The asbestos clearance level in Australia is less than 0.01 fibres per millilitre (f/mL) of air, measured after licensed removal work, alongside a visual check that no asbestos contamination remains. Only when an independent licensed assessor or competent person confirms both can the area be handed back for normal use. This guide explains what that number does and does not tell you, who checks it, and what to do if your site fails.
TL;DR
- The clearance level is below 0.01 fibres/mL if air monitoring is done, and the area must also be free from visible asbestos contamination.
- A separate trigger applies during Class A (friable) work: levels above 0.02 fibres/mL mean work stops and the regulator is told.
- The person who clears the site must be independent of the removalist. A certificate from the removal team does not count.
- The number is a control level, not a guarantee that any amount of asbestos is safe.
- “Security clearance levels” (Baseline, NV1, NV2) are a different topic and have nothing to do with building sites.
Table of Contents
- What “clearance level” actually means
- The numbers you need to know
- When a clearance inspection is required
- Class A and Class B: who can clear the site
- Independence is not optional
- What happens on clearance day
- What if the result fails?
- Our perspective: plan for clearance before you start
- Getting asbestos work and clearance right with Mission Demolition
- Don’t confuse these with security clearance levels
- Practical checklist for owners and managers
- FAQ
- Sources
What “clearance level” actually means
People use the phrase for two different things, and mixing them up causes most of the confusion.
- The air limit. The figure of 0.01 fibres/mL is the concentration below which air monitoring supports a clearance certificate. The Model Code of Practice on safely removing asbestos sets out that a clearance certificate is required after licensed removal work before the area is reoccupied.
- The clearance inspection itself. This is the on-site check by an assessor or competent person: a visual inspection for dust and debris, and sometimes air monitoring on top. The Queensland asbestos site describes it as an inspection that must include a visual check and may include air monitoring.
So the “level” is only half the story. A site can read under 0.01 fibres/mL and still fail because the assessor sees leftover debris in a roof cavity. Equally, a spotless-looking site with no air test can still be cleared, where the rules allow a visual-only clearance.
The numbers you need to know
| Figure | What it is | What happens at that point |
|---|---|---|
| Below 0.01 fibres/mL | Clearance level for air monitoring | Supports issue of a clearance certificate, if the visual inspection is also clean |
| Above 0.02 fibres/mL | Notification level during Class A work | Stop work, investigate, notify the regulator, add controls |
| 0.1 fibres/mL | Workplace exposure standard (8-hour time-weighted average) | A legal exposure ceiling, not a safe level |
The 0.01 limit is stated in the Safe Work Australia code and repeated by state bodies such as the Queensland regulator. The 0.02 figure comes from Comcare’s asbestos notification guidance: during Class A work a licensed removalist must immediately notify Comcare if respirable fibre levels exceed 0.02 fibres/mL. Work then stops, the cause is investigated and controls are put in place until levels are back at or below 0.01 fibres/mL. Comcare’s page applies to Commonwealth-regulated workplaces, so check which regulator covers your state or territory.
Why 0.01 is not a “safe” number
A reading under 0.01 fibres/mL does not mean exposure carries no risk. The Victorian asbestos authority states that the exposure standard is not a risk-free level at which anyone can be guaranteed protection from asbestos-related illness. The Safe Work Australia code for managing asbestos in the workplace makes the same point about air monitoring in general: it checks whether controls are working, and the aim remains preventing fibre release in the first place.
That is why good removal work relies on enclosures, wet methods, negative air pressure and careful waste handling, rather than on hoping the air test passes at the end. If you want a general read on why monitoring is one layer in a wider safety system rather than the whole system, this overview of health and safety monitoring in critical facilities makes the point in a different setting.
When a clearance inspection is required
Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, regulation 473 applies when a person commissions licensed asbestos removal work. That person must make sure a clearance inspection is carried out once the work is complete. Regulation 474 then covers the written clearance certificate that the assessor or competent person issues.
Two things follow from that wording.
