Asbestos and Eternit Removal in Sicily: Costs, Procedures and Safety Certificates

By Arch. Fabio Costanzo, Studio 4e · Updated: March 2026

Asbestos — sold as Eternit in Sicily from the 1950s to the 1992 ban — is present in corrugated roofing, floor adhesives, pipe insulation, and partition walls in hundreds of thousands of Sicilian buildings. Removal is legally mandatory before demolition, and strongly advised before renovation. Non-compliant removal creates criminal liability for both the owner and the contractor.

Where asbestos is most commonly found in Sicilian buildings

Asbestos was widely used in Italian construction from the 1950s until Law 257/1992 banned its production and use. In Sicily, where much of the postwar rural and suburban building stock dates from 1955–1985, the following locations are most commonly affected:

• Corrugated cement-asbestos roofing (lastre ondulate in fibrocemento): the most visible form. Very common on agricultural outbuildings, rural masserie, and 1960s–1970s residential additions. Identifiable by the ribbed grey sheet profile.
• Floor tiles and adhesives: vinyl asbestos tiles (VAt) were standard in commercial and some residential buildings 1955–1980. The tiles themselves are low-risk if intact; the black bituminous adhesive beneath them often has higher asbestos content.
• Pipe and boiler insulation: thermal insulation on heating pipes, around boilers and water tanks in buildings from before 1980. This is friable asbestos (amianto friabile) — the most dangerous form, which releases fibres when disturbed.
• Textured ceiling coatings (intonaco con amianto): some 1960s–1970s apartment buildings used spray-applied coatings containing chrysotile. Common in Palermo and Catania apartment blocks from this period.
• Caltanissetta ex-mining infrastructure: former sulphur mining buildings in the Caltanissetta province used asbestos extensively in ventilation ductwork and processing facilities. Properties converted from industrial to residential use in this area require thorough asbestos inspection.

The legal framework: what Italian law requires

The key legislation is D.M. 6 settembre 1994 (Ministero della Sanità), which established the procedures for asbestos inspection, management and removal, implementing Law 257/1992. The main obligations for property owners:

Inspection obligation: owners of buildings where asbestos is present and in a friable or deteriorating state must commission an inspection by a qualified professional (perito amianto or geologo with asbestos certification). There is no general obligation to actively remove intact, non-friable asbestos — but you must monitor it and document its condition every 3 years (piano di manutenzione e controllo).

Removal obligation before demolition: D.P.R. 380/2001 (Testo Unico Edilizia) and regional Sicilian regulations require complete asbestos removal before any demolition work. Demolishing a building with asbestos in place is a criminal offence under D.Lgs 81/2008 (safety at work), with personal liability for both the site manager and the contractor.

INAIL notification: all asbestos removal work must be notified to INAIL (the national workplace insurance authority) and the ASL (local health authority) at least 30 days before the start of works. The notification must include the contractor's qualifications and the removal and disposal plan.

Who can legally remove asbestos in Sicily

Only firms registered in the Albo Nazionale Gestori Ambientali with the specific category for asbestos removal (categoria 10-bis) can legally carry out asbestos removal in Sicily. The firm must also hold INAIL certification for asbestos work and carry specific professional liability insurance covering asbestos activities.

Ask for the firm's Albo number before signing any contract. Verify it on the Albo Nazionale Gestori Ambientali website. Using an uncertified firm — even if cheaper — creates criminal liability for the property owner as the committente (the party who commissions the work). In Sicily, prosecutions of property owners for unlawful asbestos disposal are not theoretical: courts in Palermo and Catania have convicted homeowners who hired uncertified builders who simply dumped asbestos sheets in agricultural land.

The removal process step by step

1. Preliminary inspection and risk assessment: a certified inspector takes samples (campionamento) and sends them to an accredited laboratory. Laboratory analysis confirms the presence and type of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite) and quantifies the risk level. Cost: €400–1,200 depending on the number of samples. Time: 2–4 weeks for results.
2. 30-day INAIL/ASL notification: the certified removal firm files the notification with supporting documentation. You cannot legally start removal before the 30-day period expires.
3. Site preparation: for friable asbestos, the work area is sealed with polyethylene sheeting and workers wear P3 respirators and Tyvek suits. For non-friable roofing sheets, less elaborate containment is required but the area must still be cordoned off and neighbours notified.
4. Removal: sheets are wetted (to prevent fibre release), removed intact where possible, and wrapped in heavy-duty polyethylene immediately. Fragmented pieces go into UN-approved asbestos waste bags (big bags conformi ADR).
5. Certified disposal: asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste (CER 17.06.01 or 17.06.05). It must go to an authorised disposal facility (discarica per amianto). The disposal manifest (formulario di identificazione rifiuti) is the legal proof that disposal occurred correctly — keep this document permanently.
6. Post-removal air monitoring: for friable asbestos removal, post-removal air sampling confirms that fibre concentrations are below 1 fibre/litre before the area can be reoccupied. This is mandatory before the building permit can proceed.
7. Certificate of removal: the ASL issues a written confirmation (attestato di avvenuta bonifica) that the building is free of asbestos. This certificate is required for the building permit application and for the final agibilità.

Realistic costs in Sicily in 2026

Costs vary significantly based on asbestos type, quantity, and site accessibility. Indicative ranges:

• Corrugated roofing removal (non-friable), rural property: €15–25 per sqm of roof area. A 200 sqm roof on a masseria: €3,000–5,000 plus disposal.
• Disposal costs for non-friable cement-asbestos sheets: €180–280 per tonne (the waste must go to a certified landfill, the nearest to Palermo is in Bellolampo; some material goes off-island to specialist facilities in Campania or Sardinia).
• Friable asbestos (pipe insulation, spray coatings): €60–120 per sqm, plus mandatory air monitoring (€1,500–3,000 for the monitoring phase). A 150 sqm apartment with friable ceiling coatings: €12,000–22,000 total.
• Full building asbestos audit and certificate: €800–2,500 depending on building size and complexity.

Note: if you discover asbestos during renovation works that were not declared in the purchase contract, you may have a claim against the seller under the garanzia per vizi occulti (hidden defects warranty, art.1490 Codice Civile). This claim must be raised within 8 days of discovery and the action brought within 1 year of delivery. Document the discovery with photographs and written communication to the seller immediately.

The building permit interaction: why this matters for your renovation timeline

If you are planning a renovation that requires demolition or significant structural works, and the property has asbestos, the asbestos removal must be completed and certified before the building contractor can start structural work. This means the INAIL 30-day notification period and the removal itself — typically 2–8 weeks — must be added to your project programme before the main contractor even mobilises.

Missing this sequence creates a legal problem: if the building contractor starts work while asbestos is present, they violate D.Lgs 81/2008 and the director of works (direttore dei lavori) becomes personally liable. Studio 4e's standard project programme always builds the asbestos removal phase into the pre-construction sequence, before the main cantiere opens.