Should All Fences Be Tested for Asbestos Now?

Homeowners in New Zealand are starting to get the hang of safe DIY practices. Many of us now know that if our homes were built before 2000, asbestos testing could be necessary for health and safety purposes.

Otherwise, you might risk releasing fine asbestos particles into the air, which may lead to health complications later in life, such as cancer and asbestosis.  

However, did you know that even your fence could contain this hazardous natural material? As it turns out, it’s not just our homes that we need to worry about, but also our boundaries.

What Is An Asbestos Fence?

An asbestos fence is a fence made from asbestos-containing materials (ACM). In New Zealand, many fences and architecturally designed walls throughout the country were made with Super Six (6) and Super Eight (8) fence panels, similar to Super Six (6) roofing materials.

Super Six is the trade name given to asbestos-cement sheet materials that were favoured for their robustness, fire resistance, and easy installation process. They were also easy to mould into various shapes, making them even more desirable for manufacturers and builders alike.

Are Asbestos Fences Safe?

Asbestos fences can be reasonably safe. In fact, nearly all ACM can be safe to live with if it’s well-maintained and in excellent condition.

Homeowners with asbestos fences can regularly paint and maintain them to keep them safe for their families and neighbouring homes, but when that doesn’t happen, the problems can begin.

Poorly maintained asbestos fences can be a health hazard for homeowners, neighbours, and even people walking past. Once the asbestos materials become damaged or broken, tiny particles can be released into the air. When a fence reaches this point, hiring licenced asbestos removalists to remove the fence is often the best course of action.

And this very action was considered when a crumbling asbestos fence in South Auckland was identified. According to hazmat consultants mentioned in the Stuff.co.nz article, the fence in Pukekohe could be a health risk if the ACM fragments were strewn across the path and run over by vehicle operators and cyclists.

The same hazmat consultant also said while asbestos fences can be maintained and sealed with paint, a crumbling one was a cause for concern. After assessing the fence, he deemed it ‘medium to high risk’ because he wasn’t immediately sure if it contained blue asbestos with sharp crocidolite fibres.

What Is Blue Asbestos?

Blue asbestos, which is known as crocidolite asbestos, is the most hazardous asbestos type in the amphibole family. It was most often used in steam engine insulation, pipe insulation, spray-on coatings, and cement sheets and is responsible for more deaths than any other asbestos type.

If fences contain blue asbestos and are in a state of disrepair, removing them is crucial for the health and safety of all who might encounter it.  

How to Remove An Asbestos Fence

When you learn that your fence contains asbestos, it’s only natural to be concerned for your family’s health and well-being. Even if your fence is in excellent condition, you may wish to remove the danger altogether by upgrading your fence to something safer.

Whether it’s in a state of disrepair or perfectly safe, contacting a licenced removal company can offer much-needed peace of mind. They can put all necessary safety measures in place during the removal process and even dispose of the asbestos waste at an approved facility.

Best Fencing Materials in NZ

Once you’ve removed your asbestos-containing fence, you’ve then got the exciting job of choosing which fencing material you’d like to take its place. The sky’s the limit, as there are so many different options to choose from!

If you only need your fence to be decorative, such as a front boundary, a simple picket fence might be more than suitable for your needs. However, when you value your privacy and security to the side and rear of your home, a colorbond solid steel fence might tick all the right boxes.

Paling fences are also popular, particularly if you adore the natural look of timber, such as treated pine, and can’t wait to stain or paint it in your preferred colour.

You might also like to opt for something similar to what you already had, but in materials not containing asbestos. An excellent option might be a HardieFence system. Such a fencing system requires no hole-digging and consists of corrugated fibre cement sheets installed in a trench with metal capping to tie the look together. You can then get your paintbrush out and paint it to suit your preferences.

Focus On Fencing

Every homeowner aspires to provide a safe home for their loved ones, and an asbestos fence might be standing in the way. If you want to confirm that your fence contains asbestos or require asbestos fence removal, now might be the right time to contact reputable asbestos removalists in NZ.