Asbestos cement, genericized asfibro,fibrolite (short for "fibrous (or fibre)cement sheet", but different from the natural mineral fibrolite), orAC sheet, is a compositebuilding material consisting of cement andasbestos fibres pressed into thin rigid sheets and other shapes.
Invented at the end of the 19th century,[1] the material was adopted extensively duringWorld War II to make easily-built, sturdy and inexpensive structures for military purposes. It continued to be used widely following the war as an affordable external cladding for buildings.[2] Advertised as a fireproof alternative to other roofing materials such asasphalt, asbestos-cement roofs were popular, not only forfire safety but also for affordability.[3] Due to asbestos cement's imitation of more expensive materials such as wood siding and shingles,brick,slate, andstone, the product was marketed as an affordable renovation material. Asbestos cement competed withgalvanised iron, available in large quantities after WWII, and the reemergence of wood clapboard and vinyl siding in the mid to late 20th century.
Asbestos cement is usually formed into flat or corrugated sheets or into pipes, but can be molded into any shape that can be formed using wet cement. In Europe, cement sheets came in a wide variety of shapes, while there was less variation in the US, due to labor and production costs. Although fibro was used in a number of countries, inAustralia andNew Zealand its use was most widespread. Predominantly manufactured and sold byJames Hardie until the mid-1980s, fibro in all its forms was a popular building material, largely due to its durability, though the material becomes brittle andfriable with age andweathering. The reinforcing fibres used in the product were almost always asbestos.
The use of fibro that contains asbestos has beenbanned in several countries, including Australia, but as recently as 2016,[update] the material was discovered in new components sold for construction projects.[4]
When exposed to weathering and erosion, particularly when used on roofs, the surface deterioration of asbestos cement can release toxic airborne fibres.[5][6][7] Exposure to asbestos causes or increases the risk of several life-threatening diseases, includingasbestosis, pleuralmesothelioma (lung), andperitoneal mesothelioma (abdomen).
Safer asbestos-freefibre cement sheet is still readily available, but the reinforcing fibres are cellulose.[8] The name "fibro" is still traditionally applied to fibre cement.
Some Australian states, such asQueensland, prohibit the cleaning of fibro withpressure washers, because it can spread the embedded asbestos fibres over a wide area. Safer cleaning methods involve using afungicide and a sealant.[10]
The 1973 song, "Way Out West", byThe Dingoes, later covered byJames Blundell &James Reyne, mentions living in a "house made of fibro cement". Fibro is also referred to several times on the Australian TV showHousos.
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