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New and old fiber cement and asbestos cement shingles side by side (C) Daniel FriedmanAsbestos Cement Roofing & Siding History
Dates, Codes, Patents give a history of cement-asbestos siding & roofing product use

Asbestos-cement roofing & siding history:

This article gives a history of the production & use of asbestos cement roofing & siding products. We include research articles as well as patent citations that help trace the use of asbestos cement in and on buildings from the late 1800's to the present.

In the cement asbestos siding article series listed below, we provide photographs and descriptive text of asbestos insulation and other asbestos-containing products to permit identification of definite, probable, or possible asbestos materials in buildings.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

History & Age of Use of Asbestos-Cement Siding & Roof Shingles

Hatschek machine for cement asbestos  shingle or sheet production at  InspectApedia.com The Rosato text cited below and our research article and patent search on asbestos cement shingles and siding give insight into the history of and development of cement-asbestos shingles, siding, and cement board used on and in buildings. Cementious siding and roofing such as fiber-cement siding, lap siding, and fiber cement roof shingles containing asbestos may then have appeared on homes constructed between 1906 and 1980 in North America and continuing later in some other countries.

At CEMENT ASBESTOS PRODUCT MANUFACTURE we provide a more-detailed history of the development and use of asbestos in building and other products. There we describe the Hatschek Machine for Production of Asbestos Sheet Goods.
Excerpt:

It was not until 1907 that the invention by an Austrian engineer, Ludwid Hatschek, made possible the manufacture of pre -formed asbestos-cement products. The Hatschek machine, a wet transfer roller, was used to produce the initial asbestos-cement sheets, while two other manufacturing processes included the Mazza process for pipes, and the Magnani semi-dry process for corrugated sheets. - Woods (2000)

[Click to enlarge any image]

We learn further from patent citations that asbestos-cement products were in use in the U.S. before 1910, as inventions often cite improvements to existing designs and that an explosion of patents and products making use of asbestos-cement ensued between 1907 and 1940. The improved fire-resistance of cement asbestos roofing led to its recommendation in the U.S. by the National Board of Fire Underwriters in 1920. (National Board of Fire Underwriters 1920).

A similar-looking product, composite siding made of asphalt-impregnated fiberboard was also used for lap siding and wall shingles but is not an asbestos-cement product. See SIDING TYPES, INSTALLATION, DEFECTS for a guide to siding products of various types.

Question: when was asbestos cement siding first used?

Corrugated asbestos cement building siding in New York City (C) Daniel Friedman2016/09/08 Gary said:

In what year did they start to use asbestos in cement siding ?

This question was posted originally at ASBESTOS DISPOSAL REGULATIONS

Our photograph at left illustrates that corrugated asbestos cement (or on newer buildings corrugated fiber cement) panels are also used as siding, not just as a roofing product. This building was observed in New York City and based on its age, we suspect that the material shown is asbestos cement corrugated siding, not a newer fiber cement product.

Reply:

Gary, a reasonable guess for the start of widespread use of asbestos cement siding in the U.S. would be 1920, but patent disclosures and other research make clear that such products were in development and use one or two decades earlier.

The earliest use of asbestos in modern building products that I found was discussed in a Scientific American article published in 1876 and cited below. Asbestos researchers note that human interest in the properties and uses of asbestos is more than 2000 years old.

The following citations giving a history of the use of asbestos-cement in building products are arranged chronographically, rather than alphabetically - Ed.

Jacobs Patent RE 12,475 asbstos & metal panel for roofing & siding (C) InspectApedia.com 2016

Asbestos cement shinlgle patent in 1922 (C) InspectApedia.com

Franz patent for asbestos slate roofing cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Really? What's the likely level of hazard from cement-asbestos roofing or siding? The risk of high levels of airborne asbestos from cementious products is probably very low unless the workers are using power equipment like sanders and saws or power washers on these substances.

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: I have some cement-asbestos siding from 1972; it's cracked. Is it safe to remove?

