For decades, asbestos cement sheets were among the most popular building products in the United States. Used for roofing, siding, and flooring, the durable products were easy to work with and inexpensive, making them a natural choice for both residential and commercial buildings. Countless construction workers were exposed to the material and put at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other illnesses. Many more may still be at risk from exposure to the product as it deteriorates with age and damage.
What Are Asbestos Cement and Asbestos Cement Sheets?
Asbestos is durable, heat-resistant, and fire-resistant, so it’s no wonder that it was such a popular construction material. One of its top uses, before it was identified as carcinogenic, was in building materials, specifically in asbestos cement. Asbestos cement and asbestos cement sheets were used in roofing, wall cladding, gutters, and flues.[1]
Asbestos began being mixed into cement at the end of the 19th century to improve its fire resistance and durability. It was these characteristics that made it so valuable for the military during World War II, especially because it was so inexpensive and accessible. After the war’s end, the use of asbestos cement continued for consumer and commercial use in the United States. In most cases, it was made into corrugated or flat sheets or pipes that could be used for multiple purposes.
Asbestos was very popular as a roofing and siding material. The most common of these included:
- Roof shingles
- Asbestos siding
- Asbestos guttering
- Corrugated roof tiles
- Asbestos cement slates
- Asbestos board
- Asbestos lumber
Of all the asbestos cement materials used between the late 19th century and 1980s, asbestos cement sheets were the most popular. Though some were flat, most were corrugated to help with rainwater dispersal and weather resistance. Known in the industry as CACS, or Corrugated Asbestos Cement Sheets, they were used for the roofs of buildings and garages. They were typically laid together and overlapped to allow water run-off. Asbestos cement roofing was made by several manufacturers, with each manufacturer creating their own proprietary ratio of asbestos combined with the cement. It is estimated that these products account for approximately 90% of the world’s asbestos products.[2]
Asbestos cement, asbestos siding, and asbestos cement sheets were used in homes, public buildings, commercial buildings, and industrial settings. They were also extremely popular on military bases.
The History of Asbestos-Cement Shingles and Sheets
In the year 1900, Austrian inventory Ludwig Hatschek created a manufacturing process that rolled and pressed asbestos-cement sheets. He applied for and was granted a patent that was reissued in the United States in 1907, and this led to the popular use of asbestos cement shingles in the first decades of the 20th century. Hatschek called his process Eternit, and the word was adopted by one American manufacturer for its name.[3]
Asbestos shingles, siding, and roofing sheets were made from a combination of asbestos and Portland or hydraulic cement. This combination yielded a product that was lightweight and fireproof yet economical. They quickly began being used instead of slate, wood, and clay because of their low cost, safety, and strength. In 1910, a company called the Asbestos Shingle, Slate, and Sheathing Company advertised the products as being “immeasurably superior in point of practical merit to that of any natural slating.”[3]
The product’s popularity with the public was enhanced by the ability to add pigments, either before the pressing process or onto the surface or already manufactured shingles. The hydraulic pressing process gave the shingles a texture that made them look like weathered wood, and they were available in many styles and sizes. They could also be laid using various methods to be more decorative. Shingles could be punched, filed, or trimmed to size in the field. This common practice released asbestos fibers into the air, where unsuspecting craftsmen and construction workers, as well as those working nearby, would inhale the carcinogenic microscopic fibers. The dust would also settle onto their hair, skin, and work clothes and later be carried into their homes, leading to secondary asbestos exposure for their family members.
In addition to shingles, siding, and roofing sheets, asbestos cement was also used to create a product known in the industry as asbestos building lumber. This material was used as a substitute for corrugated iron roofing and was usually used on industrial buildings for its fireproofing qualities.[3]
All of these materials were produced in the United States until the 1980s when news of the link between asbestos and mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other illnesses became public knowledge.
What Companies Made Asbestos Cement Products?
American-made asbestos cement products were manufactured between the early 1900s and the 1980s. They were made and sold by numerous manufacturers, including:
- Asbestone Corporation
- Asbestos Shingle Slate & Sheating Co.
- Atlas Asbestos Copany
- Baldwin-Ehret-Hill
- Celotex Corporation
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Durabla Manufacturing Company
- Eagle-Picher
- Eternit
- Flintkote Company
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock Inc.
