Ceiling tiles that might contain asbestos can sometimes be ruled in or out by knowing the date of manufacture of the product, along with the manufactuer and country of origin.

Here we give the 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.

Dates of Ceiling Tiles: age, appearance, types, materials, manufacturers help ID use of Asbestos

Certainly not all ceiling tiles contain or ever contained asbestos. Knowing the the history of ceiling tiles and their various ingredients, combined with the size, brand (usually unknown), visual appearance and location of ceiling tiles, and adding the age of the building or of the ceiling tile installation itself can often quickly decide whether special handling or further investigation is warranted when demolishing, remodeling, or otherwise disturbing a ceiling.

But asbestos fibers were used in some acoustic asbestos ceiling tiles, often amphibole asbestos such as amosite, crocidolite, anthrophylite, tremolite, and actinolite, with amosite among the most commonly-found.

Modern ceiling products do not contain asbestos.

Watch out: During any construction, demolition, or building remodeling project, as dust and particles from many materials, even paper and wood can be irritating or harmful to workers and occupants, prudent procedure would include appropriate dust control, personal protection equipment, and cleaning methods.

• Ancient: Medieval era: "acoustic" ceiling tiles were installed at the Cleeve Abbey, England. Image above left, Wikimedia Commons [12] and shown at the start of this article.
  
  For example, in Mediterranean homes terra cotta tiles were set across wood ceiling framing, over which roofing tiles were installed. [12]
• 1790: plaster ceilings, plaster applied to wood lath
• 1860: founding of Armstrong Corporation. "Corkboard led to fiberboard, fiberboard led to ceiling board, cork tile and linoleum led to vinyl floors." [13]
• 1885: beginning in Brooklyn, tin or aluminum ceilings were popularized in North America, replacing ornate plaster work or used to cover cracked, damaged plaster ceilings.
  
  "Tin ceilings, consisting of painted, embossed tin plate panels are almost uniquely North American, although they were introduced into Australia and South Africa in the late 19th century."[13] [15]
  
  Aluminum ceiling tiles & panels were also produced at about the same time.

• 1953: National Gypsum recommends acoustic plaster mixers wear respirators
• 1960s: Modern sizes: 2' x 2' or 2' x 4' including panels for suspended ceilings using a wide range of materials, some of which may contain asbestos
• 1967: U.S. Gypsum ceiling tiles, reported using ingredients that included asbestos from 1967-1976 [29]
• 1970: The Celotex Corporation of America introduced an isocyanurate foam ceiling tile [11] (not an asbestos-containing product). Asbestos widely used as fireproofing in roofs, floors, ceilings. [28]
  
  See details at CELOTEX ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
• 1976: Although there was no widespread ban on asbestos in this year, there was increased publicity about asbestos hazards; because of public resistance to purchase or use of ACM products, many manufacturers discontinued use of asbestos in various products, after 1976.
  
  Note: However, for any material made, sold, imported before your country banned asbestos in it, you will want to check the individual product MSDS for confirmation of its content.
• 1999: US EPA ASBESTOS MATERIALS BANS: CLARIFICATION.
  
  This document makes clear that EPA has no existing bans on asbestos-containing products other than items listed in this document: ACM ceiling tiles were not banned.
  
  In this year Great Britain banned the sale or re-use of white asbestos. [26]
• Complete history of asbestos bans, dates, regulations, laws:
  
  See ASBESTOS MATERIAL REGULATIONS

While an expert lab test using polarized light microscopy may be needed to identify the specific type of asbestos fiber, or to identify the presence of asbestos in air or dust samples, many asbestos-containing building products not only are obvious and easy to recognize, but since there were not other look-alike products that were not asbestos, a visual identification of this material can be virtually a certainty in many cases.

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-01-27 by Missouri Jay - do these 1950s brown fibrous ceiling tiles contain asbestos?

This home was built in 1954 these tiles are large 18x28 and are mostly brown on inside. I was thinking fiberglass or cellulos from your description. Have you seen 18x28 tiles with brown that do contain asbestos? I release you from all liability in your answer.

On 2023-01-27 by InspectApedia Publisher - 1954 wood fiberboard ceiling tile product

@Missouri Jay,

Looks like a wood fiberboard ceiling tile product.

DO THESE CEILING TILES CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 6 Easy Steps to tell if CEILING TILES are likely to contain asbestos - https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Ceiling_Tiles.php#asbmaybe

might also be helpful.

On 2022-12-06 by JD

Hello, came across this site while looking for any clues on some questions I had regarding these tiles, since home was build in 60s. Considering the brown color, without a test being performed, would your opinion be that these tiles do not contain asbestos? Other side of panel, too. Thanks!

