Asbestos-containing fire rated boards

Background

The Australian Border Force has detected chrysotile asbestos within fire rated boards (FRBs) branded ‘Pyropanel’, imported by Assa Abloy Australia from China. These FRBs were imported into Australia between 2021 and May 2025. Some FRBs were on-supplied to New Zealand up until August 2025. The FRBs were then on-supplied to Australian and New Zealand customers for the construction of fire doors.

Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) have also published a safety alert in relation to these FRBs.

Safety issues

Asbestos is banned in Australia. Asbestos, or products that contain asbestos must not be:

• manufactured
• supplied
• sold
• stored
• transported
• installed
• used, or
• reused.

The asbestos ban came into force in Australia at the end of 2003. Some countries still manufacture products or materials which contain asbestos, these may be sold as ‘asbestos-free’ but still contain a low-level of asbestos. Any level of asbestos is prohibited for import or use in Australia.

When disturbed, asbestos-containing materials can release airborne asbestos fibres. If inhaled, airborne asbestos fibres can cause serious medical conditions, including:

• mesothelioma
• asbestosis
• lung cancer.

These medical conditions are life threatening and affect a person’s quality of life.

Recommended ways to control the risk

Do not import goods that contain, or are suspected of containing asbestos

If you import, or intend to import, goods from countries which still manufacture asbestos-containing material:

• Check the product specifications and related documentation before importing. For example, safety data sheets and technical data sheets.
• Include asbestos-free requirements in supply contracts.
• Require certification from the manufacturer or supplier that the goods are asbestos-free, with certification reflecting this. Get product testing results from the overseas manufacturer or supplier. These results should confirm the goods do not contain asbestos.
• Develop a testing program to independently test goods:
  • prior to shipping
  • before installing or use.
• Inspect the goods on delivery.

If you are uncertain about the presence of asbestos, you must either:

• assume asbestos is present, or
• have a sample analysed by an approved asbestos laboratory.

All asbestos testing needs to be undertaken:

• by an approved asbestos laboratory, and
• in accordance with Australian Standards for the identification of asbestos.

An approved asbestos laboratory means a laboratory approved by NATA to perform asbestos fibre counting or to identify asbestos in samples.

Do not supply goods that contain, or are suspected of containing asbestos

You must not supply goods that contain asbestos or that you suspect contain asbestos. This applies even if these goods were supplied to you by someone else.

If you source goods to supply to your customers that are imported from countries which still manufacture asbestos-containing material, or you suspect may contain asbestos you should:

• Request information about the goods to confirm they are asbestos free, for example safety data sheets and technical data sheets.
• Include asbestos-free requirements in supply contracts.
• Require certification from the manufacturer or supplier that the goods are asbestos-free, with certification reflecting this. Get product testing results from the overseas manufacturer or supplier. These results should confirm the goods do not contain asbestos.
• Develop a testing program to independently test goods:
  • prior to receiving
  • before supplying, installing or use.
• Inspect the goods on delivery.

Do not use or install any goods or materials suspected of containing asbestos

Good or materials suspected of containing asbestos must not be installed or used until testing is undertaken to confirm it is asbestos free.

Legal duties

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 a person must not:

• manufacture asbestos-containing material
• supply asbestos to any person
• store asbestos
• transport asbestos
• sell asbestos
• use asbestos
• fix or install asbestos-containing material in any:
  • building
  • structure
  • ship
  • plant
  • aircraft, or
  • vehicle.
• replace any part of a building, structure, ship, aircraft, plant or vehicle with asbestos-containing material
• re-use any asbestos.

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, a person who supplies plant or a substance who knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the plant or substance is to be used at a workplace must:

• ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it is safe and without risks to health if it is used for a purpose for which it was designed, manufactured or supplied; and
• give adequate information to each person to whom the supplier supplies the plant or substance concerning;
  • the purpose or purposes for which the plant or substance was designed, manufactured or supplied; and
  • any conditions necessary to ensure that the plant or substance is safe and without risks to health if it is used for a purpose for which it was designed, manufactured or supplied; and
• on request, give such information to a person who uses or is to use the plant or substance.

Under the Dangerous Goods Act 1985, a person with management and control of a property must:

• notify WorkSafe as soon as is practicable after becoming aware that the property contains asbestos installed on or after 1 January 2004
• enter into an agreement with WorkSafe within 60 days, or a timeframe determined by WorkSafe, to either:
  • remove the asbestos in accordance with a removal plan approved by WorkSafe, or
  • manage the risk associated with retaining the asbestos through a management plan approved by WorkSafe.

You can notify WorkSafe by phoning or emailing our Advisory service.