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Antique coal burning fireplace Poughkeepsie (C) Daniel FriedmanAsbestos Use in Bricks or Mortar
Do some bricks or mortar contain asbestos?

This article describes the uses of asbestos in brick, fireplace brick, and in some mortar products.

Page top photo: asbestos was not likely to be found in the bricks, ceramic tile, nor mortar of this home at 57 S. Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie, New York, built in 1900, but asbestos may indeed have been present in fireplace backers used at gas fireplace inserts as well as in "fake" logs used in some gas fireplaces.

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Asbestos in Bricks

Damaged and unsafe brick masonry fireplace (C) InspectApedia.com SherlockBottom line: Ordinary construction bricks and refractory bricks used in fireplace construction do not normally and did not normally contain asbestos.

Common brick such as used in building construction is composed of
Silica (sand) – 50% to 60% by weight.
Alumina (clay) – 20% to 30% by weight.
Lime – 2 to 5% by weight.
Iron oxide – ≤ 7% by weight
and, during preparation, water before the bricks are dried or kiln dried.

Really? Well there are some exceptions: asbestos was used in insulating bricks and in bricks specifically designed to withstand high temperatures, and asbestos was an ingredient some "fake" brick wall coverings and asbestos was used in some special purpose high-temperature-exposure bricks.

Example: bricks made with a high asbestos-content were fabricated, often for use as heating boiler or furnace combustion chamber or kiln liners; we found asbestos bricks and slab materials as well as asbestos wet-pack relining materials used in oil fired heating boiler and furnace combustion chambers. But notice that these are special applications, not common brick used in general building construction.

As confirmation, Rosato reported that asbestos-containing bricks, used for special high-temperature purposes were very durable.

Asbestos bricks have been exposed to temperatures of 2,100°F for one hour without being affected.

Asbestos in "Fake Brick" Siding is discussed separately

at ASBESTOS CEMENT & FIBER CEMENT SIDING

Research on Asbestos Use in Brick Products - Or Not

Pyro Products Fire Brick advertised in Building Supply News in 1925 - cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Above: Pyro PRoducts Fire Brick advertised in Building Supply News in 1925. Note that this advertisement does not mention use of asbestos.

Asbestos in Building Blocks Using Industrial Waste

Asbestos in Other Clay Products

Asbestos has been reported in art clay (such as Fibro-Clay)[ 37] used in schools and in pottery clay where it occurred in the form of talc added as a flux to lower the firing temperature.

Talc and clay from at least one U.S. mine contained anthophyllite asbestos. It was unclear whether or not this material fell under the aegis of asbestos regulation.[36] The asbestos content of talc depended on where it was mined, and some talcs were asbestos-free[40].

Depending on the quarry source there may be deliberate or accidental inclusion of asbestos in terra cotta tiles such as roofing tiles.

Other clay products that may have had asbestos added in the form of talc or vermiculite (some vermiculite contains asbestos) in addition to art clays, may include clays used as pipe joint seals or insulation, and in the production of firebricks used to line the combustion chambers of heating equipment such as boilers or furnaces, and other school art projects such as paper maches.[38][39]

Asbestos Used in Mortar

Asbestos fibers and possibly asbestos shorts were used as an additive in mortar for use in brick, stone, or other masonry construction as a fiber-strengthener, to improve water resistance, and to improve fire resistance in specialized construction work.

Such fiber reinforced mortar may also have been used for repairing of damage to existing structural coatings such as plastered or stuccoed building exteriors.

At least three manufacturers of asbestos-containing mortar have been identified:

We found other references to use of asbestos in some specialty brick products such as

These are cited at ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS

Special uses of asbestos in mortar:

 


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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

On 2023-10-24 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Anonymous,

Do read through the article above on this page: it answers your concerns and provides supporting research citations. Do let us know if any of that material needs clarification.

On 2023-10-24 y Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, isnt bricks would normally not be fabricated? it sounds like a complicated process so thought the one contains asbestos would be somewhat expensive

On 2023-10-17 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - asbestos in bricks or mortar may occur naturally, as reinforcement, or for heat resistance properties

@Anonymous,

I don't think the question turns on expense but rather on heat tolerance requirements and other properties needed, such as in a combustion chamber liner.

These are not normally friable materials.

On 2023-10-17 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, so asbestos containing mortar and brick would be expensive baxk then, considering it only be used in speical cases.

On 2023-10-17 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Anonymous,

That's correct. Please take a look at the article above when we give details and don't hesitate to comment if we have left that unclear in any way.

For example above on this page we also state

Bricks made of asbestos were fabricated, often for use as heating boiler or furnace combustion chamber or kiln liners; we found asbestos bricks and slab materials as well as asbestos wet-pack relining materials used in oil fired heating boiler and furnace combustion chambers.

As confirmation, Rosato reported that asbestos-containing bricks, used for special high-temperature purposes were very durable.

On 2023-10-17 by Anonymous

what specalized construction used asbesots containing mortar?like a chimemy? normal house would typically not contaning asbesots used mortar and brick right?

what does it mean by specilized construction for mortar, would normal masonry construction use mortar that contains asbestos?

would a house built at 1925 used mortar that contains asbestos for masonry construction?

On 2023-07-20 by Anonymous - for general masonry construction, the brick and mortar almost never contain asbestos

after reading your article i say that for general masonry construction, the brick and mortar almost never contain asbestos, as it was often used in bricks that requires to be at the use in high heat environments. Am I right?

On 2022-10-29 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - asbestos in 100 year old bricks?

