Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles: identification, risk reduction, action plan.
Some but not all old ceiling tiles contain asbestos.
Here we discuss how to recognize & handle ceiling tiles that may contain asbestos. We describe the appearance, ingredients, years of manufacture, history, and producers of various types of ceiling tiles & coverings as an aid in determining whether or not a particular ceiling covering or tile is likely to contain asbestos.
This document assists building buyers, owners or inspectors who need to identify asbestos materials (or probable-asbestos) in buildings by simple visual inspection.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Asbestos may have been used in the ceiling tile tiles and in lay-in ceiling tiles in suspended ceilings in the tile body or in paper facing or backing on the ceiling tiles; asbestos was also a common ingredient in some mastic adhesives used for glue-up application of ceiling tiles.
Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles are not considered friable but are soft enough that unnecessary sampling or disturbance may release asbestos dust and particles.
In addition, some ceiling tiles such as used in suspended ceilings may be holding a collection of asbestos-containing dust and debris (from other sources) on the hidden upper side of the tile.
In these articles we explain how to recognize and handle asbestos-suspect ceiling tiles or other ceiling or wall or building sheathing products.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Photo above: An encaustic heraldic tile used on the ceiling at Cleeve Abbey, dating from the middle ages, late in the twelfth century. Cleeve Abbey, a Cistercian monastery was, in 1536, converted by Henry VIII to a country house as part of the dissolution of the monasteries. - Wikipedia.
These are ceramic tiles, not an asbestos product.
Amosite asbestos, also a widely used form of asbestos, was used in some ceiling tiles as well as in roof and floor tiles.
Chrysotile asbestos, one of the most commonly used asbestos fibers, was used in production of some ceiling materials.
Crocidolite asbestos was also used in ceiling tile production.
Ceilings were also covered with cement-asbestos products as a fire barrier in boiler rooms and similar locations.
Some acoustic ceiling tiles contain asbestos. If renovation is planned, it may be smart to simply handle this material as if it contained asbestos particles.
In these photographs of older square ceiling tiles, the photo (above left) shows a smooth ceiling tile and the second photo (below left) an acoustic ceiling tile with its characteristic pattern of holes.
Both of these products might contain asbestos fibers, though the principal material is usually cellulose.
The larger suspended ceiling segment, 2'x4' in size (photo below left), was pushed aside to show the older layers of ceiling materials above.
The suspended ceiling tile, if made of fiberglass or cellulose is not a likely asbestos fiber source.
Our concern in this particular instance was that the entire cavity above the suspended ceiling was being used as an air conditioning return air plenum, exposing all of the building HVAC system and occupants to whatever particles were released by materials in the cavity, including possibly asbestos from the older layer of acoustic ceiling tiles.
The remediation contractor removed all of these layers to expose (and clean) the concrete ceiling above prior to installing a new suspended ceiling.
Our perforated acoustic ceiling tile photo above shows that these particular asbestos-containing ceiling materials were also sometimes applied to a vertical wall.
Below we show a different pattern of asbestos-suspect ceiling tiles found in a government building we examined in Poughkeepsie, NY.
As you can see from the photographs shown here, these acoustic ceiling tiles over a wet area can support mold growth.
Also see MOLD INFORMATION CENTER.
We moved this list to CEILING TILE MATERIALS - separate article.
Our photo (above) shows tremolite asbestos panels glued to the ceiling over a basement of a commercial building in White Plains, New York.
Tremolite asbestos panels were used as a fire-proofing over a boiler room and where other heating equipment was installed.
This discussion has moved
to ASBESTOS CEILING HISTORY / DATES
This topic moved
to ASBESTOS CEILING TILE MANUFACTURERS
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2024-01-22 by JCD - was asbestos ever mixed with cellulose based ceiling tile products?
Hello - I've noticed some references throughout this website that imply that a cellulose based product might be expected to be mixed with asbestos:
"Asbestos was used in some Celotex products and/or may appear in some Celotex products such as cellulose-based insulating board depending on when and where the product was manufactured"
"But usually the yellow papery like material such as shown in your photo of the ceiling tile edge is cellulose - a wood product.
