Although thousands of products were made with asbestos the most common products used in buildings are fibre cement, thermal insulation, vinyl tiles, bitumen fibrous backing and pipe lagging.

Asbestos in its pure form is Friable. Friable asbestos was mainly used in industrial applications and commercial structures but also may have been used in residential properties. Examples include fire retardants such as sprayed coatings on walls and beams, textured coatings sprayed onto ceilings, pipe lagging and mill board in air conditioning heater banks and hot water systems.

Friable asbestos is extremely dangerous because the fibres are uncontained and can easily become airborne. Only a Class A Licenced Asbestos Removalist can remove friable asbestos.

Non Friable Asbestos are materials containing asbestos fibres reinforced with a bonding compound that cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry, unlike Friable Asbestos. Non Friable asbestos containing materials are unlikely to release dangerous fibres if they remain sealed in good condition and remain undisturbed. They do not need to be removed unless damaged or during refurbishment or demolition.

Below are common types of asbestos materials that can be found in residential and commercial buildings constructed or renovated prior to the 1990s.