Asbestos has many properties that make it useful, but its resistance to fire is one of the most important. it’s why it was used so frequently to create multiple fire-resistant and fire-retardant items, including fire-resistant clothing for firefighters, heat-resistant gloves and aprons for welders, insulation, and spray-on fireproofing. That practice was discontinued in the late 20th century because breathing in asbestos fibers from these items through occupational exposure, as well as during renovation and demolition, has been linked to asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Unfortunately, the risks presented by these materials continue today.
Asbestos Use in Fireproofing and Fire Prevention Materials
Today we know that asbestos is a dangerous, carcinogenic material, but in years past it was viewed as a miracle material that combined being inexpensive and readily available with the remarkable attributes of being noncombustible and nonflammable.
Asbestos has a melting point of 871 degrees Celsius,[1] and that meant that it was perfect for incorporating into other materials to make them fireproof or fire resistant. Builders used it in both residential and industrial construction to strengthen and fireproof cement, concrete, insulation, doors, roofing shingles, and wallboards. It was used to insulate electrical breakers and arc chutes to prevent fires, and incorporated into curtains in theaters and in electrical insulating cloth
The U.S. military was one of the most prolific users of asbestos fireproofing materials. Asbestos was incorporated into all aspects of military bases, including barracks, mess halls, and workshops. It was also used to insulate and protect ships, planes, and other vehicles to provide additional protection for the troops.
Fireproof asbestos materials were used to line furnaces, chimney flues, and boilers, and fireproof bricks made with asbestos were used in refractory work and high-temperature factories. The manufacturers of safety clothing wove it into the fabric to create highly protective gloves, aprons, and jumpsuits for welders and others in high-heat environments, and asbestos fire blankets were frequently used to put out sparks and flames onboard U.S. Navy vessels, in factories, and even sold for home safety. Asbestos was used in hot pads in food production to protect kitchen workers and was a key component of firefighters’ uniforms and equipment.
One of the most impactful applications of asbestos was its use in a foamlike fireproofing product that could be sprayed onto surfaces. This foam spread easily and provided excellent coverage, but presented significant danger of inhaling asbestos fibers while it was being applied. It was also dangerous as time passed when the substance broke down and became friable.
Risks of Exposure to Asbestos Fireproofing Materials
Though asbestos was an extremely effective fireproofing material, it is also highly carcinogenic and exposure to asbestos has been directly linked to the development of chronic respiratory issues and deadly lung diseases including malignant pleural mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis. This is particularly true of the fireproofing applications that it was used for, as its microscopic fibers were released in the air when many of the materials were installed or applied, and then again when they were removed for maintenance or repair, or damaged during fires, demolition, or renovation.[2]
One of the most notorious and tragic examples of the dangers of asbestos-contaminated fireproofing materials can be found in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001. The towers were constructed using a significant amount of spray-on asbestos fireproofing material, as well as other asbestos-containing products. When the towers fell, great clouds of asbestos-contaminated dust spread over the site. Rescue workers, first responders, demolition crews, and residents breathed in the toxic air for months, and many have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in the years since. Because malignant pleural mesothelioma has a latency period that averages four to five years, it is anticipated that many more victims will be diagnosed in the years to come.[3]
Asbestos Fireproofing Products
Fireproofing products and materials by incorporating asbestos into their fabrication became popular in the 19th century and continued into the 1980s when the public became aware of the dangers of the carcinogenic material. There were dozens of these products, including:
- Fire Safety Clothing including suits, helmets, gloves, coats, and boots
- Household items including ironing board covers, oven mitts, mattresses, and fire blankets
- Residential building materials including flooring, wallboard, ceilings, insulation, roofing, and siding
- Commercial and industrial construction materials including spray-on asbestos fireproofing materials, fire doors, floor and ceiling tiles, wallboard, insulation for mechanical equipment that operated at high temperatures, pipes, boilers, and furnaces.
Companies That Manufactured Asbestos Fireproofing and Fire Prevention Materials
There were dozens of companies that manufactured asbestos fireproofing materials. Many of them were aware that asbestos represented a significant health risk, but chose not to inform their customers or the public. Manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos fireproofing and fire prevention materials included:
- AC&S
- Amatex Corporation
- A.P. Green Industries
- Armstrong World Industries
- A.W. Chesterton Company
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Celotex Corporation
- Combustion Engineering
- Dana Corporation
- The Flintkote Company
- Foster Wheeler Corporation
- GAF Corporation
- Harbison-Walker Refractories Company
- H.K. Porter
- John Crane Inc.
- Johns-Manville
- Kaiser Gypsum Company Inc.
- Keene Corporation
- Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing 3M
- National Gypsum Company
- Quigley Company
- Raymark Industries
- Turner & Newall
- UNARCO
- United States Mineral Products Company
- U.S. Gypsum Corporation
- W.R. Grace
These companies are frequently named as defendants in mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease lawsuits, and many of them have established asbestos bankruptcy trusts that victims can apply to for compensation.
Continued Risk of Mesothelioma From Spray-On Asbestos Fireproofing Materials
Though asbestos fireproofing materials are no longer used in the United States, there is still a significant risk of exposure from demolition and renovation of older buildings where it was used. The danger of removing fireproofing insulation materials has been detailed in numerous studies, including one published in the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal in 2010 and another published in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health published in 2012.
In the first, environmental researchers studied the contents and types of asbestos materials used in 127 buildings throughout the United States and found that chrysotile asbestos was the main component in the buildings where asbestos was used. They found that during the renovation and removal of these materials, workers were exposed to extremely high concentrations of asbestos when dry methods were used.[4]
The more recent study was written by Belgian researchers from the Chest Department of the Universite Libre de Bruxelles. The scientists reported that sprayed-on asbestos fireproofing still presented an important health threat that required specifically trained workers to wear specific individual protection suits after containment of the contaminated area, but that these practices were not always applied. They concluded that “Exposures to historical airborne fiber levels prevailing half a century ago may still occur today when work regulations are not applied” and that, “In these conditions, even very short exposures may result in considerable lung fiber retention in case of amphibole exposure with the subsequent risk for developing asbestos-related diseases.”[5]
Know Your Rights if You Have Been Exposed to Asbestos Fireproofing and Fire Prevention Materials
If you believe that you’ve been exposed to asbestos fireproofing or fire prevention materials, the most important thing you can do is to alert your physician about your risk. With that information, they can take the appropriate steps to monitor your health. Letting your healthcare provider know about your asbestos exposure history will help them diagnose you more accurately and efficiently should symptoms of mesothelioma arise.
If you are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the damages that you’ve suffered. Contact an asbestos attorney for a free evaluation of your case and to get a clear understanding of your options.