Making trouble for that assumption is the fact that there were some similar-looking ceiling tiles that did include asbestos, as we describe separately."
Based on many conversations with asbestos experts, I've never really heard of a purely wood-based ceiling tile or wood based board deliberately containing asbestos, except in the glue or adhesive holding the tile up to the ceiling (this is common) or in the paint on the tile surface, or a similar coating (this is very rare and many people have never seen it even over decades of experience).
Just wondering if you have come across a concrete example of a wood/cellulose ceiling tile containing asbestos within the tile material itself, or it's just a theoretical possibility (i.e., cross-contamination is possible). I haven't been able to find more concrete information on this website other than the references above which imply that a wood-based tile might contain asbestos.
On 2024-01-22 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - Asbestos is not found in plant-based (cellulose) ceiling tiles nor in cellulose-based fiberboard - with rare exceptions
@JCD,
Bottom line:
Asbestos is not found in plant-based (cellulose) ceiling tiles nor in cellulose-based fiberboard - with rare exceptions of cross-contamination or in one report by Kollman cited here.
Details:
Thank you, this is an important question; to clarify: in our article series on ceiling tiles and also fiberboard products we report that while cellulose products are generally a plant product and do not contain asbestos, there was at least one instance of reported cross-contamination when these plant-based (cellulose) products were manufactured at the same site where asbestos-based products were also being produced.
At SHEATHING, FIBERBOARD ASBESTOS CONTENT
we state
The history of fiberboard insulating products is interesting in that while the product itself is not an asbestos-based material, there were some questions of cross contamination with asbestos because of the manufacturing location of some brands.
Fiberboard is basically a plant-fiber based product.
and later on that same page:
There were reports of asbestos cross contamination in fiberboard made at the same site where asbestos containing products were made. Since Johns Manville produced a wide range of other products, some of which contained asbestos, you could see why or how the question arose.
However to date, except for Kollman (1975) I have not found scholarly studies nor other information that confirmed that wood fiberboard based insulating board did actually contain asbestos.
Also see FIBERBOARD SHEATHING IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Fiberboard-Sheathing-Identification-Key.php
Concluding:
In my OPINION even in that case of asbestos cross-contamination into non-asbestos products like ceiling tiles or fiberboard, the level of asbestos in such products is most likely very low, and in all events, if these products are not being made into dust such as by demolition, sanding, chopping, sawing, the level of such asbestos is most-likely below the limits of detection and so not hazardous.
Citation:
Continuing: here is the excerpt from Kollman p. 551
Perhaps, the best factor for classifying fiberboard is the density. This is internationally recognized. There is a rather simple difference between pressed and not pressed sheets hut the range of qualities is wide and there is an overlapping.
Another point which should be taken into consideration is the fact that wood fibers are blended occassionally with mineral fibers (such as asbestos), plastics and with other chemical additives.
Some half-hard fiberboard contain no less than 20% of thermoplastic bonding agents.
And thank you. That you took the time to post a question helps us see where we need to add or clarify information - workinig together helps us both.
On 2024-01-22 by JCD
@InspectApedia Publisher, thanks for the thorough response. This is really a tremendous resource for people who are planning home renovations to understand the precise nature of potential risks!
On 2023-11-27 by Anonymous - damaged ceiling tiles when fixing dryer vent - asbestos worry?
We had to fix a dryer vent, and some of the drop ceiling was damaged. I didn't think about it until afterwards that it may contain asbestos. I'll buy a test kit off Amazon too but wanted to get some opinions on the possibility.
The house was built in 1974 or 76, but I don't think the drop ceiling was added until way later in the eighties.
@Anonymous,
Unfortunately for acoustic ceiling tile like that one we can't be certain of its asbestos content by visual inspection alone, but I can suggeste that you simply damp wipe up any dust and avoid chopping, grinding, or sawing those tiles to make more of a mess.
