Electrical meter boards
Asbestos Meter Board Removal in Geelong
Many older Geelong homes still have the original electrical meter or switchboard, mounted on a backing board that may contain asbestos. Our team removes the backing board safely, in with your electrician's timing, and disposes of it with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork. It's quoted on site, with a fixed price before any work starts.
- Licensed removal and testing
- EPA tracked disposal, paperwork included
- Fixed price before we start
What an asbestos meter board is
Older meter boxes and switchboards were often built on a flat, dark sheet that holds the meters, fuses and wiring. In many homes that backing board contains asbestos.
Electrical meter board backing is on the list of common places asbestos is found in older homes (Asbestos in Victoria). It's small, but because electricians regularly drill and screw into it, it's worth sorting properly.
Signs it's time to replace it
- You're upgrading to a modern switchboard
- Solar, a battery or an EV charger is being installed
- The board is cracked, scorched or crumbling at the edges
- An electrician has flagged it as possible asbestos
- Rewiring or a renovation is planned
How meter board removal works
- 1
Look and confirm
We check the board and, if needed, take a sample for NATA-accredited lab testing.
- 2
Quoted on site
You get a fixed price for the removal, wrapping and disposal.
- 3
Line up the electrician
We work to your electrician's timing so the power is dealt with safely first.
- 4
Notify WorkSafe Victoria
Licensed removalists must notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours before removing 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos, and at least 5 days before all other removal (WorkSafe Victoria).
- 5
Board off, area cleaned
The backing board is removed whole, kept damp, and the surrounding area cleaned.
- 6
Wrapped and tracked
It's wrapped and taken to a licensed facility, with your EPA Waste Tracker record.
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
- 1
Fill out the quick form
Your name, a phone number and a rough idea of what you've got. That's enough to get started.
- 2
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
Someone from our team gets back to you to talk through the job and answer your first questions.
- 3
We come out at a time that suits and measure up
We look at the material, measure it, and check how we'll get in and out.
- 4
Itemised fixed quote soon after the visit
Each part of the job is listed with its price, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
- 5
Say yes, with flexible payment options if cash flow's tight
Once you're happy, we lock in a date. Ask us about spreading the cost if that helps.
- 6
We notify WorkSafe Victoria, then it's removal day
We notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours ahead for 10 square metres or less of non-friable (bonded) asbestos, and at least 5 days ahead for all other removal, including any friable asbestos (WorkSafe Victoria). On the day we remove it safely and leave the place cleaner than we found it.
- 7
Done and dusted
Everything is wrapped, transported with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork (EPA Victoria) and disposed of at a licensed facility, with an independent clearance where required (WorkSafe Victoria).
Victorian rules for meter boards
- Removing friable asbestos needs a Class A licence. Class B covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos only (WorkSafe Victoria).
- Victorian workplace rules allow only limited unlicensed removal of non-friable asbestos: no more than 10 square metres in total and no more than 1 hour of work in any 7 days (WorkSafe Victoria). Homeowners should get advice for their own situation and use a licensed removalist (Asbestos in Victoria).
- Licensed removalists must notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours before removing 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos, and at least 5 days before all other removal (WorkSafe Victoria).
- An independent visual inspection and clearance certificate is required after friable removal, and after non-friable removal over 10 square metres, before the area is used again (WorkSafe Victoria).
- Licensed removalists must have EPA permission to transport asbestos, use EPA Waste Tracker and give the customer the Waste Tracker record. Asbestos must never go in household rubbish, recycling or green waste bins (EPA Victoria, Waste Tracker).
- Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria).
What affects the cost
- Size and condition of the backing board
- Where the board is mounted and how easy it is to reach
- Whether a sample test is needed first
- Coordinating with your electrician's day
- Other asbestos work done on the same visit
Meter boards: quoted on site.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
Common questions
Ask our team about licensed asbestos removal for the backing board. Removing friable asbestos needs a Class A licence. Class B covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos only (WorkSafe Victoria). We assess the material and work out the removal scope before quoting.
Older meter and switchboards often have a dark, flat backing board behind the meters and fuses. Electrical meter board backing is one of the common places for asbestos in older homes (Asbestos in Victoria). A sample analysed by a NATA-accredited lab confirms it.
Discuss suspected asbestos before work starts. Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria).
Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria). An electrician who suspects an asbestos backing board will want it identified or removed first.
We can't give a power-off duration from a form enquiry. Tell us about any electrical work planned, and we'll clarify the removal scope and timing at the site visit.
Meter boards are quoted on site, because the work depends on the board, its location and what your electrician needs. See our cost guide.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
Ready to get it off your property?
Tell us what you've found and where it is. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes, come out to measure up, and give you an itemised fixed price before anything starts.