Asbestos Clearance Inspections and Certificates

Independent Asbestos Clearance Inspections

Confluence Environmental provides independent asbestos clearance inspections across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter.

A clearance inspection is undertaken after asbestos removal to confirm that the removal area and immediately surrounding areas are free from visible asbestos contamination and can be safely reoccupied.

For licensed asbestos removal work in NSW, a clearance inspection and clearance certificate are required before the area is reoccupied. For Class A friable asbestos removal, the clearance must be undertaken by an independent Licensed Asbestos Assessor (LAA). For Class B non-friable asbestos removal, it may be undertaken by an independent competent person or LAA.

What Does a Clearance Inspection Include?

The scope depends on the type of asbestos removal work undertaken.

A clearance inspection typically includes:

• visual inspection of the asbestos removal area;

• inspection of surrounding surfaces, access routes and adjacent areas;

• confirmation that visible asbestos-containing material, debris and contaminated dust have been removed;

• review of the condition of the removal area and any containment measures; and

• issue of a written asbestos clearance certificate where the area satisfies the clearance requirements.

For Class A work, the Licensed Asbestos Assessor will also undertake clearance air monitoring where required, including where an enclosure has been used. SafeWork NSW requires clearance air monitoring results to be below 0.01 fibres/mL before an enclosure is dismantled.

When Is an Asbestos Clearance Required?

A clearance inspection is required following completion of licensed asbestos removal work before the affected area can be reoccupied.

This commonly includes:

• friable asbestos removal undertaken by a Class A asbestos removalist; and

• removal of more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos by a licensed Class B or Class A removalist.

A Class B asbestos removal licence is required in NSW for removal of more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos or ACM, while Class A licensing applies to friable asbestos removal.

Clearance inspections may also be requested on other projects by clients, builders, property managers or project specifications where independent confirmation is required before subsequent works proceed.

What You Receive

Following a satisfactory clearance inspection, Confluence Environmental can provide:

• attendance by a SafeWork NSW Licensed Asbestos Assessor;

• independent visual clearance inspection;

• asbestos clearance certificate;

• clearance air monitoring where required;

• NATA-accredited laboratory fibre-counting results where air monitoring is undertaken; and

• advice where residual asbestos, inaccessible areas or further management requirements are identified.

A clearance certificate is only issued where the assessor is satisfied that the asbestos removal area and immediately surrounding area are free from visible asbestos contamination and do not present an asbestos exposure risk.

Independent from the Asbestos Removalist

Confluence Environmental does not undertake asbestos removal.

This allows our clearance inspections to remain independent from the contractor carrying out the removal work, consistent with NSW requirements for independence when issuing clearance certificates.

We regularly support:

• licensed asbestos removal contractors;

• builders and demolition contractors;

• homeowners and property owners;

• strata and property managers;

• commercial and industrial facilities;

• schools, aged-care and community facilities; and

• government and infrastructure projects.

Asbestos Clearance Inspections Across Newcastle and the Hunter

Our asbestos clearance services are available throughout:

Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and the broader Hunter Region.

We support both planned asbestos removal works and time-critical construction programs, with responsive scheduling available where clearance is required before subsequent trades or demolition can proceed.

Licensed Asbestos Assessment

Confluence Environmental provides asbestos clearance inspections as part of our broader asbestos and hazardous materials capability, including:

• asbestos air monitoring;

• asbestos surveys and registers;

• asbestos management plans;

• demolition and refurbishment surveys;

• asbestos-in-soil assessment; and

• contaminated land validation where asbestos remediation involves soil.

For asbestos removal works in Newcastle or the Hunter, contact Confluence Environmental to arrange an independent clearance inspection or request a proposal.