IF the ceiling tile is in the U.S. and was made after around 1986 it's not at all likely to contain asbestos.
https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Current-Asbestos-Containing-Products-US.php
ASBESTOS PRODUCTS BANNED vs PERMITTED U.S. 2023
is as specific as one can get on this question without having a **** SPECIFIC ASBESTOS TEST REPORT on a SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT ****
Any further, answer, with respect we must explain, is simply so speculative as to be unreliable.
On 2023-11-10 by Bystanding Bob - so ceiling tiles with asbestos weren't banned but manufactureres quit using asbestos?
@InspectApedia Publisher, so ceiling titles were not banned, but manufactures themselves stopped using them.
Do you know anything about aftermarket car components like brake pads? I know they were not banned also, but most said only in aftermarket product.
would ceiling tiles installed at 2012 contain asbestos
is there any detail like even the use of asbestos in ceiling tiles is not banned, then would there be any restriction like it can only be used in specialuse or setting?
is it likely that some small factory product produce ACM ceiling?
do today's fissured Ceiling Tile contain asbestos? i saw they are mostly made by armstrong
On 2023-11-09 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)
@Anonymous,
All of your ceiling tile asbestos questions are answered in detail in the article above on this page. Please take a look and do let me know if you find any of that unclear.
On 2023-11-09 by Bob
@InspectApedia Publisher, they banned it right? in us
On 2023-11-02 by InspectApedia Publisher
@Bob
If the ceiling was installed in the U.S. after the mid-1980's it's not at all likely to contain asbestos.
In other countries, the last date at which asbestos products including asbestos ceiling tiles were sold will differ.
On 2023-11-01 by Bob
@InspectApedia Publisher, does it still contsin asbestos today?
On 2023-11-10 by Moderator
@Anonymous,
As a bystander watching all this, I must say that
You seem to be asking many similar questions but not reading nor understanding authoritative texts already here. Please take a look at the article above.
On 2023-11-10 by Bystanding Bob
@Bystanding Bob, upon reading your articles I do understand, but what I am worry about is minor factory using asbestos and whether it is used in residential cases. basically i am just worrying about possible residential uses.
On 2023-10-30 by Anonymous - do ceiling tiles with small holes contain asbestos?
are ceiling tiles that we see often has small holes on it, and usually very white contain asbestos?
On 2023-10-31 by InspectApedia Publisher - small holes in ceiling tiles = acoustic tile
@Anonymous,
The small holes in ceiling tiles that you name are usually an indicator that it's an acoustic ceiling tile.
That means it's intended to reduce building noise level.
It has nothing to do with whether or not it would contain asbestos.
Our best information on your question is in the article above.
Please take a look and let me know if any of that is unclear.
On 2023-09-10 by Diane Sandoval - wierd spongy tiles on the cieling
I am renovating a house I just got but the house has these wierd spongy tiles on the cieling not sure what it is made of or if it has asbestos but it is also glued on with a black adhesive.
The House is 1890s build in Kansas.
On 2023-09-10 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - asbestos ceiling tiles: Just looking isn't enough
@Diane Sandoval,
Unfortunately I can't tell just by looking at them whether or not those tiles definitely contain or don't contain asbestos. Same for the mastic adhesive.
If however as it appears from your photo the torn are cut edges of the tiles show that the material is gray white and its interior and I would consider it a possible asbestos containing material and treated accordingly.
The best option is to leave such suspect material in place and simply cover it over with a new layer of material such as drywall.
If you have to remove it and can't do so without creating potentially hazardous dust then it's worth having a sample tested.
So let us know your plans.
On 2023-07-14 by Steve Grauer - asbestos in these old ceiling tiles?
Our house was built in 1924.
We have a drop ceiling in the basement, although I am not sure when it was installed. Some tiles are loose and have become dislodged, and fallen to the floor. They appear to be mostly wood cellulose, but I wanted to get the opinion of an expert.
On 2023-07-21 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - these tiles look like cellulose - a plant product
@Steve Grauer,
I agree with you about the appearance of the tiles - looks like cellulose. Step through the tips above on this page to improve that guess and let me know what you think.
