Asbestos is a mineral but is quite unique in the way that it is divisible into millions of fine fibres, soft to touch yet much stronger than the rock in which they are found. There are three most common types of asbestos that were mainly used. Chrysotile (white asbestos) Crocidolite (blue asbestos) Amosite (brown or grey asbestos). Blue asbestos has a history of causing the most harm due to its long and thin fibers which reach the lungs more easily than the curlier fibers like those of white asbestos.

The resistivity and incombustibility properties of asbestos led to its wide use in fire proofing and insulation over the years. Asbestos was added to many construction materials before 1979, including pipe and duct insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, asbestos cement used heavily in industrial furnaces and heating systems, casing for water/electrical/telecommunication services, roofing, ceilings, cement pipes and tiles, attic and wall insulation. Asbestos has not been used in domestic building materials since the 1980s but it was not until 31 December, 2003 that asbestos and all products containing asbestos were banned throughout Australia.

Asbestos by nature has a fragile composition and hazardous nature. Caution should be taken when asbestos containing materials are suspected until the area is surveyed and laboratory tests are carried out. Its removal, by Horsham Excavations and Demolition is undertaken by experienced and trained crews, who are equipped with the correct ’state of the art’ equipment. At Horsham Excavations & Demolition we enforce a stringent OH & S policy to remove, transport and dispose of Asbestos Containing Materials to comply with Health, Safety and Environmental Regulations.

The risks from asbestos are related directly to exposure to asbestos fibers commonly referred to as ‘asbestos dust’. This misleading term could be taken as a dusty environment, yet the fibers that cause harm to health cannot be normally seen with the naked eye and are known as respirable fibers.

These respirable asbestos fibers are able to by-pass the respiratory defense mechanisms and remain in the lungs for many years. Not all persons exposed to asbestos fibers suffer disease as we all have some asbestos in our lungs, but there is no known safe level of exposure.

It is extremely hard to identify if a product contains asbestos just by looking at it. See the diagram below for possible locations of asbestos within the home that was built or renovated prior to 1990.

The following list is where you may find asbestos containing products in your house:

Living Areas – insulation in wood heaters, asbestos cement sheeting in walls, ceilings and beneath wood-heater hearths, asbestos contaminated carpet underlay carpet.

Bathroom, Toilet and Laundry – asbestos cement sheet walls, ceilings and floors, backing to wall tiles, lagging on hot water pipes, hot water pipes set into masonry walls

Kitchen – walls, splashbacks, ceilings, in vinyl floor tiles, backing of vinyl sheet flooring, underlay sheeting for ceramic tiles, hot water pipes set into masonry walls

Roof Cavity – loose fill insulation, or asbestos debris contamination left from previous asbestos roof removal

Exterior– flat, patterned and corrugated wall and roof sheeting, roof guttering, ridge capping, imitation brick cladding and lining under eaves

Backyard – fences, garden sheds, garages, carports, outside toilets and dog kennels

Other– backing of electrical meter boards

Asbestos is no longer used in construction or refurbishment of any buildings but many thousands of tonnes of it were used in the past and much of it is still in place. As long as it is in good condition and is not being disturbed, damaged or exposed there is no imminent risk.

All Asbestos Containing Materials should be managed correctly when staying in place. If it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to our health because invisible asbestos fibers are released into the air. In such cases it should be removed.

There is no need to unnecessarily worry about asbestos in your home as long as it’s managed correctly. Just because you have it in your home does not mean you are going to get an asbestos related illness.

With a strong and reliable reputation for handling and executing demolitions, HED Industries is the team you can rely on. When it comes to having a demolition completed by the experts, you can trust HED Industries.

Delivering Perfect Results.

Our aim from the start of our operations was to provide a top quality and reliable demolition service, tailored around your property and your desired timeframe, all within an affordable budget.

Tailored Plan For You.

Right from the start of the demolition planning, we construct a strong blueprint around your requests and requirements. By having a plan in front of us, we will follow it exactly, ensuring that you get the results you want. At the same time, you will feel comfortable and relaxed in knowing that you will get what you want, in the timeframe and price you want.

Residential, Commercial & Industrial.

We can demolish anything up to 10 meters high, including residential, commercial and industrial properties. Our techniques and experience means that regardless of your building, we make demolish it to your specifications.

Recycled & Removed.

During the planning process, we assess the materials in the property that will be able to be recycled and separate them accordingly during the demolition process. We have an EPA approved facility to store and process all recyclable waste including bricks, concrete, timber and iron. We aim to recycle 80-90% of all waste created on a demolition site.

So you want to demolish a building but don’t know where to start. Let Horsham Excavations and Demolition help you. We have provided a step by step example the demolition process so as you can understand what’s involved…

1. Call us or complete the Demolition Quote Form on our homepage

2. We will arrange a site visit if possible in order to assess the property to give accurate costing and approximate timeline. If the property is deemed unsafe HED Industries can provide temporary fencing for the property to ensure public safety.

3. If asbestos is suspected on the site visit we will either get an asbestos expert to inspect the site or send a sample to a hygienist for testing. We ascertain how much asbestos there is to be removed to give an accurate quote.

4. Quote is prepared and given to the customer. We aim to have a quote completed within 2 business days of receiving asbestos clarification.

5. If the quote is accepted we then provide the customer with a demolition declaration which allows HED Industries to act as an agent on their behalf in order to apply for necessary permits

6. Once the demolition declaration is received the demolition permit is lodged with the appropriate authority

7. Services decommission is arranged, i.e. power, water, gas etc. Disconnection of services can take up to 8 weeks.

8. If asbestos has been detected WorkSafe must be notified 5 days prior to commencing its removal

9. Demolition begins

Many different factors determine the cost of a demolition project. HED Industries takes all factors into account to give you the best quote possible.

Location of the Site – HED Industries is located in Horsham, Victoria. We can travel to any job in Victoria and also interstate if required.

Access – Is the structure easy to get to? Is it on sloping land or does it require manouvering to get to? Can trucks, excavators, cranes and bobcats easily enter the job site?

Precense of Asbestos -Does the structure to be demolished contain asbestos? Asbestos can potentially be an extremely harmful and deadly substance and must be treated accordingly by a licenced Asbestos Removalist such as HED Industries. Asbestos can only be removed by a professional who knows how to saftely remove and dispose of it.

Public Impact – Sometimes demolition or asbestos removal may need to take place at night in order to minimise disruption and ensure public safety. This can often be the case in commercial demolition or if the worksite is for example adjoining a kindergarten or school.

Size of the job – The size of the structure to be demolished will determine the number of personal we will need to have onsite to ensure a thorough, time efficient and safe project. Larger projects will also require larger machines and will take a longer period of time and incur higher waste removal cost

Salvage – Extra costs are incurred when part of a structure needs to be salvaged or a close by or adjoining structure needs to be protected from the demolition process.

Each job is uniquely different in size and complexity. When we take a close look at your project we can give you an approximate timeline however sometimes we encounter uncontrollable determining factors that include decommissioning of services (gas,water,power) and the time it takes to receive council permits. An exception to this is if you have received an emergency order to demolish a structure that is unsafe.