Asbestos Eaves Closer

Asbestos eaves closers, also known as eaves filler pieces or profile closers, are moulded asbestos cement components designed to fill the corrugated gaps between profiled roofing sheets and the flat surfaces at the eaves, ridge, or verge of a roof. Their primary function is to prevent wind, rain, birds, and vermin from entering the building through the open corrugations at the roof edges.

Manufactured from the 1940s through to the late 1990s, eaves closers were produced to match the specific corrugation profile of the roofing sheets they accompanied. The asbestos content is typically 10 to 15 per cent, predominantly chrysotile, bound in Portland cement. They were produced as wedge-shaped or profiled blocks that slotted into the corrugations of the roofing sheet and sat on the wall plate or gutter board.

Eaves closers are found on industrial buildings, agricultural structures, warehouses, garages, and some older commercial premises — essentially any building with a corrugated asbestos cement roof. They are one of the most frequently overlooked asbestos components because of their small size and concealed position beneath the front edge of the roofing sheets. During asbestos surveys, they can be missed if the surveyor does not specifically look at the eaves detail.

In situ, asbestos eaves closers are non-friable and present a low risk. They are sheltered from direct weathering by the overhanging roof sheet and are not typically subject to physical disturbance. However, during re-roofing projects, they must be removed before new sheets can be installed. Pulling, prising, or breaking the closers out of position can fracture the brittle asbestos cement and release fibre-laden dust, particularly in the enclosed space beneath the eaves where dust can accumulate.

When planning the re-roofing of a building with corrugated asbestos cement sheets, do not forget the ancillary components — eaves closers, ridge tiles, and bargeboards. All of these are likely to be asbestos cement and must be handled with the same care as the main roofing sheets. A competent asbestos removal contractor will identify and remove all asbestos components as part of a comprehensive roof strip.