@Anonymous,
Let’s start with telling us what country you live in, as the asbestos regulations will vary with regard to when it was banned.
The steps outlined above on this page give you our best advice on identifying whether your ceiling tiles contain asbestos or not. They take into consideration factors such as age, markings, location. It’s worth starting there.
Also above are links to different manufacturers of ceiling tiles and images found on those pages may help you with yours.
As far as removal of the tiles, please see our article
CEILING TILE REMOVAL PROCEDURES
https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos-Ceiling-Tile-Removal-Procedure.php
Now about your question:
Once removed, how do I safely get rid of the tiles?
The answer is - as Mark Cramer says ... it depends.
On where you live.
In most communities ceiling tiles can be disposed-of as construction waste.
On 2023-06-01 by Anonymous
I live in a Strata that was built in 1986. We are replacing suspended ceiling tiles in a Spa room. How do I identify if these tiles contain asbestos?
Or do I just assume they contain asbestos and wear breathing protection? It is a small area (about 50 square feet). Once removed, how do I safely get rid of the tiles?
On 2023-05-12 by ModestD - ceiling in Ontario library?
Hey,
I have recently started a new job and was told that white dust is falling from the ceiling on a ceiling that is known to contain ACM. The floor above has someone putting poles in place for volleyball and then dust falls into the area below. Would this be asbestos? The main ceiling is Transite/pegboard but this portion of the ceiling does not look like this. Here is a picture.
@ModestD,
I'd like to be helpful but I don't know what the scale is of your photo and can't tell what we are looking at.
Transite asbestos is a term for a type of cement asbestos that was frequently used to make pipes and other cementious products.
"Pegboard" refers to a utility board with many small round holes used to contain pegs that serve as brackets to support things, is not a product I've seen made out of cement asbestos.
Your photo, if it's a close-up seems to show rectangular holes in some material. Is that an acoustic ceiling?
What's the location, country and city and if you don't know the age of the ceiling nor exactly what it is made of, it would be helpful to give the building age.
To say that you were told that asbestos dust is falling is a bit uncertain as a guideline.
Told by whom, of what authority and with what expertise and with what supporting information.
In most countries it would be illegal for a workplace to contain a known falling asbestos dust hazard.
In the US you would call OSHA to get help if that were the case.
Perhaps if you can give good more information we can provide more specific comment.
On 2023-04-30 by KA - asbestos in 1950s Ontario home ceillings?
Old house layers to be removed. So removed this from ceiling and wondering if wood base or asbestos tiles? 1950's house southern Ontario. The basement may have been finished later. No markings on back of tiles. Stapled to ceiling.
Thanks for opinions.
Thank you for looking into this, it is actually a library ceiling located in Canada, Ontario.
After further investigation it looks like the asbestos is actually located above said ceiling, or on single tile ceilings located in 4 areas of the library.
I also noted that they drilled into this ceiling in the past to mount a TV, but my superiors told me the entire ceiling is asbestos (it isn't). Thanks for all your help.
@KA,
Looks like a wood-fibre product but to be certain you'd need to do a lab test.
By the way that drywall and joint compound used to install it are likely to contain asbestos if they're of a similar age
On 2023-03-30 by Kelly
NW Ohio built in early 60s I need to remove this ceilng tile mess and figure out what to replace it with. This is a long shot but does this tile resemble those manufactured with asbestos?
On 2023-03-30 by InspectApedia Editor
@Kelly,
Usually when we see yellow fibrous ceiling tiles that's a wood or plant-based product not asbestos. But keep in mind that unless you find a product identification label and can trace the manufacturer's asbestos-use, a text and photo alone don't approach the confidence of an asbestos test.
IF you can not replace these tiles without creating dust, safest is to do an asbestos test. Or simply treat the material as presumed to contain asbestos and remove it with dust control, PPE, HEPA vacuuming, damp wiping cleanup etc.
An option that's preferable in some buildings is to simply laminate a layer of drywall right over the existing ceiling, leaving the old materials harmlessly in-place.
