Why silica exposure risks don’t stop at Stonework.

The engineered stone industry has recently undergone major regulatory changes, including a full national ban on  new benchtop installations. These changes reflect a broader shift across all sectors to better manage the risks  associated with silica dust exposure.
Safe Work Australia now requires all workplaces to identify, assess, and control silica dust risks across every  sector. The external cladding industry is no exception. Regulation has not landed yet, but our understanding of  the dangers has evolved, and that carries real responsibility. The materials used every day on facades, walls,  and structures can, and does, release silica dust. And that is deadly.

The invisible risk in cladding

Traditional external cladding systems often use crystalline silica as a filler strong, durable, and highly effective.  But history has shown us before: strength isn’t always safety. Back in the 20th century, asbestos was praised for  being light, strong, and affordable before the devastating health consequences became known.
Today, silica dust stands in a frighteningly similar spotlight. Fine, strong, and dangerous, silica is being  recognised as the next major health risk for the construction industry.
Silica dust produced from cutting is so fine it is often invisible, making it easy to breathe in without realising. Over  time, it can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious, long-term health damage, silicosis and lung cancer.  Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease caused by breathing in crystalline silica dust, which becomes  deposited deep in the lungs, leading to inflammation, scarring, and reduced ability to absorb oxygen from the air.  With better knowledge comes greater responsibility. Our industry has faced challenges before and adapted with  strength and innovation. We will tackle this one the same way, with the commitment and resilience that defines  us.

What Builders and Installers Are Now Required to Do

Compliance standards are evolving, and protecting our teams has never been more important. Our industry  already knows the drill. When working with Silica:

• Wet-cutting
• On-tool extraction
• Fit-tested PPE and masks
• Dust suppression plans
• Ongoing health monitoring and reporting

But What About External Cladding?

There’s no ban yet on cladding materials containing silica. But let’s be honest: it’s coming.
We at Basroc stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our industry mates. Together, we take care of our people. The  tightening of regulation is frustrating, and it means more cost, more investment in training, new equipment, new  processes. It disrupts the flow of business and bites into margins we fight hard to protect.
But when you zoom out, it’s the right fight. It’s about safeguarding the health and dignity of the very people who  build our homes, our workplaces, our cities. Every step we take now protects them from a future that would  otherwise look a lot like the slow disaster of asbestos exposure decades ago.
Companies that wait for a ban risk far more than compliance headaches. They risk their reputations, future  liabilities, and the trust of the workers and clients who make their businesses possible. Clients are getting  smarter. Builders are already adapting and many have switched, more are preparing to, and those who delay  are being asked harder questions on-site.
Don’t be the builder who explains in ten years why you kept using known hazardous materials after the evidence  was clear.

Why Basroc Built the Safer Formula

Basroc didn’t wait to react. We designed a system that eliminates the problem altogether.

• Zero crystalline silica in our panels, render, and texture
• Mineral wool core with patented two-sided fibreglass mesh
• No dust. No PPE. No cutting bay needed.
• Lightweight, easy-to-handle panels that meet compliance without compromise We didn’t find a workaround. We built the solution from the ground up.

Build Faster, Work Cleaner

Safety shouldn’t slow you down.

• Lightweight panels mean faster installation times
• Knife-cuttable panels mean no heavy power tools needed
• Dry install method means no wet mess, no mud, no dust clouds
• Smaller install teams needed, easier logistics, lower labour costs
• Basroc makes your projects safer, faster, and cleaner—without adding layers of complexity.

Lower Your Liability Before the Industry Forces It

Builders who eliminate silica exposure now aren’t just future-proofing their projects, they are protecting their  people and preserving their reputations. No family should suffer because of a bad choice today. No builder  should have to defend an avoidable health risk in court.
And with programs like the NSW Small Business Rebate offering up to $1,000 toward safety upgrades, the  smartest move is also the most affordable one right now
Switching to a silica-free system is an investment in your crew, your clients, and your peace of mind.

Stay ahead. Build smarter. Choose safer.

Ready to stay ahead of the curve? Ready to protect your team today, not when you’re forced to.
Talk to the Basroc team about smarter, silica-free cladding.
Build faster. Work safer. Lead the industry forward.