What is an asbestos cement corrugated sheet?
An asbestos cement corrugated sheet (also known as an AC sheet or fibro sheet) is a corrugated panel made from cement reinforced with asbestos fibres. This material was widely used as roofing and wall cladding until the asbestos ban, particularly on agricultural buildings, sheds and industrial premises.
Properties
Asbestos cement corrugated sheets were popular due to their favourable properties:
- Light and strong — the asbestos fibres gave the cement high tensile strength at a relatively low weight
- Fire resistant — the material is non-combustible
- Weather resistant — resistant to rain, frost and UV radiation
- Inexpensive — production costs were low
The sheets were pressed into a corrugated profile, giving them high stiffness along their length. Standard dimensions were approximately 1.25 × 2.50 metres.
Application
Asbestos cement corrugated sheets were widely used for:
- Roofs of barns, stables, warehouses and factory buildings
- Wall cladding on agricultural and industrial buildings
- Windbreaks and boundary fences
Asbestos risk
Since the early 1990s (exact dates vary by country), the use of asbestos-containing materials has been banned across Europe and many other regions. AC sheets typically contain 10 to 15 per cent bonded asbestos fibres. While the sheets remain intact and are not disturbed (drilling, sawing, breaking), the risk is limited. However, weathered sheets can release fibres.
Important:
- Have an asbestos survey carried out by a licensed surveyor before removing AC sheets
- Removal must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removal contractor
- AC sheets must not be disposed of with general construction waste
Replacement materials include fibre cement sheets (asbestos-free), steel corrugated sheets and polycarbonate corrugated sheets.
Related terms
- Roofing
- Corrugated sheet
- Roof structure
- Cladding
- Insulation
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