How Do I Identify Asbestos in Old Villaboard or Hardiflex Sheeting?

If your home was built or renovated before the mid-1980s, there is a real chance that Villaboard or Hardiflex sheeting on your walls, ceilings, or wet areas contains asbestos. The only way to be certain is through laboratory testing — you cannot identify asbestos by looking at it alone. However, knowing the warning signs and the history of these products will help you decide whether to get a sample tested before you start any work.

What Are Villaboard and Hardiflex?

Villaboard and Hardiflex are fibre-cement sheet products made by James Hardie. They have been used extensively in New Zealand homes for internal linings, wet areas, eaves, and soffits since the 1960s. Critically, James Hardie used chrysotile (white) asbestos as a reinforcing fibre in many of their products until the company phased it out progressively through the 1980s. Asbestos-free versions were introduced, but the changeover was gradual, and some stock continued to be sold after manufacturing changed.

As a general guide:

• Sheeting installed before 1981 has a high likelihood of containing asbestos.
• Sheeting installed between 1981 and 1987 may or may not contain asbestos — this is the grey zone.
• Sheeting installed after 1987 is very unlikely to contain asbestos, though you should still confirm if you are unsure.

Always check with James Hardie directly if you need product-specific information, as they maintain records of when asbestos was removed from their manufacturing process.

Visual Clues to Look For

While you cannot confirm asbestos by sight, certain visual characteristics can raise or lower your suspicion:

• Age of the home: Homes built before the mid-1980s are the primary risk zone.
• Sheet texture and colour: Older asbestos-containing Hardiflex and Villaboard often has a slightly grey, dense appearance and feels heavier than modern cement sheet of the same thickness.
• Thickness: Many asbestos-containing sheets were 4–6 mm thick, though this alone is not diagnostic.
• Condition: Sheets that are crumbling, cracked, or water-damaged are more concerning because damaged asbestos-containing material can release fibres.
• Stamped markings: Some older sheets have manufacturer stamps or batch codes on the back. These may help a specialist or James Hardie identify the product, but they do not confirm asbestos content on their own.

Do not probe, sand, drill, or break the material to inspect it more closely. Disturbing asbestos-containing material releases microscopic fibres that are a serious health hazard.

The Only Reliable Method: Laboratory Testing

The definitive way to identify asbestos is to have a sample analysed by an accredited laboratory using polarised light microscopy (PLM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In New Zealand, this process typically involves:

1. Hiring a licensed asbestos assessor to take a sample safely using correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and containment procedures.
2. Sending the sample to an IANZ-accredited laboratory for analysis.
3. Receiving a written report confirming whether asbestos is present and, if so, what type and approximate concentration.

Sampling and testing costs vary, but as a rough guide, a basic sample test can range from around $100–$300 per sample including lab fees, depending on the assessor and lab used. Get quotes from several providers.

WorkSafe NZ provides detailed guidance on asbestos management, including requirements for assessors and removalists working under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

NZ Regulations You Need to Know

Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, asbestos removal work is tightly controlled:

• Class A asbestos removal (friable or high-risk material) must be carried out by a licensed Class A removalist.
• Class B asbestos removal (non-friable material in good condition, such as intact fibre-cement sheet) must be carried out by a licensed Class B removalist — or in some limited circumstances, a homeowner working on their own home may be permitted to remove small amounts, but this is a complex area.
• Homeowners should not assume they can remove asbestos themselves. The regulations are strict, and the health risks are serious. Always confirm your obligations with WorkSafe NZ before touching anything.

BRANZ also publishes useful guidance on identifying and managing asbestos-containing materials in NZ homes.

What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos

Follow these steps:

1. Stop all work immediately if you are mid-renovation and have disturbed suspect material.
2. Seal off the area and keep others — especially children — away.
3. Do not vacuum or sweep dust from disturbed fibre-cement; use damp rags and dispose of them as asbestos waste.
4. Contact a licensed asbestos assessor to inspect and sample the material.
5. If asbestos is confirmed, engage a licensed asbestos removalist to manage or remove it safely.
6. Check whether your renovation requires a building consent — your local council can advise. Some work is exempt under Schedule 1 of the Building Act, but always confirm with your council before proceeding.

When to Call a Professional

You should call a licensed asbestos professional immediately if:

• You are planning any renovation, demolition, or repair work on a pre-1987 home with fibre-cement linings.
• You have already disturbed suspect material.
• You need a written asbestos management plan (required for some commercial or rental properties).
• Your rental property may be subject to Healthy Homes Standards obligations that require safe, compliant materials.

Qualified asbestos removal specialists and assessors can be found right here on tradedirectory.co.nz — always check that any professional you hire holds a current WorkSafe NZ licence for asbestos work.

Sources & Further Reading

• WorkSafe NZ – Asbestos guidance
• BRANZ – Asbestos in homes
• James Hardie NZ – Product information
• MBIE Building Performance – Building consent information
• Tenancy Services – Healthy Homes Standards
• Standards NZ – Relevant health and safety standards