Fibro
Encyclopedia
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
" - or "Fibrous Asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
Cement", FAC, is a building material made of compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets.
While "Fibro" has been used in a number of countries, it is in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where its use was the most widespread. Manufactured and sold by James Hardie
James Hardie
James Hardie Industries Ltd. is an industrial building materials company headquartered in Ireland and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange which specialises in fibre cement products. James Hardie manufactures and develops technologies, materials and processes for the production of building...
until the mid 1980s "Fibro" in all its forms was a very popular building material. The fibres involved were almost always Asbestos based. The use of "Fibro" has since been banned in several countries
Asbestos and the law
This article concerns asbestos-related legal and regulatory issues. Litigation related to asbestos injuries and property damages has been claimed to be the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history...
, including Australia itself, due to its high asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
content. Asbestos is directly related to a number of deadly disease including, asbestosis
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers...
, pleural mesothelioma (lung) and peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.The peritoneum is made of two...
(abdomen).
Products used in the building industry
- Flat sheets for house walls and ceilings were usually 6 mm and 4.5 mm thick, in 900 and 1200 widths and from 1800 to 3000 long.
- Battens 50 mm wide x 8 mm thick. Used to cover the joints in the sheets.
- Super Six corrugated roof sheeting and fencing.
- Internal wet area sheeting, "Tilux"
- Pipes of various sizes for water and drainage.
- Moulded products from plant pots to cable pits.
External links
- http://www.nsw.gov.au/fibro/
- Advice if you have FAC in your home