Congoleum Flooring Asbestos

The company used asbestos because it provided heat resistance that made the products less likely to catch fire.

Congoleum flooring asbestos. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring can be more dangerous to remove than tiles if proper precautions are not practiced. Dry asbestos particles are lighter than air wet ones are less prone to become air borne. Videos find a store specification sheets. In the 1990s a flooring contractor named robert ehret was diagnosed with mesothelioma and sued congoleum corporation along with several other flooring companies.

As the company continued to grow they utilized asbestos materials in their flooring products. 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. It can cause lung cancer mesothelioma cancer of the larynx and ovaries and a health condition called asbestosis caused by fibrosis of the lungs. In manufacturing congoleum vinyl flooring workers were often exposed to airborne asbestos during the measuring blending and mixing process.

With some flooring you ve got to let it get used to it s new environment and let the boards acclimate. Congoleum corporation was founded in 1886 by michael nairn in kirkcaldy scotland which was once the largest linoleum producer in the world. How to identify armstrong congoleum linoleum other brands of resilient flooring or sheet flooring that may contain asbestos or not bottom line. Asbestos also added strength and durability to flooring materials.

Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring has two layers a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer made from paper that contains asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous material that is present in some older linoleum flooring materials. Congoleum s history with asbestos. Congoleum corporation manufactured flooring products with asbestos from 1947 to 1984.

Asbestos containing sheet flooring in good condition in a residential environment is not a high risk of causing airborne asbestos hazards as the material is not friable. Internet purchase policy testimonials warranties faqs sitemap. Because asbestos fibers are so lightweight the fibers can linger in the air for hours. Ehret had developed the cancer after being exposed to asbestos in the companies vinyl flooring products for more than 20 years.

About congoleum made in the u s a. In addition workers who install or repair asbestos flooring can also be exposed to the asbestos toxin.