School asbestos removal and demolition on live school sites
Burke Industries removes asbestos and demolishes buildings at state and independent schools across the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley. We hold a Class A licence for friable materials such as low density board ceilings. Our work is planned around the school calendar, separated from students and staff, and closed out with independent clearance.
Asbestos in school buildings
Many Queensland school blocks were built in the 1950s to 1970s, when low density asbestos board (LDB) was used for walls, ceilings and acoustic tiles. Since May 2021, Queensland law has classed LDB as friable in all circumstances. Removing it is Class A work, with a nominated supervisor on site throughout, independent air monitoring and clearance by a licensed asbestos assessor.
Schools also have rules of their own. Under the Department of Education's Asbestos management procedure (v5.7, July 2026):
- The department maintains the asbestos registers for its facilities.
- Principals sign a site-specific asbestos management plan by week 4 of Term 1 each year.
- Before any maintenance or construction, principals must consult the register and make sure QBuild samples any “assumed” materials.
- Principals issue a work area access permit and communicate community impact information to affected parties.
We work inside that process, alongside QBuild and the principal.
How we work around students and staff
Timing around the school calendar
The noisiest, dustiest and most disruptive work, such as friable removal from occupied blocks and demolition, is best programmed into school holidays or weekends where the program allows. Where work must happen in term, we stage it block by block so the school keeps teaching spaces and access routes.
Separation and access control
Queensland's Work Health and Safety Regulation requires signs and barricades around every asbestos removal area (s 469). The school, as the person with management or control, must limit access to the removal area so far as reasonably practicable (s 470). On friable jobs the area is enclosed, tested for leaks, kept under negative pressure and worked with the wet method (s 477).
Air monitoring
For Class A removal, an independent licensed asbestos assessor monitors the air before and during the work (s 475). If fibre levels reach 0.01 fibres/mL, the controls are investigated and fixed. Above 0.02 fibres/mL, work stops and WorkSafe Queensland is notified (s 476). Results must be given to workers, health and safety representatives and others at the workplace, including school staff.
Notice and communication
Licensed removal needs five days' written notice to WorkSafe Queensland (s 466). Before removal starts, the removalist must tell the person with management or control. The school must then tell its workers and others at the workplace when the work will start (ss 467–468). We support the principal with clear information on dates, locations, controls and access changes for staff, parents and the school community.
Nothing reopens without a clearance certificate
After licensed removal, an independent clearance inspection is required before the area is used again: by a licensed asbestos assessor for Class A work, or an independent competent person for Class B (s 473). The clearance certificate confirms no visible asbestos residue and, where air monitoring was done, fibres below 0.01 fibres/mL (s 474).
Before
Asbestos removal control plan, WorkSafe Queensland notification, SWMS, licence details
During
Air monitoring results from the independent licensed assessor (friable work)
Handover
Clearance certificate, waste disposal records, and the information the school needs to update its asbestos register
You can check our licences on our licences and compliance page: WorkSafe Queensland Class A asbestos removal licence 2302383 and QBCC licence 48707.
Recent school projects
These QBuild contracts for Department of Education schools are published in Queensland Government contract disclosure data. Most are LDB removal, often with reinstatement, so the block goes straight back into use.
| School | Work | Awarded | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockyer District State High School, Gatton | LDB removal and reinstatement, Block C | Nov 2022 | $492,800 |
| Chinchilla State High School | Replace LDB sheeting, A Block administration ceiling | May 2023 | $351,780 |
| Killarney State School | LDB removal, secondary block staircase and home economics block | May 2023 | $248,050 |
| Laidley and Mount Sylvia state schools | LDB removal at two schools | Jun 2023 | $197,552 |
| Laidley District State School | LDB removal, Block E | Feb 2024 | $185,268 |
| Centenary Heights State High School | LDB removal, B Block | Mar 2024 | $133,744 |
| Rangeville State School | Asbestos removal, C Block and A Block | 2021–22 | $110,605 and $49,500 |
| Harristown State High School | Removal of about 586 m² of ACM, Block D, plus further block works | 2021–24 | $82,775 (Block D) |
| Lockrose State School | B Block demolition and asbestos removal | Apr 2024 | $75,625 |
| Toowoomba State High School | Fire hydrant upgrade (DoE fire upgrade stage 9) | Jan 2020 | Records of $779,449 and $425,109 |
Read the Lockyer District State High School case study, or see more of our work on the portfolio page.
For independent and Catholic schools
Independent and Catholic schools aren't covered by the Department of Education procedure, but the same Queensland law applies to them. Workplaces built before 31 December 1989 need an asbestos register unless no asbestos is identified or likely, and a written asbestos management plan, reviewed at least every five years. Asbestos likely to be disturbed must be identified and removed before refurbishment or demolition. We work to your register and management plan, and give you the documents to update them.
For removal scope, licences and methods, see our asbestos removal service for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
Planning school works?
Send us the asbestos register extract for the blocks involved and your preferred window, for example the next school holidays. We'll inspect, confirm whether it's Class A or B, and give you a staged program and price with the monitoring and clearance set out.
Sources
- Queensland Department of Education: Asbestos management procedure, v5.7 (effective 17 Jul 2026). registers maintained by the department, site-specific asbestos management plans by week 4 of Term 1, consulting the register before works, QBuild sampling of assumed materials, work area access permits, community impact communication, five-yearly inspections.
- ASSEA LDB product guide. friable in Queensland since May 2021; 1950s–1970s; school acoustic ceilings.
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld). s 425 (registers, 31 Dec 1989), s 429–430 (management plans), ss 452 and 456 (remove before demolition and refurbishment), s 459 (supervisor present), s 466 (notice), ss 467–468 (telling persons), s 469 (signs and barricades), s 470 (limiting access), ss 473–474 (clearance), s 475 (air monitoring), s 476 (action levels), s 477 (friable controls).
- WorkSafe Queensland: How to safely remove asbestos Code of Practice 2021
- School contracts: Queensland Government contract disclosures on data.qld.gov.au. Housing and Public Works 2019–21; Energy and Public Works 2020–24; DHLGPPW 2024–27.
- WorkSafe Queensland Class A register. 2302383
- QBCC register. 48707