Existing asbestos roof removed but debris left behind...

I'm one of those bullet proof aussies that believe it won't happen to me.
However that roof space and what I can only assume is asbestos, by what I can see, is a bit scary...

We all see the "panicked" threads here and most times I don't get the concern as it's only dangerous if it's broken or not painted/sealed.
Just about all you have is broken, and none of it is painted.

Once you have confirmed it's asbestos it'd be my priority to get it gone...

Looks like the bad stuff!
If it were me I'd have the pros in there to get rid of it.

What they said Definitely a job for the pros. Needs a complete clean out including vacuum.

Don't know much about ducted evaporative air con but if it is like ducted heating you only have one duct

sucking ( return air ) the rest are all blowing so they wouldn't be a prob if they were leaking.

Thanks for your replies.
Yes Air con sucks air from one location only in the hallway (no cement sheet of any kind nearby).
I am also filling all gaps where I can get to with cans of expandafoam to attempt sealing the roof space as best as I can.

I've contacted the pro's and arranging inspections/quotes.

It is a bit of a mess and will take quite alot of effort and patience to thoroughly vacuum all the ceiling and pick up the larger pieces. plus the large sheet will need to be carefully broken in managable sizes...

it's a real weird setup, the a small portion of the roof drainage collection runs a downpipe on the inside of this roofspace and is supported by timber ontop of the old roof sheeting and then outside the eave!

Really fun stuff.

Fingers crossed my family hasn't been exposed too much

Be interested to hear what it costs. That down pipe is copper so its not going to rust out but not

ideal to have it there. Can they access the area from out side? removing part of the roof or even

a gable end?

I'd certainly be seeking a professional clean up, but I wouldn't lose sleep over exposure to yourself and your family.
The broken pieces have obviously been there a long time. Deterioration causing airborne fibres would have to be minimal, unless you or someone else has been crawling or stepping all over it in the roof space while you've been there.

No access via outside, yes its a gable roof but quite intricately built.
Have received one quote of about $7k without allowances/independent hygienist/not including GST.

Thanks, I've gone up there a couple of times with a mask.
A couple of years ago before I knew anything about Asbestos, I removed about 4m^2 of 1970's tile underlay without PPE... I've been scared of my exposure ever since.
I'm 30 years old and haven't been educated about the subject, only self research after exposure...

Around 12 months ago a Plumber had disconnected a 70 gallon electric hot water system (hidden behind a corner in the photos) but that is the only works, system is now abandoned.
You can crawl along the bottom chord and stand up at the high end.

I'm arranging another inspection/quote next week.

I wouldn't loose any sleep over the exposure, catching asbestosis is on a par to being killed in a plane crash, a lot do it but very few die from it. There are many of us who had exposure but will never go on to be effected by it, so it really is a case of be alert but not alarmed. Having said that I would be inclined to get that muck out of the roof space it ticks all the wrong boxes, equally it would be almost impossible for any of it to enter the ducting system from what you have described.

I should make it clear though that no one should see it as harmless, the stuff should be handled and dealt with according to current regulations.

Of course, thank you johnc.

And my memory tells me that only 3% of persons exposed actually contract the disease, but of the 3% it's pretty much 100% fatal...

He did admit they knew better that to cut with grinders or circular saws with friction blades, but, there was a strong macho "it'll never happen to me" in the building trades culture years ago...

I think it is probably 3% of those with high exposure, it takes 15 to 60 years for an illness to develop from initial exposure so many probably contain the time bomb inside but something else gets them first. When I started playing with the stuff we used those hand held manual cement sheet cutters so most residue fell to the ground, we were aware you needed to avoid the dust. My exposure was minimal and limited to around the home and working bees, you do wonder but it doesn't pay to think to much about it.

My father built sheds with the stuff , used it on his boat exhausts all without masks and lived to 95
My mother grew up playing in the stuff while her own father built there house , she is now 86

still would be cautious doing anything with asbestos.