Sheeting, panels and pipes containing asbestos are found as building products and were extensively used in residential and commercial buildings particularly throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s and into the 1980’s. More generally they were used in wet areas and for external wall cladding and eaves lining. Building materials were less likely to contain asbestos later particularly by the 1990’s. The asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were often manufactured locally. Recently fibre cement building sheets imported from China has been found to contain asbestos. In Australia it has been illegal for ACMs be imported or to be used for building since the beginning of 2004.

Asbestos was used in the adhesive to glue down the carpet underlay which is often a black bitumous material. Vinyl tiles often contain chrysotile (white) asbestos. Be careful when lifting fibrous "paper" backed vinyl sheeting as this may contain friable asbestos. Asbestos was also carried in hessian bags from Wittenoon in Western Australia which was then subsequently used in some carpet underlay.

Asbestos can be located within the duct work of Air Conditioning re-heating units. This is more specifically located around heating elements. It can also be found in millboard lining which surrounds the air conditioning re-heating elements. Meter boxes may contain a dark insulation panel known as resin board or the commercial name, "zelemite". Occasionally meters have a white fibrous sheet of millboard which is friable.

Asbestos ceilings are common in houses constructed between the 1950s and before the 1990s. Asbestos ceilings were used because of their fireproofing and heat resistance properties. In houses, asbestos ceilings are most commonly found in bathrooms, laundries and garages as these are rooms where a fire may start unattended. Thus asbestos ceilings were used to reduce the risk of fire spreading through the ceiling. Verandah ceilings and asbestos eaves were also used to reduce the risk of fire spreading to adjoining properties.

Asbestos ceilings can contain the three common asbestos types which include chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown/grey asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). There are several types of common asbestos ceilings including:

- Asbestos Cement Sheet

- Asbestos Insulating Board

- Asbestos Ceiling Tiles

- Sprayed Insulation (vermiculite or popcorn asbestos ceiling)

The only way you can definitively determine if a ceiling has asbestos is to have a sample tested. When sampling the ceiling asbestos, fibres will fall within your breathing zone posing a risk. Correct sampling techniques for asbestos ceilings include wetting the surface down, using plastic drop sheets, wearing protective respiratory equipment and disposable overalls.

The risk of asbestos related health issues vary and can depend on whether the asbestos ceiling comprises bonded or friable asbestos, the condition of the material and the use and occupancy of the area. Bonded asbestos ceilings made of cement sheet and corrugated asbestos are generally quite stable when they are in good condition and are only cause for concern during renovations or major refurbishment. Minimising exposure to potentially dangerous airborne asbestos fibres will minimise risk of contracting asbestos disease.

Friable asbestos ceilings such as popcorn asbestos ceilings are potentially quite hazardous due to fibres that may be released from small amounts of disturbance. Other issues can arise with asbestos ceiling tiles in commercial buildings where contractors may be moving the asbestos panels to gain access to the ceiling. The edges of the panels can rub on the frames that hold them in place, creating dust. This can increase over the years creating a significant hazard. Special precautions are required when accessing asbestos ceiling tiles and panels.