Does Congoleum use asbestos in their flooring?
From 1947 to 1983, Congoleum frequently used asbestos in their flooring products. During this time, asbestos materials were used for their durability, especially on surfaces like flooring that are highly trafficked.
Who is most at risk of exposure to Congoleum asbestos?
The occupations most at risk of exposure to Congoleum’s asbestos products include: Congoleum’s own guide for making repairs to Congoleum floor coverings states that, unless you are positive that the flooring does not contains asbestos, you should assume that it does.
Why did Congoleum stop making linoleum?
It was once the largest linoleum producer in the world. As the company grew, it utilized asbestos materials in its flooring products. Congoleum Corporation halted production of asbestos products in the 1980s after facing several lawsuits due to exposure from its asbestos-containing floor tiles.
Does Gold Seal flooring have asbestos?
at 1950 CONGOLEUM GOLD SEAL SHEET FLOORING - No Asbestos was found in some 1950 floor covering products tested. at 1960's CONGOLEUM FLOORING - was also tested and reported to contain no asbestos.
What is Congoleum flooring made of?
Congoleum has been a familiar name in flooring since they began manufacturing linoleum, a product made from linseed oil and cork, in the late 1800s. The modern flooring that some people mistakenly still refer to as “linoleum” is actually resilient vinyl flooring, sometimes called luxury vinyl flooring.
How can I tell if my vinyl sheet flooring has asbestos?
How to Identify Asbestos in FlooringYour home was built before 1980.The flooring looks oily, greasy, or discolored.You have 9-inch, 12-inch, or 18-inch floor tiles.The flooring adhesive is black.
Does my linoleum have asbestos?
Linoleum does not contain asbestos.
What type of flooring contains asbestos?
Does flooring contain asbestos? Flooring, including sheet vinyl, floor tiles and any associated paper-like backing, adhesive or glue, can contain asbestos. Asbestos was added during the production of flooring to strengthen the flooring and to increase its durability.
When did linoleum stop using asbestos?
After the late 1980s, people chose not to use them in making floors. It's because asbestos sheet floors brought illnesses like lung cancer to people.
How do you remove asbestos from vinyl flooring?
Use a chisel or putty knife to dig under the torn area until you're past it. Dispose of each piece of removed flooring (with backing thoroughly wetted) in an asbestos waste disposal bag as you remove it. Repeat this process until the entire floor has been removed.
When was asbestos last used in vinyl flooring?
A: Asbestos was indeed used in the manufacture of vinyl sheet products up until the mid-1970s. After its use was banned, remaining stocks of asbestos-containing flooring continued to be sold into the late '70s or early '80s, so there is a possibility that the vinyl floor in a house built in 1981 could contain asbestos.
Where is the asbestos in linoleum?
Because linoleum was invented long before vinyl, people often refer to both types of flooring as linoleum, but there's a big difference. Linoleum is an all-natural floor covering composed of dried linseed oil, wood dust, cork and jute, and it doesn't contain asbestos.
Is it safe to remove old vinyl flooring?
While this makes future flooring endeavors safer, old vinyl flooring installed before 1980 may still contain asbestos. And, this makes it dangerous for you to remove them without professional assistance.
How do I test my floor for asbestos?
The definitive way to find out if tiles contain asbestos is to have them tested. You can either engage an asbestos remediation expert or obtain a test kit—for which you'll remove a flooring sample to mail to an asbestos-testing lab.
What does asbestos look like on floors?
In flooring, asbestos tiles look like common vinyl tiling.
How do I know if its asbestos?
The most common signs of asbestos exposure include shortness of breath, cough and chest pain. Pleural plaques are a sign that a person had enough exposure to be at risk of other diseases. They may develop prior to mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Do you have to remove old linoleum?
Though linoleum is made of natural materials, there's a good chance that linoleum installed before 1980 contains asbestos in its backing paper. When asbestos is disturbed, it can release fibers into the air and can damage lungs. It is hazardous to remove and must be done so by a professional.
How do I know if its asbestos?
How to Identify Materials That May Contain Asbestos. Generally, you can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone.
