Armstrong Asbestos Products & Mesothelioma
In 1860 Thomas H. Armstrong, the son of Scots-Irish immigrants from Londonderry, Ireland, joined with John D. Glass to open a one-room shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, carving bottle stoppers from cork by hand. On December 30, 1891, Armstrong World Industries, Inc., incorporated in Pennsylvania by filing articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State.
Armstrong went on to have a long history as a manufacturer of cork products, including L.T. Cork Covering, a low temperature insulation. That product had a paper backing and in 1956, after an episode in which the paper had burned, the decision was made to include asbestos in the paper backing. From 1956 to 1959, Armstrong manufactured this asbestos-containing product.
Armstrong also manufactured floor tiles, which until 1983 contained asbestos. And until 1984, Armstrong manufactured an asbestos-containing gasket used for automotive purposes.
In the 1940s and 50s, Armstrong both manufactured products that contained asbestos and installed asbestos-containing products in a variety of commercial and industrial settings. For its manufacturing operations, Armstrong employed a staff of permanent employees. For its insulation installation business Armstrong hired temporary workers from the union hall. Different insulation products were used on the different jobs.
Armstrong received its first workers’ compensation claim for an asbestos-related injury in 1952, from an insulation worker.
In 1958 Armstrong restructured and its installation business became a subsidiary called Armstrong Contracting and Supply Company.
One of the asbestos-containing products used by Armstrong Contracting and Supply was a spray-on insulation called Limpet, which was manufactured in England. (A spray-on product is probably the most dangerous because the asbestos particles are sent directly into the air.) In the 1960’s, Limpet became expensive (due to import duties) and was difficult to obtain. Also, the workers were not happy with the dustiness of the product. Armstrong Contracting and Supply asked Armstrong to develop an alternative product.
In 1967 Armstrong started to manufacture Armaspray which was also a spray-on asbestos insulation. Armstrong sold Armaspray only to Armstrong Contracting and Supply Company, as a test product. The product was deemed a failure, and was discontinued in late 1968. However, the inventory continued to be used by Armstrong Contracting and Supply into 1969 to finish jobs in progress. Armstrong sold Armstrong Contracting and Supply in 1969.
Armaspray was 9 percent asbestos, in contrast to Limpet, which was nearly 100 percent asbestos. Armstrong’s manufacturing policy called for safety testing of a product before manufacture, and Armaspray passed the health and safety examination given it by Armstrong’s industrial hygienists. Yet, in fact, no tests had been done to determine the airborne dust levels during use of the product. Not until 1968, after a meeting with Dupont, one of Armstrong’s major customers for insulation installations, did Armstrong undertake its first tests of Armaspray to determine the dust count. Test results that came in showed dust levels more than 10 times the acceptable limit.
The first asbestos-related lawsuit was filed against Armstrong in 1970. Claims were made for a variety of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
Facing liability over asbestos insulation products, on Dec 7, 2000, Armstrong World Industries Inc. filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws.
Armstrong and ACandS are responsible for the following products that contained asbestos:
Armstrong Contracting and Supply Corporation (ACandS)
Aircell Pipe Covering (1958-1968)
Armabestos Block Insulation and Pipe Covering (1958-1968)
Armaspray (1966-1969)
Armatemp Block Insulation Armatemp Cement No. 10 (1961-1972)
Armatemp Cement No. 166
Armatemp Insulating Cement (1967-1974)
Armstrong 85% Magnesia Block Insulation (1958, 1964-1970)
Armstrong 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering (1958, 1964-1970)
Armstrong Hi-Temp Block Insulation (1958-1965)
Armstrong Hi-Temp Pipe Covering (1958-1965)
Armstrong Kaytherm Pipe Covering (1957, 1962-1964)
Armstrong LT Cork Covering (1956-1960)
Duplex Wool Felt Pipe Insulation (1945-1954, 1956, 1963)
Kaylo Pipe Covering (1958-1959)
Limpet LW25 Raw Asbestos Fiber Limpet Spray (1958-1974)
LK Block Insulation (1960-1973)
Limpet LW25 Raw Asbestos Fiber (1960-1973)
LK Pipe Covering
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Asbestos Tile (1931-1970)
Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles (1931-1970)
Accobest AS-474
Gasketing Material Accobest AS-8073
Gasketing Material Accopac AD-8024
Asbestos Paper Asbestos Felt
If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos containing materials or have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease, call our mesothelioma attorneys who specialize in this area of law and have expertise in getting the help you need quickly.
