Asbestos Removal Class A+B
Key Information
Duration:2 Day (16 hours)
Maximum Company Attendees: 8
Can fulfill up to 12 with additional charges
Training available nationwide at one of our centres, or your own workplace
Safe, compliant and controlled removal of friable and non-friable asbestos in accordance with New Zealand Legislation
This course provides learners with the knowledge and practical skills required to safely remove both friable (Class A) and non-friable (Class B) asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and asbestos-contaminated debris in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 and industry best practice. Learners will prepare and plan asbestos removal work, identify asbestos hazards, establish asbestos removal areas, enclosures, and decontamination systems, undertake the safe removal of friable and non-friable ACM, complete decontamination processes, manage and dispose of asbestos waste and contaminated debris, clean up worksites, and complete all required asbestos documentation under controlled conditions.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Prepare for friable asbestos removal by reviewing survey information, workplace procedures, regulatory requirements and asbestos removal documentation.
- Identify friable asbestos materials and associated hazards and determine appropriate controls
- Select and use appropriate PPE and RPE in accordance with AS/NZS requirements
- Prepare the removal site, establish exclusion zones, signage, decontamination units and required plant and equipment
- Isolate asbestos removal areas using suitable enclosure and containment methods
- Carry out friable asbestos removal using approved wet methods and controlled removal techniques
- Perform personnel and equipment decontamination procedures
- Clean the removal site and manage asbestos waste for transport and disposal
- Contribute to and use asbestos documentation including ARCPs, notifications, records and clearance requirements
- Plan and prepare for non-friable asbestos removal by identifying asbestos-containing materials, reviewing workplace documentation, assessing hazards, and selecting appropriate tools, equipment, PPE and RPE.
- Prepare and isolate a non-friable asbestos removal area using appropriate controls, signage, barriers, exclusion zones and safe work procedures in accordance with the Asbestos Removal Control Plan (ARCP).
- Safely remove non-friable asbestos-containing materials using approved removal techniques, package and manage asbestos waste, and comply with workplace and regulatory requirements.
- Complete decontamination, site clean-up and asbestos documentation requirements, including clearance processes and records associated with asbestos removal work.
Prerequisite:
- SiteSafe (NZ) Foundation Passport – Building Construction, ConstructSafe, or another recognised health and safety induction certification accepted in New Zealand
Entry Criteria:
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All students are required to have a level of written and oral English equivalent to NCEA level 1 (year 11) or IELTS 5.5 or higher, to be eligible to attend our courses. The person responsible for making bookings or authorising attendance on the course must agree to these Terms and Conditions prior to acceptance of their student(s) onto the course. Where a student does not meet our English language requirement a reader/writer must be supplied by the student or the person responsible for authorising the student’s attendance. The reader/writer cannot be another student attending the same course.
Class A and Class B Asbestos Removal Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Class A and Class B asbestos removal training and licensing in New Zealand.
Workers undertaking licensed asbestos removal in New Zealand need appropriate training for the type of asbestos they remove.
NZQA Unit Standard 29766 covers friable (Class A) asbestos removal, while NZQA Unit Standard 29765 covers non-friable (Class B) asbestos removal.
Safety 'n Action's Class A and Class B training develops the practical knowledge required to prepare removal areas, use appropriate protective equipment, manage asbestos exposure risks, complete decontamination and follow New Zealand asbestos regulations. Completing training does not automatically grant a WorkSafe asbestos removal licence.
NZQA Unit Standard 29766 covers friable (Class A) asbestos removal, while NZQA Unit Standard 29765 covers non-friable (Class B) asbestos removal.
Safety 'n Action's Class A and Class B training develops the practical knowledge required to prepare removal areas, use appropriate protective equipment, manage asbestos exposure risks, complete decontamination and follow New Zealand asbestos regulations. Completing training does not automatically grant a WorkSafe asbestos removal licence.
The main difference is the type of asbestos-containing material being removed.
Class A asbestos removal involves friable asbestos, which can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry and can release airborne fibres more readily.
Class B asbestos removal involves non-friable asbestos, where the asbestos fibres are more firmly bound within the material.
A Class A removal licence permits removal of both friable and non-friable asbestos, while a Class B licence permits removal of non-friable asbestos and associated asbestos-contaminated dust or debris.
Class A asbestos removal involves friable asbestos, which can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry and can release airborne fibres more readily.
Class B asbestos removal involves non-friable asbestos, where the asbestos fibres are more firmly bound within the material.
A Class A removal licence permits removal of both friable and non-friable asbestos, while a Class B licence permits removal of non-friable asbestos and associated asbestos-contaminated dust or debris.
Safety 'n Action lists an Asbestos Removal Class A + B course for learners seeking training covering both friable and non-friable asbestos removal.
Training across both classes helps workers understand the different hazards, containment requirements, removal techniques and decontamination procedures associated with each type of asbestos.
Learners should confirm the combined course's current unit standards, duration and entry requirements before booking. Any required WorkSafe removal licence is obtained separately from the training qualification.