Where did Congoleum come from?
Congoleum Corporation traces its origins back to 1828 in Scotland when Michael Nairn began making canvas sailcloth. The canvas was sold to makers of “floorcloth,” which was the precursor to linoleum. In 1886, the Nairn family expanded the business into the U.S. and opened a factory in Kearny, New Jersey.
Who sued Congoleum flooring?
In one case, floor covering contractor Robert Ehret sued Congoleum and several other flooring manufacturers in the late 1990s. He developed pericardial mesothelioma as a result of the asbestos in the flooring he installed for approximately 30 years.
Does Congoleum contain asbestos?
Congoleum’s own guide for making repairs to Congoleum floor coverings states that, unless you are positive that the flooring does not contains asbestos, you should assume that it does. Even Congoleum’s felt backing contained asbestos in addition to the flooring material itself. Learn about other high-risk occupations.
Why did Congoleum use asbestos?
In manufacturing flooring, manufacturers, including Congoleum, used asbestos because it improved the products. Some of Congoleum’s leading products contained pounds of asbestos. The company produced vinyl and linoleum flooring under brand names that include:
Why was the Congoleum Plan Trust established?
The Congoleum Plan Trust, like other asbestos trusts, was established to help people who were exposed to asbestos. Court documents show that corporate executives knew about the dangers asbestos would cause. Instead of warning the workers and providing adequate protection from the dangers, companies, including Congoleum, chose to ignore the warning to put profits ahead of worker safety.
Why do asbestos fibers linger in the air?
Because asbestos fibers are so lightweight, the fibers can linger in the air for hours. In addition, workers who install or repair asbestos flooring can also be exposed to the asbestos toxin. Such exposure often occurs when old, brittle floors are removed or sanded.
How long does it take for an asbestos claim to be expedited?
Trustees process expedited claims within 90 days in the first-in, first-out (FIFO) processing queue .
Where is Congoleum made?
Original Congoleum was made from materials imnported from the Belgin Congo and was produced in 36" wide strips in a variety of patterns, often bordered. Watch out: the backing on some of these vinyl flooring or linoleum products may also contain asbestos.
When were Congoleum tiles made?
Congoleum Vinylbest vinyl asbestos floor tiles were produced in the 1950s along with Congoleum Gold Seal inlaid linoleum flooring shown at above left from a Life magazine advertisement, and the Congoleum sheet linoleum shown in a Florida Home (left) provided a scattershot or color fleck pattern.
What is linoleum flooring?
Armstrong's Linoflor, produced beginning in 1937, is an asphalt-based-backer sheet flooring that some referred to and continue to refer to [in my opinion loosely] as "linoleum", adding to the generic use of that word for sheet flooring .
Where is Congoleum Nairn flooring made?
Congoleum Nairn, was established in 1886, and presently headquartered in Mercerville, NJ, U.S., produced resilient sheet flooring, vinyl asbestos floor tiles in patterns such as their Congoleum-Nairn Romanaire pattern.
Is asbestos safe to use in homes?
Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air. SEQUIN PATTERN [image] Congoleum resilient flooring is shown above.
Does Congoleum Gold Seal contain asbestos?
We have information about Congoleum Gold Seal, Lucky - now found just above on this page - where a reader tested and confirmed that their Congoleum Gold Seal sheet flooring did not contain asbestos.
Did gold seals contain asbestos?
at 1950 CONGOLEUM GOLD SEAL SHEET FLOORING - No Asbestos was found in some 1950 floor covering products tested. And similarly a Congoleum sample reported. at 1960's CONGOLEUM FLOORING - was also tested and reported to contain no asbestos.
Does Celeste contain asbestos?
Celeste, if you *know* that the product was truly linoleum, that does not contain asbestos. Other sheet flooring products might. If the sheet flooring was glued down, some of those mastic adhesives also contained asbestos.
Is asbestos a floor tile?
Yes that's an asbestos containing floor tile - a claim you can confirm if you face significant costs - by sending a sample to a certified asbestos testing lab. It's not costly - about $50. USD.
What diseases did asbestos cause?
