in colour.

Raymond was very professional as a tutor. Very approachable throughout the course, continually asking if we required more time and resources, providing excellent examples of material (slides, knowledge or internet references) appropriate to the topic being discussed.

Nigel M. - Brisbane, QLD

Public Course Participant Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety