Armstrong World Industries made asbestos flooring, ceiling materials, cabinets, and other products for decades. This caused harmful exposure in some workers and homeowners. The company filed for bankruptcy in the early 2000s and established an asbestos trust to compensate victims.
Armstrong History and Asbestos
Armstrong World Industries began as the Armstrong Cork Company, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1860 by Thomas M. Armstrong and John D. Glass, both of which made hand-carved cork bottle stoppers.[1]
- Armstrong grew by leaps and bounds from these humble beginnings. By 1901, the company had built a large factory. By 1930, the company employed over 1,300 people. Today, this original factory is home to refurbished historic lofts.
- Although Armstrong began making simple bottle corks, within a few decades, the company was making corkboard insulation, fiberboard, and other products. By 1890, Armstrong had become the world’s largest cork company, and it was incorporated in 1891.
- Eventually, the company expanded its product line, making ceiling boards, linoleum flooring, vinyl flooring, carpeting, laminate flooring, ceramic tiles, and insulation. Many of these contained asbestos.
- During World War II, Armstrong manufactured airplane components, ammunition, and ship insulation.
- In the 1990s, Armstrong acquired Triangle Pacific Corp. and added hardwood floors and cabinets to its product line. Other companies Armstrong acquired over the years include Brinton Carpets, Hart Glass Manufacturing, Lancaster Cork Works, Thomasville Furniture, Knapp and Tubbs, and E. & B. Carpet Mills.
- Armstrong finally stopped using asbestos in products in 1987.
- The company continued to see growth until the lawsuits over asbestos exposure began piling up. Armstrong was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2000.[2]
As part of the bankruptcy, the company reorganized and set up an asbestos trust fund to provide funds for future claimants. Today, Armstrong World Industries is a large company that provides ceiling and wall materials and products.
How Did Armstrong Use Asbestos?
Asbestos was used for many years in products like insulation and other construction materials, including many products made by Armstrong. Before anyone knew about the serious health risks, asbestos was popular because it was cheap, readily available, fire-resistant, heat-resistant, lightweight, and durable.
Armstrong began using asbestos in the 1930s and continued making and distributing asbestos-containing products into the 1970s. Many flooring and ceiling materials the company produced, as well as fiberboard containing asbestos.
Manufacturers used asbestos because it could effectively strengthen the materials, make them more durable and longer-lasting, and provide extra insulation.
Armstrong also made spray-on insulation almost entirely from asbestos in the 1960s. Although this product never made it to final production, workers who developed and tested it were put at risk. It was found to produce excessive airborne dust and was considered unusable.
These are some of the main asbestos-containing products Armstrong made and sold in the past:
- Asbestos felt
- Asbestos tile
- Asbestos vinyl tile
- Accobest gasketing material
- Accopac asbestos paper
- S-89 adhesive
- Acoustic Cement
- Armaspray
- Asphalt tile
- Cork covering
- Sprayed limpet
Who Was Exposed to Armstrong Asbestos Products?
Many people were exposed to asbestos because of Armstrong’s products. Those at the greatest risk of exposure were workers in Armstrong facilities, especially those who worked directly with asbestos.
Others who worked in construction and installed Armstrong flooring, ceiling, and insulation products also experienced a high risk of exposure.
Spray-on insulation was hazardous because it produced large amounts of asbestos-containing dust. While the original spray-on product never reached production, employees who tested it were likely exposed to asbestos fibers.
This product was on the market for approximately one year. The workers involved with testing and manufacturing this product were likely exposed, as were workers installing it. Those who were exposed were put at risk for illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
Armstrong Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos exposure can cause a person to contract serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other cancers; however, these illnesses often do not manifest until years after initial exposure.
This is why Armstrong only began to see lawsuits after the company had discontinued production of asbestos products. Thousands of people filed lawsuits beginning in the 1990s. The costs of settling these would lead to bankruptcy and reorganization.
One of the lawsuits against Armstrong set an important precedent for asbestos lawsuits. In 1991, an insulation worker named Raymond Miller filed a lawsuit against Armstrong and several other companies.
Miller worked with Armstrong asbestos products in the late 1940s and claimed the company never warned him about product risks. He was eventually diagnosed with asbestosis.
The case set a precedent in Colorado for statute of limitations. Miller had pleural thickening years earlier than his diagnosis of asbestosis. The case determined his pleural thickening did not trigger the statute of limitations on his asbestosis.[3]
Another lawsuit named Armstrong among several other defendants. Plaintiff Clarence Borel worked as an insulator in Texas for many years and later developed asbestosis and mesothelioma. The ruling for the case came in 1991 and was a landmark win for asbestos victims.
Armstrong, however, was not found negligent in the Borel case. He was exposed to Armstrong’s asbestos products after 1966. The courts determined that this exposure was too close to the time of his diagnosis to have contributed to it.[4]
Armstrong Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust
Armstrong would ultimately face hundreds of thousands of asbestos claims and lawsuits. The massive expense forced the company to reorganize under bankruptcy.
As part of the bankruptcy protection agreement, Armstrong was required to start an asbestos trust fund. The Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established, accepting claims as early as 2007. It was funded with $400 million.[5]
What to Do if You Were Exposed to Armstrong Asbestos Products
If you worked for Armstrong or with Armstrong products, you might be able to file a successful claim for compensation with the AWI asbestos trust.
Filing is a lengthy process that requires proof of exposure to Armstrong’s products and proof of medical conditions related to exposure. To have the best chance of a successful claim, it’s important to work with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer.
