Asbestos products were used very widely in the construction of essentially all types of buildings erected in the United States before the 1980s, when stricter asbestos limits were finally implemented after decades of evidence proved asbestos is harmful to human health. Thousands of construction products were manufactured with high levels of asbestos. With its excellent heat-resistant and friction-resistant properties, asbestos was considered a “miracle material” that was easy to use, manipulate, and install in a wide variety of forms.

Listed below are some of the more common construction materials that contain asbestos:

Ceilings

• Acoustic and stippled finishes
• Asbestos cement ceiling tiles
• Plaster or drywall joint materials
• T-bar ceiling tiles
• Acoustic and stippled finishes

Exteriors

• Asbestos cement roof panels, siding panels, and soffits
• Brick and block mortar
• Building overhangs (thermal spray)
• Loose fill insulation in exterior wall cavities (vermiculite)
• Roofing felts and mastics
• Stucco

Flooring

• Floor leveling compound
• Sheet vinyl flooring (asbestos paper backing)
• Vinyl asbestos tiles
• Floor leveling compound

Pipes

• Chilled water lines
• Domestic water supply and drain lines
• Gaskets in flanged pipe joints
• Rain water and sanitary lines
• Steam and hot water heating supply and return lines

Walls

• Asbestos cement panels
• Plaster or drywall jointing materials
• Stippled finishes
• Thermal spray

Miscellaneous

• Duct tape
• Fireproofing spray on decks, joints beams, columns and other structural members
• Heating cabinet panels (asbestos cement)
• Incandescent light fixture backing
• Incinerators (internal insulation)
• Theater curtains
• Wire insulation
• Duct tape

Construction Workers at Risk of Toxic Asbestos Exposure

Many people who worked in the construction trades have been exposed to dangerously high levels of asbestos, often on a daily basis for years at a time. Asbestos exposure can cause cancer and other very serious diseases.

If you or a member of your family worked in the construction industry in a job that involved asbestos products, contact us for more information about your legal rights and options.

Related Asbestos Construction News

Aug 15, 2008 - Asbestos Found in Helena-Area Homes

July 3, 2008 - Olympic Stadium Work Halted due to Asbestos

May 6, 2008 - Asbestos Concerns in Sausalito