Asbestos was mixed with cement, vinyl and other materials to make asbestos-containing building products. Although asbestos fibres are durable, the materials binding them into these products degrade over time. Use, chemical breakdown and environmental exposure can weaken materials, increasing the likelihood of fibre release.
Degradation isn't always visible
Most asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are more than 40 years old. Even products that appear intact may have internal degradation.
Product lifespan
Many ACMs are at or nearing the end of their estimated lifespan. As binding materials continue to degrade, managing ACMs in place indefinitely is not a sustainable approach.
Estimated minimum, average and maximum lifespans for eight asbestos products commonly recorded in AIRSystem. These estimates inform removal planning. They don’t establish a safe period for leaving an individual ACM in place.
Explore further
Read how cement, vinyl and bituminous binding materials degrade, and what this means for asbestos risk assessment.
Read our Ageing and Degrading Asbestos-Containing Materials paper.
Updated 1 July 2026