Asbestos cement

Invented at the end of the 19th century,[1] the material was adopted extensively during World War II to make easily-built, sturdy and inexpensive structures for military purposes.

Asbestos cement competed with aluminum alloy, available in large quantities after WWII, and the reemergence of wood clapboard and vinyl siding in the mid to late 20th century.

Predominantly manufactured and sold by James Hardie until the mid-1980s, fibro in all its forms was a popular building material, largely due to its durability.

The use of fibro that contains asbestos has been banned in several countries, including Australia, but as recently as 2016,[update] the material was discovered in new components sold for construction projects.

Some Australian states, such as Queensland, prohibit the cleaning of fibro with pressure washers, because it can spread the embedded asbestos fibres over a wide area.