Asbestos Switchboard in Perth: Risks and Safe Removal
An asbestos switchboard is a hidden hazard in many older Perth homes, where the board or meter box is mounted on an asbestos backing sheet. An asbestos switchboard is safe if left undisturbed, but becomes a risk during electrical work. Here is how to spot an asbestos switchboard, why it matters, and how it is removed safely.
What is an asbestos switchboard?
An asbestos switchboard is not the switches themselves but the backing panel they are mounted on. In homes built or wired before the late 1980s, this panel is often made of asbestos cement sheet. The board sits quietly until someone drills, cuts or removes the board, which can release fibres.
Why it matters
Asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed and its fibres become airborne, which is exactly what happens during a switchboard upgrade if it is not handled correctly. That is why an asbestos switchboard must be identified before any work, so it can be managed safely rather than cut into like an ordinary board.
6 signs of an asbestos switchboard
- The home was built or wired before the late 1980s
- The board is mounted on a flat grey fibre-cement sheet
- The backing looks like old fibro or compressed sheet
- There are old ceramic fuses on the board
- The meter box panel is the same grey sheet material
- You are simply unsure of its age or material
Do not disturb it yourself
If you suspect an asbestos switchboard, the key rule is do not drill, sand, cut or break the backing. Undisturbed, it poses little risk. The danger comes from DIY work that releases dust, so leave any investigation or work to licensed professionals who know how to handle it safely.
Safe removal during an upgrade
When you upgrade one, the asbestos backing is removed under controlled conditions, often by a licensed asbestos removalist working alongside the electrician, then a new safe backing and modern board are fitted. This turns a hidden hazard into a safe, modern switchboard with RCDs and circuit breakers.
What it means for cost and time
An asbestos switchboard adds some cost and time to an upgrade, because of the safe removal and disposal involved. It is money well spent, since you remove both an electrical risk and an asbestos risk at once. A good electrician will flag it in the quote, so there are no surprises.
Selling or renovating?
An asbestos switchboard often comes to light when selling or renovating an older home. Dealing with it as part of a planned switchboard upgrade is far better than discovering it mid-renovation. It also leaves you with a compliant, modern board, which is reassuring for buyers and inspectors alike.
Upgrade is the safe outcome
The best long-term answer to one is a proper upgrade that removes the asbestos backing and installs a modern board. You end up with safe shock protection, more circuits, and no asbestos panel behind your electrics, which is reassuring for your family and any future sale.
Health and peace of mind
Beyond compliance, removing an asbestos backing gives genuine peace of mind. You no longer have asbestos material sitting behind a board that may be worked on in future, by you, a tradesperson or a new owner. Handled properly once, it is dealt with for good.
Why use a licensed electrician
Dealing with an asbestos switchboard safely needs a licensed electrician, coordinating asbestos removal where required, to manage both the electrical and the asbestos risk together. They make sure it is handled and disposed of correctly. The state’s Building and Energy sets the electrical standards involved.
Think you have an asbestos switchboard in Perth?
ACS Electrical safely upgrades old boards across the metro, coordinating asbestos removal. Explore our switchboard upgrades service, fuse box replacement guide or circuit breaker types guide. Call 0419 967 838.
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