- James Hardie Industries
- Johns-Manville
- Keasby & Mattison Company
- National Gypsum Company
- Philip Carey Manufacturing Corporation
- U.S. Gypsum
While these American companies discontinued using asbestos in their manufacturing process in the 1980s, the toxic mineral is still being incorporated in cement products being manufactured in India, China, and other companies. The danger of illness from exposure to these products is very high, especially if they are subjected to cutting, sanding, or damaged in some other way.
Jobs at Risk of Exposure to Asbestos in Asbestos Cement Products
Asbestos cement sheets were largely used in the construction industry. Those who were most at risk were workers who installed or repaired the product, though other occupational settings also were endangered if they worked in the area where the work was being done. Others were put at risk of breathing in fibers if they worked or lived in buildings where the material was used and had been damaged, releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
The people at greatest risk of exposure from asbestos cement or asbestos cement sheets include:
- Construction workers
- Demolition crews
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Factory workers who manufactured the products
- Military veterans
- Roofers
Asbestos Lawsuits Filed by People Sickened by Asbestos Cement Sheets or Asbestos Cement
The toxicity of the asbestos in the roofing, siding, and shingle cement products has led to countless cases of malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other illnesses. Many victims have elected to seek compensation from the companies that were responsible for having exposed them to the toxic material, especially after it was determined that those companies were aware of the dangers but chose to keep it a secret so that they could continue earning big profits. Juries hearing of these companies choosing to put profits over people have led to multi-million dollar verdicts in favor of victims and their families.
In one example of a successful lawsuit, machine operator and pipe inspector Guadalupe Laguna and his wife filed a lawsuit against Johns Manville after he was diagnosed with asbestosis. After hearing the details of his exposure, a California jury awarded the couple $2.3 million in damages.[4]
Many other victims seeking justice have agreed to settlements with asbestos companies, while still others have been able to file claims against the asbestos trust funds that have been established by those asbestos companies forced into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities.
Protecting Against Exposure to Legacy Asbestos Cement Sheets
Though most victims of asbestos-related disease are those who worked directly with the products during installation, repair, or maintenance, asbestos that remains in place poses a continuing threat to demolition workers, maintenance workers, roofers, and even homeowners who choose to do their own repairs. Asbestos-corrugated sheets are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of items that need to be handled with care in order to avoid illness; this is true for demolition and renovation and for products that have deteriorated with age and exposure to the elements.[5]
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Asbestos cement shingles are a common finding among inspectors and homeowners, in large part because, at one time, the product was recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. This led to hundreds of thousands of homes in the U.S. being constructed using the product. The association warns of the material’s brittleness and indicates that the use of a pressure washer can crack it and lead to moisture intrusion and deterioration. Similarly, sawing, sanding, and breaking pose a risk to homeowners and workmen alike.[6]
If you are involved in demolition work, work for a roofing company, or are otherwise exposed to deteriorated cement roofing, siding, or cement sheets that have been damaged by natural disasters or fire, exercise extreme care. It is very difficult to identify cement sheets that contain asbestos. If you are uncertain about whether adhesives you encounter contain asbestos, you should stop working with the product and either test the product yourself using an asbestos home testing kit or consult with a professional who can assess the dangers and, if necessary, refer you to a licensed asbestos abatement company.
Have You Been Diagnosed with an Asbestos-Related Disease After Exposure to Asbestos Cement Products?
Though asbestos has not been included in the manufacturing process of roofing sheets for over forty years, legacy asbestos roofing and siding products that remain in place pose a danger of exposure, and even those who haven’t worked with or near the product for decades are still at risk for diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos illnesses have extremely long latency periods, and symptoms often don’t appear until fifty or sixty years after exposure.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, a mesothelioma attorney can provide you with all of the information you need about your options for seeking compensation from those responsible for exposing you to the toxic material. After asking you questions about your employment history, they can pinpoint the asbestos companies that provided the asbestos cement sheets and other dangerous materials. They can also explain the process of filing a lawsuit, help you file a claim with an asbestos trust fund, and let you know about important details, including the deadlines for filing a claim.
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