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.

Cement Pipes
HVAC Duct Insulation
Asphalt Floor Tile
Ductwork Flexible Fabric
Cooling Towers
Heating and Electrical Ducts
Decorative Plaster
Textured Paints/Coatings
Chalkboards
Taping Compounds (thermal)
Base Flashing
High Temperature Gaskets
Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops
Wallboard
Fire Curtains
Elevator Brake Shoes
Cement Siding
Breeching Insulation
Vinyl Sheet Flooring Connections
Construction Mastics (floor tile, Pipe Insulation
[corrugated carpet, ceiling tile, etc.] air cell, block, etc.)
Electrical Cloth
Electrical Wiring Insulation
Blow-in Insulation
Fireproofing materials
Packing Materials (for wall/floor
Thermal Paper Products penetrations)
Adhesives
Fire Blankets
Vinyl Wall Coverings
Spackling Compounds
Cement Wallboard
Boiler Insulation
Vinyl Floor Tile
Flooring Backing
Acoustical Plaster
Electrical Panel Partitions
Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels
Spray-Applied Insulation
Roofing Shingles
Roofing Felt
Fire Doors
Caulking/Putties
Laboratory Gloves
Joint Compounds
Elevator Equipment Panels
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