If your home was built before 1990 and the switchboard has never been replaced, there’s a reasonable chance the backing board inside the enclosure — the panel that the fuses or circuit breakers are mounted onto — contains asbestos. It’s something we come across regularly on switchboard upgrade jobs across the Hills District and Hawkesbury, and it’s one of the least-discussed electrical safety issues in older NSW homes.
This article explains what an asbestos switchboard backing board is, why it matters, and exactly how it gets dealt with when you have your switchboard upgraded.
What Is a Switchboard Backing Board?
Inside most switchboard enclosures, the fuse holders, circuit breakers, and RCDs are mounted onto a flat backing panel. In homes built and wired before asbestos was phased out of building materials — broadly, before the late 1980s to early 1990s — this backing panel was often made from compressed asbestos fibre board. It was a common, widely-used material at the time, chosen for its heat resistance and electrical insulating properties.
From the outside, you can’t tell whether a switchboard backing board contains asbestos. The enclosure looks the same regardless of what’s inside. The only way to confirm is to have a licensed electrician open and inspect the board.
Is an Asbestos Backing Board Dangerous?
An asbestos-containing backing board that is in good condition and left completely undisturbed presents a low risk. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it’s disturbed — drilled into, cut, sanded, or broken — releasing fine fibres into the air that can be inhaled.
The problem is that a switchboard upgrade disturbs the backing board by definition. Removing old fuse holders and circuit breakers, mounting new ones, and running new cables all involves working directly on and around the backing board. This is why an asbestos backing board cannot simply be ignored during an upgrade — it has to be dealt with correctly before the electrical work proceeds.
Any electrician who carries out a switchboard upgrade without identifying and managing an asbestos backing board is either unaware of it or choosing to ignore it. Neither is acceptable.
How Common Is This in the Hills District and Hawkesbury?
More common than most homeowners expect. The Hills District has a significant number of homes built during the 1970s and 1980s — particularly in suburbs like Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, and Galston — where original switchboards are still in place. Many of these have never been replaced or inspected since the home was built.
We identify asbestos backing boards on a regular basis when carrying out switchboard assessments and upgrades across these suburbs. It’s not a rare edge case — it’s a known characteristic of the older housing stock in this area.
What Happens When We Find One
When Saunders Electrical Group identifies an asbestos-containing backing board during a switchboard assessment, here’s what happens:
We tell you upfront. We identify it during the assessment and include asbestos removal in the scope and quote before any work begins. There are no surprises on the day.
We coordinate licensed asbestos removal. We work with a licensed electrician who is also licensed for asbestos removal, so the removal is handled correctly and safely. You make one call to us and we manage the rest — you don’t have to find, brief, and coordinate a separate contractor yourself.
The asbestos is removed and disposed of correctly. Removal is carried out in accordance with NSW SafeWork requirements. The material is disposed of at a licensed facility, and you receive documentation confirming compliant removal and disposal. Keep this with your home records.
We complete the switchboard upgrade. Once the asbestos has been cleared and the area confirmed safe, we proceed with the full switchboard upgrade — new enclosure, RCDs on every circuit, circuit breakers, correct labelling, and Certificate of Electrical Compliance on completion.
The result is a fully upgraded, compliant switchboard with no legacy asbestos material remaining, and a paper trail confirming every stage was handled correctly.
What If You’re Buying or Selling a Pre-1990 Home?
If you’re purchasing a home built before 1990 in the Hills District or Hawkesbury and the switchboard hasn’t been replaced, this is worth raising with your building inspector before settlement. A pre-purchase electrical inspection will identify whether the switchboard is compliant and whether an asbestos backing board is present.
If you’re selling, an upgraded switchboard with documentation of correct asbestos removal is a meaningful point in your favour during a pre-purchase inspection. Non-compliant switchboards — and undisclosed asbestos — can delay or complicate a sale.
How to Tell If Your Home Might Be Affected
You can’t confirm the presence of asbestos from outside the switchboard enclosure. But the following are reasonable indicators that your home warrants an inspection:
- Your home was built before 1990
- The switchboard has never been replaced or significantly upgraded
- You still have ceramic fuses or an older board without safety switches on every circuit
- You’re planning a renovation, extension, or any work that will require new circuits
- You’re installing an EV charger, ducted air conditioning, or any high-draw appliance
If any of these apply, a switchboard assessment is the right first step. We carry these out at no charge across the Hills District and Hawkesbury — we’ll inspect the board, confirm whether asbestos is present, and give you a clear picture of what’s needed before you commit to anything.
One Call Covers the Whole Job
The reason homeowners sometimes put off dealing with an asbestos switchboard is the perception that it involves coordinating multiple trades and multiple compliance processes. In practice, when you book through Saunders Electrical Group, it doesn’t. We assess the board, coordinate the licensed asbestos removal, and complete the switchboard upgrade — all under one job, one quote, and one point of contact.
Saunders Electrical Group carries out switchboard upgrades — including asbestos backing board removal — across Castle Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, Baulkham Hills, Dural, Galston, Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Box Hill, Windsor, Richmond, and all surrounding Hills District and Hawkesbury suburbs.
If you’d like to understand what a switchboard upgrade typically costs before booking, read our switchboard upgrade cost guide. Or if you’re not sure whether your board needs upgrading at all, see our guide to signs your switchboard needs upgrading. Call 1300 993 560 or get a free switchboard assessment here. We’ll inspect your board, confirm what’s there, and give you a fixed price before any work begins.