Silica information and safety
Q. What is silica?
Silica (silicon dioxide) is a naturally occurring mineral found in many stones and building products, including porcelain, ceramic, granite, marble, quartzite, and engineered stone.
Q. Why is silica a concern?
When products containing silica are cut, drilled, or polished, they can release very fine dust particles called respirable crystalline silica (RCS). These particles are harmful if inhaled and can cause serious health issues over time.
Q. Which products contain silica?
- Low silica content (2–5%): Marble, dolomite
- Moderate silica content: Granite, some porcelain
- High silica content (70–100%): Sandstone, quartzite
- Very high silica content (up to 90%+): Engineered stone/stone composites
Q. Is silica exposure a risk for homeowners?
For everyday use such as having stone benchtops, porcelain tiles, or natural stone floors in your home there is no health risk. The concern arises during cutting, grinding, or polishing of stone, which should always be done with correct dust control systems in place.
Q. What precautions should installers take?
Professional installers follow strict industry standards, including:
- Health monitoring and training as required by workplace safety laws
- Wet cutting (using water to suppress dust)
- Dust extraction systems
- Approved respirators and protective equipment
Q. What does the law say?
In Australia, workplace safety laws set a very low exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica (0.05 mg/m³). This means all handling, cutting, and installation must follow strict safety controls to protect workers.
Q. Do all tiles and stones need sealing because of silica?
No. Sealing is related to stain protection and surface maintenance, not silica. Silica risk only arises during fabrication (cutting, drilling, grinding).
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