I have siding from 1972. Some are cracked and I have replacements. Is it a risk to remove the old ones? - Joe 6/28/11

Reply:

Cement asbestos siding from 1972 could release substantial asbestos fibers during demolition, especially depending on how it is removed. Breaking up into small pieces, running power tools, etc. make the problem worse.

Question: Should we be worried about buying a house with asbestos-cement siding? Can we cover it up?

we are looking at a house that has concrete asbestos siding on part of the house, should we be concerned about it, or can we cover them with vinyl without the removing the old ones. please reply - Jerry Massie 7/25/11

Reply:

Jerry you'll want to avoid demolition, using power tools like saws, or something that creates a lot of dust. You can paint cement asbestos siding to bring the potential surface fiber release down close to zero, or you can side over it, taking care not to generate a lot of broken scraps in that process. Functionally you don't have to remove the old material, though for aesthetic reasons, adding layers of siding to a building can look funny at windows and doors unless you also build out the window and door trim - that's what I'd do.

Question: I have to drill holes through cement asbestos shingles

I’m an amateur remodeling the third floor of our 1890s house. To create roof ventilation, required by code, I may have to drill 2-inch vent holes through the exterior wall in between each pair of rafters. This would mean drilling through the top row of shingles, which look like cement asbestos shingles. Should I try to remove the top row of shingles instead? (It’s a long way up the ladder.) Or is it unrealistic for a do-it-yourselfer to deal with this problem? My budget is extremely tight. - Paul 7/28/11

Reply:

Paul

Be careful when asking for advice, especially from strangers or consultants. It's always safer for others to spend more of your money to reduce their risk.

That caveat made, and with the emphasis that what follows is mere unsubstantiated OPINION, you might consider following the same procedure to drill two holes through possibly-cement-asbestos-siding shingles as you would if you were obtaining a sample to send to a lab - control the dust - that's the key.

Wetting the surfaces, using slow speed cutting, cleaning up all of the dust and crud, can minimize the hazard. Wear a HEPA dust mask. Don't leave a dusty mess.

My OPINION in conclusion is that the risk of an injury from climbing up to a great height on a ladder to try to remove two sections of suspected-cement-asbestos-shingle-siding is greater than the hazard from careful cutting two holes through the material. (Normally we avoid power tools because we want to minimize dust).

Finally, unless you're experienced, the chances that you can remove just two shingles of this material without breaking their neighbors, are low.

Keep us posted, send some photos.

Reader follow-up:

Many thanks. I will start by drilling one hole to see how it goes. It may be difficult to control the dust because the 2-inch-round drill bit will have to go through the wood cladding (about 3/4 inches thick) first, and then through the shingle. I'll definitely follow your recommendations as best as I can. I am concerned, however, that the drilled-out hole and the dust will fall to the ground, 30 feet below. I will try to post some pictures in the next couple of days. Again, I appreciate the thoughtful advice very much.

Comment:

Paul, try also hooking up a HEPA vacuum and use that to collect what dust you can from inside as you drill. Frankly I suspect that the escaped dust from the siding will be below the ability of most tests to detect after this project is over.

Question: Is there a tool for removing nails in cement asbestos shingle siding?

Is there a specific pry or cutting tool to grab and cut the nails On broken shingles you want to replace? - Catfishlynd 9/20/11

Reply: how to remove individual fiber cement or asbestos cement siding or roof shingles

Damaged asbestos cement wall shingles (C) Daniel Friedman

Watch out: don't pry against the cement asbestos shingle with the nail puller nor other tools or you'll risk breaking the shingle below.

What we found worked best was to use a pair of end-cutting pliers, called by some folks nippers or a "nail biter" - sold at hardware stores in various sizes.

Buy a tool whose handle and cutting face will be at right angles to the work surface and whose cutting face is flush (with the cutting angle filed just on the inside of the cutting edges. Working CAREFULLY we found we could usually grab the nail head protruding just proud of the fiber cement shingle and pull it straight out.