On 2023-03-21 by San Diego Guy
Just moved into an apartment and wanted to repaint the metal frame in between the drop ceiling panels, concerned about possible asbestos presence. We don't know how old the building is, but found property records going back to at least 1993.
The tiling goes across the whole unit, and I think the unit is an old converted office. The unit was probably inspected and cleared as it’s run by a leasing company and multiple people have lived here before.
The panels are generally 2'x4', have that kind of pockmarked appearance shown elsewhere, and are damaged in some parts revealing a kind of fuzzy/hair interior. Attached are photos of the ceiling. How could we safely obtain a sample for testing to begin with?
On 2023-03-30 by InspectApedia Editor
@San Diego Guy,
Please try again to post a photos of the panels you describe.
@Bob,
Thanks for the great photo and helpful ceiling tile question.
In your photo those are fiberglass ceiling panels, surfaced on one side with a thin plastic cover on the "down" side; probably from a suspended ceiling, not "ceiling tiles" of the sort that were stapled or glued in place.
An example of similar drop ceiling sections is at
ASBESTOS-FREE CEILING TILES
On 2023-01-27 by Bob
@InspectApedia Publisher, correct. they are from suspended drop ceiling in basement which simply laid in the suspened grid system.
Older drop ceiling tiles 2x4, can anyone identify if they are fiber only or asbestos?
On 2022-12-10 by Chris - does this ceiling material contain asbestos?
Hi there can you tell if this contains asbestos.
We recently removed it and somebody said we should have left it.
There are no fibers present however the paper looks fluffy. Can asbestos be in the backing fiber? Much appreciated. I have since moved out and waiting on the manufacturer to tell us
On 2022-12-10 by InspectApedia (Editor)
@Chris,
Take a look at
DO THESE CEILING TILES CONTAIN ASBESTOS? -
6 Easy Steps to tell if CEILING TILES are likely to contain asbestos -
And then let me know what you think
On 2022-11-18 by Mark - concearned if these ceiling tiles might contain abstestos or any other toxic materials?
Hi just concearned if these ceiling tiles might contain abstestos or any other toxic materials? house was built 1870 in Hudson Massachusetts
On 2022-11-18 by InspectApedia (mod)
@Mark,
We can't answer that question without any information about your home - location, age, etc. Please see the section above on this page:
6 easy steps to make a guess at asbestos hazard from unknown ceiling tiles
This provides our best advice for determining an answer to your question.
On 2022-09-30 by Em - mice contaminated our ceiling tiles but we are worried about asbestos - can we remove them?
We had a mouse infestation and cleared them out.
But they pooed on the ceiling tiles on our basement so we decided we should remove them. However the possible asbestos hazard stopped us. Including two photos. Thank you for your hard work.
On 2022-09-30 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)
@Em,
Besides trying to answer the questions above on this page, the only additional way I can suggest to make a more accurate estimate of the asbestos Hazard for those particular tiles would be to have a sample testing.
It appears to me in cross section to be a gray material so I can't rule out asbestos based on appearance
On 2022-09-22 by Tiffany
I can't tell if my apartment ceiling tiles have asbestos. They look painted over. Found lead paint in the apartment with a test.
They look damaged from being in the bathroom and above the shower. Look white all the way through too. Some tiles have holes that look to have been filled or covered up.
I'm on the second floor of a family home that was turned into apartments in central Maine.
I saw that it was built in 1900, renovation listed in 1950. I can't determine the material or age of the tiles. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
On 2022-09-22 by InspectApedia (Editor) - lead paint and asbestos concerns in bathroom
@Tiffany,
Indeed I see the wrinkled paint.
I don't see holes to be filled, but speculate that you could patch small holes using a phenolic or vinyl caulk with little worry.
IF there is no more water leaks and no mold smell, you might leave the ceiling as is.
If you're able to leave the ceiling alone and it's not shedding lead paint it's not a meaningful hazard.
Alternatively it can be covered with drywall.
IF the ceiling had to be demolished (say fixing water damage) it'd make sense to inspect or test a sample (for asbestos) before proceeding to make a dusty mess.
...
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ASBESTOS CEILING TILES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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