ACM (Asbestos-Containing Material)
ACM means asbestos-containing material: any product or structure that contains asbestos. Triggers Class A or B licence requirements and HRCW SWMS obligations.
Ask Chalkline about this →ACM stands for asbestos-containing material: any product, component, or structure that incorporates asbestos as an ingredient, regardless of the asbestos concentration. In Australian WHS law, working with or likely disturbing ACM is High-Risk Construction Work (HRCW category 4), requiring a SWMS before work starts. ACM found in residential buildings typically includes fibro (fibre cement) sheeting, roofing tiles, floor tiles, carpet underlay, pipe lagging, and textured paint on pre-1990 homes.
ACM is classified as either friable (crumbles easily, releasing fibres: pipe lagging, loose fill insulation, spray-on coatings) or non-friable (bonded, harder to break: fibro sheeting, vinyl floor tiles). Removal of more than 10 m² of non-friable ACM requires a Class B asbestos removal licence; any friable ACM requires a Class A licence. Once removed, an independent licensed asbestos assessor must issue an asbestos clearance certificate before the site can proceed.
A pre-demolition asbestos survey identifies and registers all ACM in a structure before demolition or major renovation. Buildings constructed before 1990 are treated as likely to contain ACM; properties built before 2004 are considered at risk (verified 2026-05-10 via SafeWork NSW).
Also known as: asbestos-containing material
Category: WHS / asbestos
Related
- Asbestos removal pathways: Class A and Class B licences
- Asbestos identification on residential renos
- Demolition contractor on a residential job
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.