Is asbestos dangerous if I leave it alone?
NEA's guidance is that non-friable asbestos materials, such as cement sheets and boards, should not pose a health hazard if they are in good condition and not damaged. The danger comes when they are broken, drilled, cut, sanded or demolished, releasing fibres into the air. MOM advises building owners to survey, manage asbestos-containing materials that remain, take corrective action immediately if they are damaged, and use an approved removal contractor for any removal or repair.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Asbestos in Renovation and Strip-Out in Singapore: Surveys, Approved Removal and Owner Duties. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
In Singapore, building works on a building whose completion certificate or TOP was issued before 1 January 1991 must not start until a competent person has surveyed for asbestos. Any asbestos found may only be removed by an MOM-approved asbestos-removal contractor, which must notify MOM at least 7 days ahead. The occupier must ensure no one else removes it, and the waste goes by licensed collector to Semakau Landfill.
More questions on this topic
- Does my building contain asbestos?
- Do I need an asbestos survey before renovating?
- Can my renovation contractor remove asbestos ceiling boards?
- How much notice does MOM need before asbestos removal?
- What happens to the asbestos waste?
- Who is responsible: the owner or the contractor?
- What are the health risks of asbestos exposure?
- What should I do if suspected asbestos is found halfway through the works?