We use pliers made by Channellock, like the Channelock 358 8-inch End Cutting Pliers tool

"Grab the nail head and yank" straight out seemed to work best but for full details on how to do this job please

see REMOVE & REPLACE Asbestos Cement Shingles


Question: reader warns about amateur cement-asbestos shingle siding or roofing removal

To all those reading this comment feed, know that most of what these people are saying is incorrect. If you are a contractor know that 29 CFR 1926.1101 OSHA asbestos standards apply and you need to remove the material properly. A dust mask (N95) will not protect you or your employees. Contact an asbestos abatement company to remove the asbestos and DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE MATERIAL YOURSELF. Your just asking for mesothelioma (lung cancer) if you do. - Inspector 5/11/12

Reply: be careful, understand voluntary asbestos standards, be reasonable

Thanks Inspector. We agree that there are both health and legal hazards in removing asbestos-containing materials, even cementious ones. In our experience there are often local regulations or ordinances that describe the level of site and dust control required when demolishing cement-asbestos materials (roof shingles or siding usually) outdoors.

But it's also fair to point out that the standard you cite is "...a non-mandatory appendix to the asbestos standards for construction and for shipyards." Details about asbestos removal and handling regulations including the actual standards and recommendations are at OSHA REGULATIONS, ASBESTOS ROOFING, SIDING

In our OPINION, even non-mandatory standards involving health and safety ought to be followed, though it is reasonable to guess that some adjustments may be needed for the variation in individual cases and environments. For example, we seriously doubt that a homeowner or even a small contractor is going to set up a tent, containment, negative air, air monitoring and testing, and expert trained supervision simply to pull two nails and replace one cracked asbestos-cement wall shingle with a new fiber-cement shingle that fits into the same space.

CFR 1926.1101 OSHA asbestos standards refers to the U.S. OSHA regulations and standards PART 1926 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - retrieved 8/10/12, original source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1&p_keyvalue=1926

Within that OSHA standard, 1926 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances contains subsection 1926.1101 - Asbestos which in turn contains quite a few sections and a bit of advice. We quote from the introduction to the standard here

This is a non-mandatory appendix to the asbestos standards for construction and for shipyards. It describes criteria and procedures for erecting and using negative pressure enclosures for Class I Asbestos Work, when NPEs are used as an allowable control method to comply with paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this section. Many small and variable details are involved in the erection of a negative pressure enclosure. OSHA and most participants in the rulemaking agreed that only the major, more performance oriented criteria should be made mandatory. These criteria are set out in paragraph (g) of this section. In addition, this appendix includes these mandatory specifications and procedures in its guidelines in order to make this appendix coherent and helpful.

The mandatory nature of the criteria which appear in the regulatory text is not changed because they are included in this "non-mandatory" appendix. Similarly, the additional criteria and procedures included as guidelines in the appendix, do not become mandatory because mandatory criteria are also included in these comprehensive guidelines.

In addition, none of the criteria, both mandatory and recommended, are meant to specify or imply the need for use of patented or licensed methods or equipment. Recommended specifications included in this attachment should not discourage the use of creative alternatives which can be shown to reliably achieve the objectives of negative-pressure enclosures.

Requirements included in this appendix, cover general provisions to be followed in all asbestos jobs, provisions which must be followed for all Class I asbestos jobs, and provisions governing the construction and testing of negative pressure enclosures. The first category includes the requirement for use of wet methods, HEPA vacuums, and immediate bagging of waste; Class I work must conform to [additional detailed provisions that describe supervision, dust control, air monitoring, worker safety]. - retrieved 8/10/12, original source http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10868

Question: Did or does China Glaze house siding / shingles (installed by Sears) Contain Asbestos?

Years ago I sided my house . Sears did the siding and and they called it China Glaze at that time. Would that have been an asbestos shingle?

I want to take my siding to the landfill. If it is asbestos I will have to prepare it for them to accept it . Is it your opinion that my siding is asbestos?

How can I tell if my siding is asbestos?

- Charles Beranek 8/10/2012

Reply: China Glaze siding was an asbestos cement siding shingle product trademarked by U.S. Gypsum

Certainly lots of old cement-based exterior shingle type siding products contained asbestos - cement asbestos products if properly named. "China Glaze siding" was popular in the 1950's - by era alone, as a cementious product it would at least be treated as PACM (presumed asbestos containing material).

