The Future of Engineered Stone: Our Response to the Ban – FIND OUT MORE

granite transformations

Introducing Zero Crystalline Silica: A New Era in Stone Surfaces

The stone industry is evolving, driven by the Federal Government’s ban on crystalline silica in engineered stone benchtops.

At Granite Transformations, innovation is in our DNA. With 28 years of experience transforming kitchens and bathrooms with our thin, durable stone, we’ve ensured alignment with these new regulations.

Zero Crystalline Silica

Compliant with the Federal Government regulations aimed at fostering a safer working environment.

Safety

As global renovation innovators, safety for our employees, installers, and customers is paramount.

Innovation

Maintaining our 28-year legacy as home makeover pioneers, innovation remains a high priority.

Warranty

Our warranty covers our workmanship for seven years, and 10 years for materials.

A Seamless Transition

As of 1st July, our existing stone surfaces will undergo a transformation to a new formulation, proudly containing zero crystalline silica. Our new range maintains the same colours our customers love, and the unmatched durability that has made our stone a staple in over a million homes.
 
Rest assured, if you have our existing stone in your home, it remains completely safe, and your 10-year warranty still stands.

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Check out our FAQ section below for more information.

Government regulations require engineered stone to contain less than 1% crystalline silica to meet the latest standards for safety. Granite Transformations adheres to these regulations by testing our surfaces in an accredited Australian laboratory, using X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) to verify compliance. This testing certifies that our materials meet regulatory requirements and maintain the highest quality standards. Test results are made available and are regularly updated here, offering transparency and assurance of compliance.

The new Zero Crystalline Silica range is manufactured in the same way as traditional engineered stone, but with a key difference in the raw materials used. The banned engineered stone contains natural stone materials like quartz that include crystalline silica. In contrast, our Zero Crystalline Silica surfaces are made from recycled glass, offering a safer product for fabricators when proper safety practices are followed.

Despite the change in composition, the new surfaces maintain the same renowned durability, including heat, stain and scratch resistance. 

We are working to transition our full range by the end of 2024. Many of our colours are already available in the new formulation, and we will continue to add colours in the months ahead.

* ​Contains less than 1% crystalline silica, aligning with the Minister’s exception for engineered stone products with trace levels of crystalline silica (under 1%).

Once installed in homes, our surfaces pose no harm to consumers. The potential health risk is in the unsafe practices during the fabrication process. 

Yes. Our 10-year warranty applies to all of our surfaces, regardless of any Government changes. Ministers have agreed to appropriate exceptions on the ban for activities such as repair, removal, minor modification, and disposal of engineered stone products installed prior to the prohibition (legacy products).

Due to the thickness of our slabs, combined with the use of H class vacuums and appropriate PPE, Granite Transformations boasts one of the safest methods when it comes to cutting and fabricating engineered stone. Following our Safe Operating Practices also allows us to be able to cut on-site without risk to the customer.
 
Our workshops have conducted air monitoring testing, resulting in well below industry standard levels of respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure.
 
Granite Transformations are proud to report that in the 28 years of operation no tradesmen have been affected by Silicosis. 
Quartz is the most common mineral on earth, and can take on many forms. It’s most commonly found as sand on our beaches, other examples are sandstone, marble and granite. These materials contain a number of things including Crystalline Silica, which is a compound of silicon and oxygen.
 
Crystalline Silica is a component of many manufactured products in daily use, such as glass, pottery and sintered stone surfaces. Silica is very commonly used in construction and at various concentrations in bricks, blocks, tiles, slabs, cement and concrete.
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease that has been known about for more than a century and associated with many industries, with engineered stone being one of them. It may affect workers who are exposed to crystalline silica (quartz) when not using the correct safety measures.
 
The disease forms when silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissues, causing inflammation and scarring, and reducing the lung’s ability to take in oxygen.
 
Silicosis and other diseases associated with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) are 100% preventable with the correct safety measures.