Since 1988, Airsafe has guided asbestos removal across Sydney, NSW and Australia – and we have seven Licensed Asbestos Assessors on staff, the licence SafeWork NSW requires to monitor and clear friable asbestos work.
When you need a licensed removalist
Not every bit of asbestos needs a licensed removalist – but most does. In NSW:
- removing any amount of friable asbestos requires a Class A licensed removalist
- removing more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos requires at least a Class B licensed removalist
- under 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos can be removed without a licence, though it still has to be done safely.
Licensed removal has to be notified to SafeWork NSW at least five days before it starts, and it needs a written asbestos removal control plan. For friable (Class A) work, the air monitoring during removal and the clearance afterwards must be done by an independent licensed asbestos assessor – not by the removalist.
How Airsafe manages a removal
Identifying, controlling and signing off asbestos removal is a complex process, and difficult to get right without expert help. Airsafe’s team can manage it end to end:
- Survey and scope – we identify and sample the asbestos so everyone knows exactly what’s being removed.
- Specification – we write the scope of works and removal control requirements, so the job is tendered and priced on a clear, consistent basis.
- Recommend or tender removalists – we can recommend reliable licensed removalists, or work alongside the contractor you’ve already engaged.
- Independent air monitoring – we monitor the air throughout the removal to confirm the controls are working and the area stays safe. Asbestos fibre counting is done in our own in-house NATA-accredited laboratory.
- Clearance – once removal is complete, our licensed asbestos assessors inspect the area and issue a legally recognised clearance certificate so work can recommence.
For clients who’d rather hand the whole thing over, we can project-manage the removal from start to finish – one point of accountability, and one set of independent results.
A group of Airsafe asbestos removalists carefully removing asbestos sheet from home
Why independence matters
Some consultants both manage removal and do the removal, or are tied to a removalist. Airsafe doesn’t remove anything – so when we monitor the air and sign the clearance, there’s no commercial reason to see the job a particular way. You get an honest answer about whether the asbestos has actually been dealt with properly. For a building owner, a developer or a contractor carrying the liability, that independence is worth a great deal.
Detail on the monitoring and clearance steps lives on dedicated pages:
4.9 stars from over 600 Google reviews and counting, from builders, contractors, developers and government clients across Australia.
“We recently appointed Airsafe to undertake air monitoring and reporting at a brownfield development site during the demolition stage. Their proactive, professional and cost and time-efficient approach and implementation were excellent.”– Carl O. Peterson, December 2021
“I use Airsafe on a regular basis for commercial construction. Liam Matthews and the Airsafe team always get the job done professionally, safely, and in a prompt manner as required. If only I could give more stars.”– Jordan Kissane, September 2021
“AIRSAFE has become our go-to company for all air monitoring needs. Working for a large paint company, we’ve found their service not only exceptional but also backed by valuable advice. They are consistently reliable, flexible, and a pleasure to work with. These qualities made it an easy decision to choose them as our preferred supplier.”– Nik Pappas, November 2025
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No – and that’s the point. We’re an independent consultancy: we survey, write the removal specification, monitor the air during removal and issue the clearance certificate, but the removal itself is done by a licensed asbestos removalist. We can recommend one or work with yours. Because we don’t hold the removal contract, our monitoring and clearance are genuinely independent.
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In NSW, any amount of friable asbestos needs a Class A licensed removalist, and more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos needs at least a Class B removalist. Under 10 square metres of non-friable can be removed without a licence, but still has to be done safely. Licensed removal also has to be notified to SafeWork NSW at least five days ahead. If you’re not sure which applies, call us on 1300 888 338.
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Survey and sampling to confirm what’s there; a written removal specification and control plan; removal by a licensed removalist; independent air monitoring during the work; and a clearance inspection and certificate at the end. Airsafe can handle every part of that except the removal itself, and can project-manage the lot if you’d like a single point of contact.
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For friable (Class A) work, an independent licensed asbestos assessor – which Airsafe has seven of. For non-friable work, a competent person or an assessor. Because we’re independent of the removalist, our clearance carries real weight with regulators, insurers and building owners.
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Yes. We can run it end to end – survey, specification, engaging the licensed removalist, air monitoring, and clearance – so you have one point of accountability and one independent set of results. Call us on 1300 888 338 to talk through your job.
Talk to us about your asbestos removal today
Whether you’re planning a removal, partway through one, or need a site cleared and certified, Airsafe can manage the asbestos side – independently, and without the conflict of also holding the removal contract.
We work across Sydney, NSW and Australia, with travel built into our quotes for sites further afield.
Contact us for a fast quote, or call Airsafe on 1300 888 338.