China Glaze was a trademarked name for a cement-asbestos siding shingle filed by U.S. Gypsum and trademarked in 1962. Our research found that the term "china glaze siding" was first used in February 1957. So it would be reasonable to treat your siding as presumed asbestos-containing material. I will post details of our research in the FAQs section just above in this article.

You can tell for sure if your siding is asbestos by having a lab test a small sample of it. The typical cost is around $50. Be sure to use a certified asbestos test lab.

You might want to ask your landfill director what the actual regulations are for accepting construction demolition debris, containing asbestos, presumed asbestos, or asbestos-suspect materials, or not.

On Monday, December 03, 1962, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for CHINA-GLAZE by United States Gypsum Company. The USPTO assigned the CHINA-GLAZE trademark serial number of 72158404. The current federal status of this trademark filing is expired. - retrieved 8/10/12 web search, http://www.trademarkia.com/chinaglaze-72158404.html

From that citation, the trademark registration was owned by the United States Gypsum Company, and the trademark application number and date were 0775204 and 8/18/1964 respectively.

The application description provided to the USPTO for CHINA-GLAZE was "ASBESTOS CEMENT SHINGLES AND SIDING". The trademark expired in 1984.

In our OPINION the term "china glaze siding" may well have been more widely used or applied to cementious-based or even cement-asbestos shingle siding than just products sold by U.S. Gypsum, as we find the phrase "my house was sided with China Glaze siding" appearing in quite a few more vague descriptions of homes dating from the 1950's into the 1970's.

Question: do I have to segregate asbestos siding in the waste stream?

(Mar 7, 2014) ian barclay said:

question my state (md.) does not appear to have a reg. to see that asbestos/cement shingles go to a separate waste stream, as I believe they should. Some day these general landfills may be dug up; hence it is short-sighted to not direct this material to a higher level segregation for worker community health. Do u know of a state or county or city that does require segregation? Thanks Ian James Barclay thanks for ur reply in advance

Reply:

Ian

In More Reading links or ARTICLE INDEX links above please see ASBESTOS DISPOSAL REGULATIONS

Question: history of Pyramid Cement Siding

(Dec 1, 2014) Tom Gregg said:
I have a farm house with cement siding. Invoice records show it was purchased from a ' pyramid cement siding' in 1953 in Quincy Washington.
We are searching for a parent company or something to identify its source. Can you help me? trgreggs@ yahoo.com

Reply:

Our list of companies known to have produced asbestos containing products is at

ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS

Pyramid Cement Siding is not listed there.

You might find the company in

Lowndes, W. S. The Building Trades Handbook: A Reference Book Dealing with Mathematics, Geometrical Drawing, Structural Design, Masonry, Fireproofing, Carpentry, Joinery, Roofing, Plastering, Estimating, and the Elements of Architectural Design. John C. Winston Company, 1921.

A Pyramid Plastics company might be relevant - having patented a "Embossed plastic sheet and method of manufacture"

I researched but did not find better citations for the Pyramid Cement Siding Company - but that may have been a local siding installer rather than the brand of fibre cementor asbestos cement shingle siding. Let us know if you find more information - it will assist others.

Question: corrugated (asbestos ?) material on my shed

(Dec 2, 2014) kim m. said:
I have a corrugated material on my shed. How can I figure out if it is asbestos, Its very heavy and it won't burn it's about a 1/4 inch thick and sheets are about 4ft. X 8ft. Please help want to put vinyl siding on shed but not sure what to do.

Reply:

Kim

In the ARTICLE INDEX links above click on the article titled ASBESTOS ROOFING, CORRUGATED

for photos. If the material on your roof is cementious in appearance, corrugated, and dates prior to early 1980's it would be prudent to presume it contains asbestos. If newer it may be a substitute fiber cement product.

Use our CONTACT US link at page top or bottom to send me some photos for further comment


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