- It is tied to licensed work. In NSW, SafeWork NSW says a non-friable asbestos removal licence is needed for more than 10 m² of non-friable material, and a friable licence for any amount of friable asbestos. Smaller bonded jobs sit outside the licensing trigger, although SafeWork NSW still recommends using a licensed professional for any amount.
- Rules are state-based. The model regulations are adopted with local variations. Western Australia, Victoria and the other jurisdictions each publish their own guidance, so confirm the detail with your state regulator.
For a Sydney-specific view, see our explainer on whether asbestos clearance is mandatory in Sydney.
Class A and Class B: who can clear the site
The type of asbestos removed decides who is qualified to sign off.
| Class A (friable) | Class B (non-friable/bonded) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical material | Lagging, loose-fill, sprayed insulation, damaged ACM that crumbles | Cement sheeting, fibro cladding, roofing, vinyl backing |
| Removal licence | Class A | Class B (above 10 m²), or Class A |
| Clearance by | Licensed asbestos assessor | Licensed assessor or an independent competent person |
| Air monitoring | Normally part of the process | May be used, depending on the job and the assessor |
The SafeWork NSW guide to who does what describes competent persons as people with the relevant training or tertiary qualifications, and assessors as licence holders who provide air monitoring and clearance services. Queensland’s page lists the CPCCDE5001 unit as the qualification for conducting air monitoring and clearance inspections for Class A work.
For a fuller breakdown of the classes and the paperwork each triggers, read our guide to Class A vs Class B asbestos and clearance in Australia.
Independence is not optional
The assessor or competent person who clears the site cannot be the removalist, or someone working for or closely linked to the removalist. The point is simple: the person who did the work should not mark their own homework. If the certificate comes from an associated party, it risks being invalid, and that can leave you with an area you cannot lawfully reoccupy.
In practice:
- Engage the clearance assessor under a separate contract, or confirm in writing that they are independent of the removal firm.
- Ask for their licence number or qualification before the work starts.
- Agree who is responsible for booking the inspection and when it takes place relative to the final clean.
Who organises it: homeowner or business
Homeowners often leave the booking to the removalist, but the legal duty under regulation 473 sits with whoever commissions the work. In a workplace, that is the business (the person conducting a business or undertaking, or PCBU) that engaged the removalist. If you manage a commercial site, the duty to ensure the clearance happens is yours, and the area must not be reoccupied until the certificate is in hand. Our commercial asbestos removal guide walks through that sequence for property managers.
What happens on clearance day
The exact steps vary by job, but a typical clearance inspection goes like this:
- Removal and cleaning finish. All asbestos waste is bagged, wrapped and labelled, and the work area is decontaminated using wet wiping and HEPA vacuuming.
- Enclosure stays up (for Class A). Enclosures must remain in place until the assessor has checked the area and, where air monitoring is used, the results are below 0.01 fibres/mL.
- Visual inspection. The assessor checks the removal area and the area immediately around it for dust, debris and fragments. The Northern Territory guidance describes these as checks that the area is free from contamination and safe for normal use.
- Air monitoring, if required. Samples are taken and analysed, and the result is compared with the 0.01 fibres/mL level.
- Certificate issued. If satisfied, the assessor or competent person provides a written clearance certificate. If not, further cleaning is done and the area is re-inspected.
Keep the certificate with your property or workplace records. It is the document a buyer, insurer, builder or regulator will ask for later. For a detailed walkthrough, see our asbestos clearance certificate process guide.
What if the result fails?
A failed clearance is not unusual on messy jobs, and it is far better to learn it from an assessor than from a later exposure.
- Visual failure: the assessor finds dust or fragments. The removalist re-cleans, then the area is inspected again.
- Air result at or above 0.01 fibres/mL: the area is not cleared. The cause is investigated, usually inadequate cleaning or a breach in the enclosure, and the process repeats.
- Elevated readings during work (Class A): above 0.02 fibres/mL, work stops, the regulator is notified and controls are strengthened before restarting, per the Comcare guidance.
