Friable or non-friable asbestos removal: which course do you need?
Your friable asbestos course path: Class B non-friable removal and a White Card first, then the friable asbestos removal course. Supervisors have their own.
Written byEdway
The short answer
Start with Non-Friable (Class B) Removal. It is the foundation course, and the only prerequisite is a current White Card. Friable (Class A) Removal comes next, and you need both a current White Card and the Class B qualification to enrol. If you will oversee removal work, there is a separate Supervise Asbestos Removal course.
Each step opens up more removal work, and we can help you take them in the right order.
What friable and non-friable asbestos are
Friable asbestos is asbestos in a powder form, or that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand. It is the more hazardous form. When it is disturbed, the tiny fibres can easily become airborne and inhaled.
Non-friable asbestos is bonded asbestos that is not crumbly. It is bound into another material, such as cement sheeting. Non-friable asbestos becomes friable if it has been damaged or degraded over time, so it pays to know both.
Removing either kind is licensed work once it passes certain limits. Removing any amount of friable asbestos needs a Class A licence. Removing more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos needs a Class B licence. The licence is held by the business doing the removal, not by each worker.
Non-Friable (Class B) Removal course
The Non-Friable Asbestos Removal course is where most removal careers start. This course (CPCCDE3028 Remove non-friable asbestos) trains you to safely remove bonded asbestos. You learn to prepare the removal area, enclose the site, carry out the removal, decontaminate and clean up, and complete the regulatory steps.
- NSW: delivered and issued by Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) at Seven Hills. It runs over 2 days.
- Victoria: delivered and issued by Edway Training (RTO 91401) at Hallam in Melbourne. It runs over 1 day.
You need a current White Card issued after May 2009. You receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment and a Class B training card. In NSW the card is handed to you on the day. In Victoria you upload a photo and the card is posted to you.
Friable asbestos removal NSW: the Class A course
The Friable Asbestos Removal course is the next step up. This course (CPCCDE3029 Remove friable asbestos) trains you to safely remove friable asbestos. It also covers non-friable removal.
The prerequisites are strict. You need both:
- a current White Card issued after May 2009
- a Statement of Attainment for Non-Friable Removal (CPCCDE3028, or the older CPCCDE3014)
Entry is refused without both.
The friable course is offered in NSW only, at Seven Hills. It is delivered and issued by Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411). Friable removal training is not offered in Victoria. The course runs over 2 days. You receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment and a Class A removal training card on the day.
The course is not a Class A licence. A licence also takes further training and experience, and it is issued by your state's work health and safety regulator. In NSW that is SafeWork NSW. This course is one step toward the licence. What it does straight away is let a licensed removalist put you on friable removal work.
That makes you more useful to a removal crew, and we are happy to help you take the next step toward finding that work.
Friable asbestos removal Melbourne and NSW: why it is supervised
Asbestos is one of the most hazardous materials found in buildings, so every licensed removal job is closely supervised. Every licensed removal job needs a named supervisor who holds the supervisor certification. On friable (Class A) jobs, the supervisor must be at the removal area the whole time the work is being carried out. On non-friable (Class B) jobs, the supervisor must be on site or readily available to the crew.
The Supervise Asbestos Removal course (CPCCDE4009) trains people for that role. You need a non-friable or friable removal Statement of Attainment to enrol. In NSW it is delivered and issued by Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411). In Victoria it is delivered and issued by Edway Training (RTO 91401). It runs over 1 day.
Do you want to become an asbestos removal supervisor? It is a natural next step once you have removal experience behind you.
PPE and on-site risks
In any friable asbestos removal job, PPE is your first line of defence. Removal work happens inside a prepared and enclosed area so fibres do not spread. Workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and go through decontamination before leaving the area. Both removal courses cover preparing and enclosing the site, decontamination and clean-up.
When it comes to asbestos, the right preparation and protection can make all the difference.
Our guide which asbestos course do you need? also compares these courses with asbestos awareness.
Next step
If you already hold a current White Card and a non-friable removal Statement of Attainment, you can book friable removal in NSW. The price is on the course page. Go to the Friable Asbestos Removal course page to book, or start with the Non-Friable Asbestos Removal course page.
Sources
- Safe Work Australia — Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestosLicensed removalists must use certified workers and named supervisors (via the KB work.yaml files)
- SafeWork NSW — asbestos removal licensingClass A licence held by the business; licence is separate from the course (via the KB recognition.md)
- Edway knowledge base — courses/asbestos-friable/index.md, offerings.yaml, recognition.md, faq.yaml, work.yamlFriable course facts, prerequisites, issuing RTO, outcome, licence distinction
- Edway knowledge base — courses/asbestos-non-friable/index.md, offerings.yaml, recognition.md, faq.yaml, work.yamlNon-friable course facts, prerequisite, issuing RTO per state, outcome
- Edway knowledge base — courses/asbestos-supervise/index.md, offerings.yaml, recognition.md, faq.yaml, work.yamlSupervisor course facts, prerequisites, supervision rules, issuing RTO per state