Training across both classes helps workers understand the different hazards, containment requirements, removal techniques and decontamination procedures associated with each type of asbestos.
Learners should confirm the combined course's current unit standards, duration and entry requirements before booking. Any required WorkSafe removal licence is obtained separately from the training qualification.
Whether an asbestos removal licence is required depends on the type and quantity of asbestos being removed.
Under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016:
The 10m² limit applies to the entire removal project at the site and cannot be avoided by dividing the work into smaller sections.
Under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016:
- Class A licence: Required for removing any amount of friable asbestos.
- Class A or B licence: Required for removing more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos.
- No removal licence required: Up to and including 10m² of non-friable asbestos may be removed without a licence, provided the relevant legal requirements and safe work practices are followed.
The 10m² limit applies to the entire removal project at the site and cannot be avoided by dividing the work into smaller sections.
No. Completing asbestos removal training and obtaining a WorkSafe asbestos removal licence are separate processes.
Safety 'n Action's asbestos removal courses provide relevant NZQA training and practical skills for asbestos removal work. However, asbestos removal licences are issued by WorkSafe to eligible businesses or other persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), not automatically to individual learners completing a course.
Businesses must meet the applicable licensing, competency and supervision requirements before undertaking licensed asbestos removal work.
Safety 'n Action's asbestos removal courses provide relevant NZQA training and practical skills for asbestos removal work. However, asbestos removal licences are issued by WorkSafe to eligible businesses or other persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), not automatically to individual learners completing a course.
Businesses must meet the applicable licensing, competency and supervision requirements before undertaking licensed asbestos removal work.
NZQA Unit Standards 29765 and 29766 are nationally recognised qualifications covering the safe removal of non-friable and friable asbestos in New Zealand.
Unit Standard 29765, Remove non-friable asbestos, is a Level 4, three-credit standard covering preparation, removal, decontamination, waste management and documentation.
Unit Standard 29766, Remove friable asbestos, is a Level 4, four-credit standard covering controlled friable asbestos removal, containment, decontamination and associated documentation.
These standards are relevant to workers undertaking licensed asbestos removal activities.
Unit Standard 29765, Remove non-friable asbestos, is a Level 4, three-credit standard covering preparation, removal, decontamination, waste management and documentation.
Unit Standard 29766, Remove friable asbestos, is a Level 4, four-credit standard covering controlled friable asbestos removal, containment, decontamination and associated documentation.
These standards are relevant to workers undertaking licensed asbestos removal activities.
Asbestos awareness training helps workers recognise asbestos-containing materials, understand exposure risks and know what precautions to take when asbestos may be present.
Class A and B asbestos removal training goes further, developing the practical skills needed to carry out removal work safely.
This includes preparing asbestos removal areas, selecting and using personal and respiratory protective equipment (PPE and RPE), applying safe removal techniques, managing asbestos waste, performing decontamination and completing removal documentation.
Workers who only need to recognise asbestos may require awareness training, while those undertaking removal work need training appropriate to their role and the asbestos involved.
Class A and B asbestos removal training goes further, developing the practical skills needed to carry out removal work safely.
This includes preparing asbestos removal areas, selecting and using personal and respiratory protective equipment (PPE and RPE), applying safe removal techniques, managing asbestos waste, performing decontamination and completing removal documentation.
Workers who only need to recognise asbestos may require awareness training, while those undertaking removal work need training appropriate to their role and the asbestos involved.
Some non-friable asbestos removal work can be completed without an asbestos removal licence, but strict conditions apply.
For example, removing up to 10m² of non-friable asbestos cement sheeting may not require a licence. However, removing more than 10m² requires a Class A or B licensed removalist, and removing any amount of friable asbestos requires a Class A licence.
The material must be correctly identified, and all removal work must be completed safely, with suitable controls to prevent asbestos fibre exposure.
For example, removing up to 10m² of non-friable asbestos cement sheeting may not require a licence. However, removing more than 10m² requires a Class A or B licensed removalist, and removing any amount of friable asbestos requires a Class A licence.
The material must be correctly identified, and all removal work must be completed safely, with suitable controls to prevent asbestos fibre exposure.
Class A and B asbestos removal training is relevant to workers and businesses involved in asbestos removal, demolition, refurbishment, construction and building maintenance where asbestos-containing materials may need to be removed.
This can include asbestos removal workers, demolition contractors, builders, tradespeople and workers involved in preparing, containing or cleaning asbestos removal areas.
The appropriate training depends on the worker's responsibilities and whether they will be removing friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos or both.
This can include asbestos removal workers, demolition contractors, builders, tradespeople and workers involved in preparing, containing or cleaning asbestos removal areas.
The appropriate training depends on the worker's responsibilities and whether they will be removing friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos or both.
Safety 'n Action delivers face-to-face asbestos removal training throughout New Zealand, with training available at its centres nationwide or at suitable workplaces.