On 2022-12-06 by InspectApedia (Editor) - more information needed to determine asbestos or not

@JD,

No it would not be my opinion that, as you put it, the tiles do not contain asbestos.

It would be more clear to simply stay that with no information whatsoever except a photograph of a square object we can't say whether it contains asbestos or not. From this page I'm assuming you're speaking about a ceiling tile. If we could see that edge and back of the tile or know it's age and country and city of location that would be helpful.

To make an educated guess about the asbestos questions see

DO THESE CEILING TILES CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 6 Easy Steps to tell if CEILING TILES are likely to contain asbestos

https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Ceiling_Tiles.php#asbmaybe

On 2022-11-24 by InspectApedia (Editor) - gray or white may be a product that contains some asbestos

@JC,

If you think the ceiling is of similar age as the house and particularly if in cross-section it appears to be gray or white, it may be a product that contains some asbestos. If it's clearly a brown fiber or fiberglass material that's not likely to be asbestos.

Of course for an absolute answer you'd have to have a sample tested. Keep in mind that if you're not grinding or chopping or making a dusting mess it's not likely that there's a hazard and the safest thing is to leave most asbestos materials or asbestos suspect materials alone or to cover them over.

Without a test I can't assert that that material in your photo contains asbestos but I can say that it's not the color or appearance of brown wood or plant fiber material that would have made asbestos very unlikely..

You should avoid creating a Dusty mess and if that's not avoidable it would be appropriate to have a sample tested for asbestos content.

If you decide to do that keep me posted

On 2022-11-24 by JC - asbestos in 1978 drop ceiling tiles?

Hello - home built in 1978 with drop ceiling in the basement. There are no markings on the back. I was talking the tile Down and got concerned with the dust and found this site. Any help greatly appreciated. Seems to be standard acoustic tile?

...

On 2022-10-20 by Andy - worried these 1979 ceiling tiles might contain asbestos

Worries about asbestos on these drop ceiling tiles from 1979. Pic attached. Thanks!

On 2022-10-20 by InspectApedia (Editor) - 1979 drop ceiling tiles may contain asbestos

@Andy,

possibly yes,

see

DO THESE CEILING TILES CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 6 Easy Steps to tell if CEILING TILES are likely to contain asbestos -

to
add details to make a guess,

or have a sample tested

On 2022-08-26 by Anonymous by private email - do these 1970s ceiling tiiles contain asbestos?

I’m supposed to remove some ceiling tiles from a house built in the 70’s in southwest Missouri. Doesn’t look like anything I’ve worked with exactly and just wanted a second opinion if it may have asbestos. Thanks,

...

On 2022-08-26 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - 1970s Missouri ceiling tiles

@Anonymous by private email,

Guessing at asbestos vs. testing when an old ceiling has to be demolished

That ceiling tile cross-section looks like a wood- or plant- fiber product, but you'll also want to step through the simple questions above on this page to improve your guess.

And of course if you come across old packaging, sometimes left in a building's attic or basement along with spare ceiling tiles, or if you see a stamp or brand on the back of any of these acoustic ceiling tiles, that will improve the asbestos-question answer-guess.

When demolishing a ceiling like that it's difficult to avoid creating dust and debris. Regardless of the ceiling tile make-up you'd want to use dust control, negative air pressure in the work space, and appropriate PPE.

It's always safer for someone to tell you to have a sample tested for asbestos (about $100. U.S.) - if you decide to do that, let me know. And see ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST for access to certified asbestos testing labs.

 

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Continue reading at ASBESTOS PRODUCTS BANNED vs PERMITTED U.S. 2023, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ASBESTOS CEILING TILES
  • ASBESTOS-FREE CEILING TILES
  • ASBESTOS PRODUCTS BANNED vs PERMITTED U.S. 2023
  • ASBESTOS-SUSPECT CEILING COVEROVER
  • ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST - certified asbestos testing labs
  • CEILING TILE HISTORY / DATES
  • CEILING TILE IDENTIFICATION - list of asbestos ceiling tile brands, manufacturers & how to identify them
  • CEILING TILE INGREDIENTS
  • CEILING TILE REMOVAL PROCEDURES
  • CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL
  • DO THESE CEILING TILES CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 6 Easy Steps to tell if CEILING TILES are likely to contain asbestos -
• FIBERGLASS ASBESTOS COMBINATIONS
• HISTORY & DATES OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL BANS & REGULATIONS

Suggested citation for this web page

ASBESTOS CEILING TILE HISTORY / DATES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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