Asbestos Switchboard Backboards in Older Sydney Homes: What the Law Actually Requires

Can an asbestos switchboard backboard be removed safely, and does it need a licensed asbestos removalist? In most homes the backboard is small enough, well under 10 square metres of non friable material, that an electrician can remove it themselves during a switchboard upgrade without holding an asbestos removal licence, provided they follow the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice. Larger amounts, or any sign the material is friable (crumbling or damaged), change that picture completely and require a licensed removalist.

⚡ Quick Answers: Asbestos Switchboard Backboards

• How do I know if my backboard contains asbestos? Boards from before the early 1990s, especially dark, dense, fibre cement panels, are the most likely candidates. Only a licensed assessor testing a sample can confirm it.
• Can my electrician remove it themselves? For most homes, yes. A tradesperson can remove less than 10 square metres of non friable asbestos without a removalist licence, following the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice.
• When do I need a licensed removalist? Any amount of friable (crumbling, damaged or deteriorated) asbestos requires a Class A licensed removalist. More than 10 square metres of non friable material requires at least a Class B licence.
• Is it dangerous to leave it alone? Undisturbed, intact asbestos backboards are not considered a significant risk. The danger comes from drilling, cutting, sanding or breaking the material.
• What happens to it once it's removed? It is double wrapped and taken to a facility licensed to accept asbestos waste. It cannot go in a normal skip or household bin.
• Does this come up during a normal switchboard upgrade? Yes. It is one of the more common things our electricians find once an old board is opened up for a ceramic fuse box upgrade.

1. Why older switchboards used asbestos backing panels

Before the early 1990s, dense fibre cement sheeting was a common, cheap and fire resistant material for mounting switchboard components. It held up well to heat from fuses and early circuit breakers, which is exactly why it was used so widely. The downside only became clear later: that fibre cement often contained asbestos fibres bound into the sheet.

If your home still has its original ceramic fuse box, the backing panel behind it is a genuine possibility, not a remote one. Our guide to old fuse boxes, ceramic fuses and asbestos panels covers the full range of warning signs an older board shows.

2. The 10 square metre rule, explained properly

NSW asbestos law draws a clear line at 10 square metres of non friable (bonded, intact) asbestos containing material. Below that threshold, a homeowner or a tradesperson carrying out work for a homeowner can remove it without holding an asbestos removal licence, provided the work follows SafeWork NSW's Code of Practice for safe removal.

A typical domestic switchboard backboard, often around 600mm by 600mm or smaller, sits well under that threshold on its own. This is why a Level 2 electrician can usually deal with it as part of a standard board changeover rather than bringing in a separate licensed removalist, as long as the material is genuinely non friable and the area stays below the 10 square metre limit across the whole job.

3. When a licensed removalist becomes mandatory

Two things change this. First, any amount of friable asbestos, meaning it is crumbling, damaged, deteriorated or can be broken by hand pressure, requires a Class A licensed removalist regardless of size. Tradespeople are not qualified or permitted to remove friable material themselves.

Second, once the non friable area crosses 10 square metres, which is unlikely for a single domestic switchboard but can apply to larger commercial boards, common property switchboards in a strata building, or a job that also involves old eave linings or other asbestos sheeting on the same site, at least a Class B licence is required.

4. What a safe removal actually looks like

The rule throughout is simple: never drill, cut, sand or break suspect material. Our electricians treat any board old enough to raise suspicion as if it does contain asbestos until proven otherwise, which means careful removal of fixings rather than forcing the panel, no power tools near the material, and keeping it intact rather than snapping it to fit a bag.

Once removed, the panel is wrapped, labelled and taken to a facility licensed to accept asbestos waste. It is never left in a general skip bin or put out with household rubbish, and the area is left clean of visible dust or fragments.

5. Getting it tested if you are not sure

Visual inspection can only ever raise suspicion, not confirm anything. If you want certainty before committing to an upgrade, a licensed asbestos assessor can test a small sample in a laboratory. Many homeowners skip this step and instead ask their electrician to treat the board as asbestos by default during the upgrade, which is the more practical approach for a straightforward domestic job.

6. Why this usually comes up during a switchboard upgrade, not on its own

Very few homeowners call specifically about an asbestos backboard. It is almost always discovered once an old ceramic fuse box is opened up for a broader upgrade, whether that is a ceramic fuse box upgrade, a response to a switchboard fire risk, or simply the findings from a routine free switchboard safety inspection. Factoring in the backboard at quoting stage, rather than discovering it mid job, keeps the project on schedule.

Suburb Case Study: Cherrybrook

Problem: During a routine switchboard changeover in Cherrybrook NSW 2126, our electricians found the ceramic fuse box was mounted on a dark, dense backing panel consistent with asbestos fibre cement.

Work completed: The panel was carefully removed without drilling, cutting or sanding, following the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, then double wrapped and taken to a licensed asbestos waste facility. The new switchboard was mounted on a modern, non combustible backing material.

Result: The upgrade proceeded on the same visit with no delay, and the homeowner now has a modern switchboard with no asbestos containing materials anywhere in the enclosure.

How High Demand Electrical helps

High Demand Electrical is a licensed local team, not a call centre, and our electricians are experienced at identifying and safely handling suspect asbestos backboards as part of a standard switchboard upgrade across Sydney's West, South West and Sutherland Shire. We quote honestly if a job looks like it will involve asbestos handling, so there are no surprises once the old board comes off the wall. See our switchboard upgrade service or book a safety inspection if you are unsure what is behind your own board.

Asbestos Switchboard FAQs (Sydney)

What year were asbestos backboards most common?

Generally before the early 1990s, though exact dates vary by manufacturer. Any home with its original ceramic fuse box should be treated as a possibility. See our old fuse box guide for other warning signs.

Will my switchboard upgrade quote include asbestos handling?

A properly prepared switchboard upgrade quote should flag the possibility if your board is old enough, so ask your electrician directly before work starts.

Can I just leave the backboard alone instead of upgrading?

An intact, undisturbed backboard is not considered a significant risk on its own, but it usually sits behind a fuse box with other real safety issues worth addressing. Our switchboard fire risk guide explains what else to look for.

Does strata or common property have different rules?

The same licence thresholds apply, but common property switchboards and risers can be larger, which makes it more likely the 10 square metre limit is reached. See our strata switchboard capacity guide for the building scale picture.

Think your switchboard might be hiding an asbestos backboard? Get a Switchboard Upgrade Quote or book a Safety Inspection. Call 0402 559 777. Every job needs a site assessment before scope and pricing can be confirmed.