James Hardie document
James Hardie Best Practice Guide
The official James Hardie best practice guide for working safely with Hardie fibre cement and autoclaved aerated concrete products. It explains respirable crystalline silica awareness, recommended cutting and machining methods, dust extraction and vacuum classes, respiratory protective equipment, and safe handling and storage. Read it on this page or download the PDF.
What this covers
- Silica Awareness & Risk
- Safe Cutting Methods
- Dust Extraction & Vacuums
- Respiratory Protective Equipment
- Handling & Storage
- Clean Up & Housekeeping
Applies to Easylap Panel, Brushed Concrete Cladding, Oblique Cladding, HardieDeck, HardieFlex Sheet, HardieGroove Lining, HardiePanel Compressed Sheet, HardiePlank Weatherboard, Tex Base Sheet, Ceramic Tile Underlay, PrimeLine Weatherboard, Scyon Axon Cladding, Scyon Linea Weatherboard, Scyon Matrix Cladding, Scyon Secura Flooring, Scyon Stria Cladding, Versilux Sheet and Villaboard Lining.
Key things to remember
The essentials from this guide, at a glance.
- Fibre cement and AAC products contain more than 1% crystalline silica, and cutting, drilling or sanding releases respirable dust.
- The lowest risk cutting uses manual tools such as a Villaboard score and snap knife, a hand guillotine or fibreshears.
- Power tools must use a fibre cement compatible blade connected to an H or M class vacuum, and grinders must never be used.
- Wear a properly fitted, fit tested P2 respirator or a PAPR with a P2 or P3 filter when creating dust, and set up cutting at least 3 metres from other workers.
- Never dry sweep, and clean up with an M or H class vacuum or low pressure water, double bagging waste before disposal.
- Cut outdoors where possible, and carry planks on edge and panels with two people while always wearing gloves.
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