The long latency period of asbestos-related diseases meant the true cost of these products would not make itself known until the 1980s and 1990s. Cancer and lung diseases hit hardest among the factory workers who manufactured asbestos vinyl products and the tradesmen who installed them.
What are the health problems caused by asbestos?
Exposure to asbestos in vinyl products may cause the following diseases: Mesothelioma. Lung cancer.
Why do vinyl siding manufacturers mix asbestos?
During the last century, vinyl manufacturers often mixed asbestos into their products for greater strength and insulating properties. Construction companies also favored asbestos-containing materials of all kinds as an essential component of fire-resistant buildings.
When was asbestos used in vinyl flooring?
Asbestos has been used in vinyl wallpaper since the 1920s, and vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring rose to prominence in the 1950s. The wondrous new “no-wax” flooring sold by companies such as Congoleum and Armstrong put a glossy sheen on post-war American prosperity.
Why do we need X-rays for asbestos?
X-rays help to screen for asbestos-related diseases, which respond better to treatment when diagnosed early. If you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease it is vital to seek the care of a specialist. Individuals at risk from exposure from vinyl products include: Vinyl factory workers. Floor installers.
Do American manufacturers use asbestos in vinyl?
American manufacturers don’t use asbestos in vinyl products today, but other countries continue to use asbestos in vinyl products and there’s no regulation on importing them into the U.S.
Is asbestos in vinyl dangerous?
Asbestos in vinyl products becomes dangerous when microscopic fibers of the mineral are released and become airborne. If the material is in good condition it normally does not pose a threat because the asbestos is enclosed in vinyl, preventing the fibers from escaping.
How to Find & Remove Asbestos Linoleum Flooring
As with any asbestos-containing material (ACM), the first step to finding asbestos in linoleum sheet flooring and vinyl tiles is to check your Designated Substance Survey (DSS).
Vinyl & Linoleum Sheet Flooring: Asbestos Management Options
In general, when it comes to asbestos materials, as long as the asbestos is sealed away and in a non-friable state (i.e., where you can’t crush it into dust), it’s not harmful.
Where is asbestos mined?
Funny thing about asbestos, it is still mined in Brazil and Canada, and it is sold all over the world. There are over a hundred different types of asbestos, some of which are quite dangerous, others not so dangerous, according to the EPA. You can STILL buy asbestos containing products in the U.S., it was never officially banned so far as I can tell.#N#As noted, the fibers are the danger, as long as the asbestos remains contained within flooring, insulation, roof material etc., it is thought to be harmless, so as discussed do not stir it up, no sanding, no cutting. With reasonable precautions, you should be OK, see the EPA website for a thorough discussion on proper DIY removal procedures for asbestos containing material.
Does backing contain asbestos?
You're right that backing probably contains asbestos. But, don't freak. Unless you sand it and create lots of dust, there should be no problem. Even if you did make dust, chances are nothing will happen. The only proven problem is when you are exposed to this dust in a confined space for many years.
Is asbestos a danger?
As noted, the fibers are the danger, as long as the asbestos remains contained within flooring, insulation, roof material etc., it is thought to be harmless, so as discussed do not stir it up, no sanding, no cutting.
Can asbestos cause problems?
It can take a very short exposure to asbestos to cause serious problems . Besides someone will be living in the confined house for years. It's a very very serious mistake to rip up an asbestos containing floor without taking proper abatement procedures.
Congoleum’s History with Asbestos
Congoleum’s Asbestos Products & Workers at Risk
- Although Congoleum’s asbestos flooring products may have been labeled, installers were not warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Cutting or sanding Congoleum flooring products for residential or commercial installations could result in asbestos exposurethat leads to a related disease. Congoleum’s own guide for making repairs to Congoleum floor coverings states that, u…
Congoleum’s History
- Congoleum Corporation traces its origins back to 1828 in Scotland when Michael Nairn began making canvas sailcloth. The canvas was sold to makers of “floorcloth,” which was the precursor to linoleum. In 1886, the Nairn family expanded the business into the U.S. and opened a factory in Kearny, New Jersey. The company gets its name from a simulated wood grain flooring that it sol…