What is Engineered Stone?
Workplace Health and Safety state that Egineered Stone is an artificial product that:
- Contains 1% or more of crystalline silica, determined as a weight/weight (w/w) concentration.
- Is created by combining natural stone materials with other chemical contituents such as water, resins or pigments.
- Becomes Hardened.
Engineered stone does not include the following:
- Natural stone benchtops, panels or slaps (e.g. a granite benchtop is not prohibited).
- Concrete and Cement products.
- Bricks, pavers and other similar blocks.
- Ceramic wall and floor tiles.
- Porcelain, where it does not contain resin.
- Sintered stone, where it does not contain resin.
- Roof tiles.
- Grout, mortar and render.
- Plasterboard.
Health Risks associated with Engineered Stone
The cutting and manufactoring of Engineered Stone has been identified the leading contributor to Solocosis. This rare, long-term lung disease is caused by inhaling fine crastalline silica dust, which can lead to chronic and terminal diseases; such as lung cancer. Silica dust; because of the way it infects the human body has been called 'The New Asbestos'.
"Banning engineered stone is absolutely the right decision because we have mountains of scientific evidence that demonstrate the product can’t be worked on safely." - Kate Cole, OAM
Once fabricated and installed, enginnered stone does not pose any health risk. So if you already have enginnered stone in your spaces, you are perfectly safe. The risks are noted to be during the manufacturing and cutting of the material when silica particles are freely released into the surrounding air .
Alternatives to Egineered Stone
Silica dust can be found in other natural stone, bricks, tiles, concrete, mortar and plastic materials; the issue that this ban tackles is specifically the Silica contents within those materials.
For example:
- Marble contains 2% of silica.
- Grabite typically contains 30% silica.
- Sandstone can contain between 70-95% silica.
Egineered stone however can contain up to 97%. It is this high level of silica content that has lead to the ban being implimented to protect those who are regularly cutting the stone and are consistantly exposed.
"There are lots of other alternatives,” says Kate. “If none of them will work, then there are low-silica products. At the end of the day, not using stone that contains a high amount of quartz is the real message here."
The best alternative materials you can use are:
- New Silica-Free Egineered Stone
- Egineered Porcelain Slab
- Natural Stone
- Laminate
- Timber
- Stainless Steel
Egineered Stone Ban Timeline
From the 1st of June, 2024; the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs is banned in Australia. This ban does not apply to any previously installed enginnered stone benchtops, panels or slaps when it comes to removal, repairs, or minor modifications, or egineered stone that is currently being disposed of.
However, anywork involving already installed or removed engineered stone is currently under control and the PCBU (Person conducting business or undertaking) must notify the relevel WHS (Workplace Health and Safety) refulator prior to carrying out this work with engineered stone. You can read more here
As of the 1st of September, 2024; stronger regulations around any materials that conatain at least 1% of crystalline silica; specifically in relation to engineered stone. These changes include:
- A continuing requirement for any permitted processinf of engineered stone to be controlled and notified to the regulator.
- A requirement for PCBUs to undertake a risk assesment of any permitted processing of legacy engineered stone.
- Additional duting for PCBUs carrying out permitted work with engineered stone that assessed as high risk.
As more information is provided and the peramteres evolve around the engineered stone ban, we will keep you updated with the latest.
