No. Eternit is a brand name for fibre cement — not a synonym for asbestos. But the confusion is understandable, because the two terms meant practically the same thing for decades.
The Timeline
Eternit was invented in 1903 by Ludwig Hatschek in Vöcklabruck. The original recipe: Portland cement + chrysotile asbestos fibres (10–15%). The fibres gave the material its strength, heat resistance, and durability. It became one of the most widely used building materials of the 20th century — roof panels, facade cladding, pipes, flower boxes, even garden furniture.
Before ~1990: Eternit products contain asbestos. Almost without exception.
Transition phase in the early 1990s: The Eternit company gradually switched to asbestos-free replacement fibres — cellulose and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol). In Austria, the asbestos ban came into force in 1990; some products with remaining stock were still in circulation briefly afterwards.
After ~1993: Eternit products are asbestos-free. The new fibre cement panels look deceptively similar to the old ones — same colour, same texture, same feel.
The Problem: You Cannot See the Difference
Old and new Eternit panels are visually identical. There is no characteristic by which you can reliably tell whether a panel contains asbestos. Colour, surface, weight — all the same.
Sometimes a production stamp on the back of the panel helps. If it shows a date after 1994: asbestos-free. But many panels have no stamp, or it has weathered away.
The only method that provides certainty: laboratory analysis. A material sample under a polarising microscope shows within 5–7 business days whether asbestos fibres are present.
What You Must Not Do Under Any Circumstances
Break, drill, saw, mill, or treat old Eternit panels with a pressure washer. If they contain asbestos, you release fine fibres — into the air, into the garden, into airways.
Even during demolition: do not throw or drop Eternit panels. Every break releases fibres.
As long as the panels are intact and untouched on the roof or facade, the risk is low. The asbestos is firmly bound in the cement. Fibres are only released through mechanical processing or advanced weathering.
What a Sample Costs
From €69 per sample, result in 5–7 business days. We take a small piece from the edge or from an already damaged spot — without additional fibre release.
For a typical roof or facade assessment, 1–2 samples are enough to provide clarity.
Next Step
You have Eternit panels on your roof and don't know whether they contain asbestos? Get in touch. 15-minute initial consultation, free of charge.