What are crystalline silica and engineered stone
Crystalline silica can be found in most rocks, sand, clay, and in some manufactured products such as bricks, concrete, tile and engineered stone. Engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing at least 1% crystalline silica is banned.
Crystalline silica
Typical crystalline silica levels in different materials are:
- sand and sandstone: 70-100%
- manufactured stone: 93% or higher
- concrete and mortar: 25-70%
- calcium-silicate bricks: 50-55%
- granite: 20-45% (typically 30%)
- slate: 20-40%
- brick: up to 30%
- fibre cement sheets: 10-30%
- demolition dust: 3-4%
- marble: 2%
- limestone: 2%
Engineered stone
Any work involving the manufacture, supply, processing or installation of engineered stone was banned on 1 July 2024. The ban applies to:
- benchtops for example those installed in kitchens, bathrooms and as outdoor surfaces
- panels for example kitchen splashbacks or floor and wall tiles
- slabs for example larger pieces of engineered stone that might need to be cut to fit a variety of different installation settings.
Engineered stone is defined as an artificial product that:
- contains at least 1% crystalline silica as a weight/weight concentration, and
- is created by combining natural stone materials with other chemical constituents (such as water, resins, or pigments), and
- becomes hardened.
Engineered stone does not include other silica related materials, such as:
- 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.
Natural stone benchtops, panels or slabs, for example granite benchtops, are not banned.
Finished engineered stone products such as jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures or kitchen sinks are not banned.
Legacy engineered stone
Legacy engineered stone is:
- engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs that were installed before the ban
- engineered stone stocks that were not installed before the ban
You must notify SafeWork NSW of work that involves processing legacy engineered stone.