Materials and Products that Contain Asbestos

Asbestos has been used commercially in this country since about 1880. A naturally occurring mineral, it became a popular product because it is non-combustible and resistant to corrosion, and has a high tensile strength and low electrical conductivity. These qualities, combined with its relatively low cost, have resulted in the production of an estimated 3,600 different products containing asbestos. Also, there were several major and many minor manufacturers of asbestos products in the United States, resulting in a number of product variations.

Asbestos products including asbestos pipeline wrap, vinyl/asbestos tile, asbestos mill board, asbestos clothing, corrugated and flat asbestos cement sheeting, asbestos roof felt, and asbestos cement shingles continue to be manufactured in the United States. Therefore, asbestos is, and will continue to be, a component of various industrial waste streams and a contaminant of industrial areas and industrial waste sites.

Following is a listing of suspect asbestos-containing materials. It does not include every product/material that may contain asbestos, but is intended as a general guide to show various types of materials that may contain asbestos. The amount of asbestos in these products varies widely (from approximately 1 percent to nearly 100 percent) and cannot always be accurately determined from labels or by asking the manufacturer. Positive identification of asbestos cannot be ascertained merely by visual examination. The services of a qualified laboratory must be used to analyze representative samples of suspect materials to confirm asbestos content.

Building Activities, which might disturb asbestos

There are numerous building activities, which involve disturbing asbestos containing materials that could put people at risk, and which could potentially result in liability and/or regulatory enforcement actions. Typical activities, which might disturb asbestos, are described below

• Renovations, where building materials or components are altered or removed
  

• Demolition of buildings or structural supports
  

• Maintenance on boilers, piping, and VAC systems
  

• Maintenance on equipment in and around ceilings
  

• Cable installation, replacement or maintenance
  

• Flooring removal or repair
  

• Roofing removal or repair
  

• Ceiling tile maintenance or repair
  

• Painting, repair or cleaning of spray-applied acoustical coatings or texture

Top of Page