Nothing about this should be rushed to meet a construction start date. Occupying a site without a valid certificate exposes workers, occupants and the owner.
Our perspective: plan for clearance before you start
Most clearance problems we see are decided before the first sheet comes off. Sites that pass first time share a few habits: the asbestos was properly identified beforehand, the work area was sealed and sized correctly, waste was handled as it was generated, and the independent assessor was booked early instead of chased on the last day.
Our advice to owners and project managers:
- Treat 0.01 as the finish line, not the goal. The goal is that no fibres are released at all. Good controls make the test boring.
- Book the assessor separately and early. Independence protects you. A rushed arrangement with an “associated” party is the quickest way to an invalid certificate.
- Do not stack trades behind the clearance. Builders, electricians and demolition crews should not be scheduled to enter until the certificate exists.
- Know your asbestos first. A survey and testing before demolition or renovation tells you what class of work you face. Our guide to what an asbestos survey involves is a good start.
Asbestos was banned outright in Australia on 31 December 2003, but it was used in homes from the mid-1940s to the late 1980s, so many buildings still contain it. Mesothelioma can take 35 to 40 years to appear, which is why we never treat a passing air test as permission to be casual.
— Tarek
Getting asbestos work and clearance right with Mission Demolition
If you are planning a demolition, strip out or renovation and suspect asbestos, we handle inspection and testing, licensed removal, disposal and the surrounding demolition work as one coordinated job. That includes approvals, utility disconnections, hazardous waste handling and final site cleaning, so the clearance inspection fits into your program rather than holding it up. See our asbestos inspection and testing service or asbestos removal in Sydney, or contact us through our main site for a quote. For site-specific advice on clearance requirements, your state regulator and an independent licensed assessor are the authorities to confirm with.
Don’t confuse these with security clearance levels
Searches for “clearance levels” in Australia often land on the wrong topic. Government security clearances (Baseline, NV1, NV2 and Positive Vetting) control access to classified national security information, as defined by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency. They have no connection to asbestos, building sites or occupancy certificates.
Practical checklist for owners and managers
- Confirm whether the work is Class A or Class B before quoting and scheduling.
- Check the removalist’s licence class matches the job.
- Engage an independent licensed assessor or competent person in writing.
- Agree the clearance inspection date as part of the program.
- Keep everyone out of the area until the certificate is issued.
- File the certificate, waste disposal records and survey report together.
FAQ
What is the clearance level for asbestos in Australia?
Where air monitoring is part of the clearance inspection, the fibre concentration must be below 0.01 fibres/mL, and the area must be free from visible asbestos contamination. Both conditions are needed before a clearance certificate can be issued.
Is 0.01 fibres/mL safe to breathe?
It is a control level, not a guarantee of safety. Regulators note that exposure standards are not risk-free, and that any inhalation of asbestos fibres carries some risk. If you have health concerns after exposure, speak to your GP.
Can the removalist issue their own clearance certificate?
No. The clearance must come from an independent licensed asbestos assessor or competent person, depending on the class of work. A certificate from the removal company or an associated party risks being invalid.
Do I need air monitoring for every clearance?
Not always. A clearance inspection must include a visual inspection, and air monitoring may be added depending on the job, the asbestos class and your state’s rules. Class A work normally involves it, so ask your assessor what applies to your site.
What do security clearance levels have to do with asbestos?
Nothing. Baseline, NV1, NV2 and Positive Vetting relate to access to classified government information. Asbestos clearance is a workplace health and safety requirement after removal work.
Sources
- Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos, Safe Work Australia
- Model Code of Practice: How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace, Safe Work Australia
- Clearance inspections, Queensland asbestos site
- Clearance inspections, Northern Territory asbestos site
- Asbestos notifications, Comcare
- WHS Regulations 2011, reg 473 Clearance inspection
- WHS Regulations 2011, reg 474 Clearance certificates
- Asbestos, SafeWork NSW
- When was asbestos banned in Australia, NSW asbestos site
- Asbestos key facts, Victorian asbestos site
- Security clearance definitions, AGSVA