@Jim,

With the apology that of course no one can bet your life or lead exposure on text messages about material for which we have no specific information, we can say that in general bricks don't contain meaningful levels of lead.

However there are some mortars that contain lead That Was Then hazardous to bricklayers as has been reported in a CDC study.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001929.htm

On 2022-10-29 by Jim

Would it be likely for lead to be present in normal 100 year old construction brick in wall construction of a Missouri building, bricks were midwest. Our employer’s building is 100 year old and the exterior walls are five or six brick thick and interior walls are bare brick. There were large cracks in interior and exterior walls over each window arch of 12 windows.

The brick and mortar is cut with a power grinder and a great amount of brick dust is created and I advised her to work from home, her employer agreed. The contractor has plastic tarped and sheeted the work area around the windows but a great amount of dust is created and blown by nix fans to exterior.

Neither the contractor nor employer has treated this job as potential asbestos or lead paint remediation/abatement project and has allowed some employees to be in the general work area.

No signs alerting to possible health risks or normal abatement procedures were displayed, and I am former EPA lead paint certified worker and understand the importance of these procedures.

Our concern is the level of a “professional cleaning” and not just a janitor with a shop vac! I had brick dust tested for asbestos and it was negative but a lead swab test of dust was inconclusive as the brick dust is red and this lead test kit would turn ted if lead was present, so it is of little help.

Your thoughts?

On 2022-08-22 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia-911, that is most helpful, thank you!

On 2022-08-22 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - bricks and cement are not normally friable.

@Anonymous,

That's the general experience and information that we have found, but of course no one can possibly assure you that asbestos is absolutely present or absent in a material based simply on a brief text.

Keep in mind that bricks and cement are not normally friable.

On 2022-08-22 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia-911, Thank you! Given that, is it less likely that mortar and brick used for a flue would have used asbestos in the mix if it's not subject to high heat? Flue in question is in New England, US.

On 2022-08-22 1 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Refractory bricks or high-heat bricks are used ...

@Anonymous,

Refractory bricks or high-heat bricks are used in fireplaces for the fireplace back and sides, and different but also high-heat refractory materials might be used in the combustion chamber of an oil fired boiler or furnace along with a liner product.

But in construction of the flue, a clay flue tile liner is what's used on modern chimneys, surrounded by concrete block or brick.

In much older chimneys construction might have been entirely of brick.

For construction and materials details about all of those variations,

our complete list of chimney articles including how chimneys are constructed is at

ARTICLE INDEX to CHIMNEYS & FLUES

On 2022-08-22 by Anonymous

Very helpful reading on this page. I wanted to know if a typical furnace chimney for a small cape house would be considered a high heat application, or if you think ordinary bricks would have been used. The house was built in 1950.

I have also been wondering if you have a link to a diagram of a furnace chimney construction...i.e. are refractory bricks used only on the inside with ordinary bricks in the outside or something different? Thank you, I hope that makes sense and sorry for all the questions!

On 2021-08-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - asbestos used in some mortar mixes

@Connor,

Asbestos use: we have to say was possible when asked about an unknown mortar or brick mix at an unknown building in an unknown country.

But in any event masonry is not friable; exposed brick and mortar, intact, undisturbed by demolition, isn't releasing meaningful levels of masonry or mortar particles into the building air.

See details in the Recommended Articles found at the end of this page.

On 2021-08-02 by Connor

Would a chimney built between 1900-1910 have used bricks and mortar containing asbestos, and if so, would the exposed chimney in our living room be a hazard for us to be around?

On 2021-12-23 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Anonymous,

No

On 2021-12-23 by Anonymous

Would bricks from 1995 likely contain asbestos?

On 2020-05-07 - by (mod) - find out from former landlords if there was asbestos in the rental units

Gene

My frank opinion is no.

Few landlords are likely to be cooperative in opening themselves up for an asbestos lawsuit.

From your photos, sorry to say I can't say a thing about asbestos risk.
Certainly asbestos was used in many materials; if not friable or if the materials were not made into a dusty mess by demoiltion, grinding, chopping, sanding, sawing etc., the chances of significant or even detectable airborne asbestos exposure from just living in an older home are rather slim.

But if a lot of joint compound dusted you and your things, falling out of the ceiling, and perhaps was aerated using a non-HEPA vacuum cleaner, that could be a source of airborne asbestos. Asbestos was an ingredient in SOME joint compound.

Perhaps, before you knock yourself out with this question of asbestos in places you used to live, talk with your doctor about your general health concerns and about what further investigation will be most useful.

On 2020-05-07 by Gene

Sorry about a vague question right off.

I wanted to ask if it is possible to find out from former landlords if there was asbestos in the rental units. Perhaps some department in City Hall would have the info?
I lived in two places that concern me. The first place was built of concrete panels (see picture ) around 1974.

One time dry concrete or sand dust fell from the ceiling seams on my things. I didn't think to do testing on it right away, and leasing office told me at the time there shouldn't be asbestos there. However, later they said they weren't sure

. I didn't take the actual picture attached, but it is of one of the units at the complex. It shows that the ceiling is concrete panels running the length of the apartment. The seams between panels are pretty wide and were filled with something to close the gaps.

The other place was built in 1931. It had a fireplace in the living room. I couldn't tell if the fireplace was real or decorative. It was all painted over. One time the roommate drilled holes to place a shelf inside.

Recently I found out that bricks in old buildings likely contain asbestos and I presume fireplace bricks definitely would.

What could I do to find out? It's been a while since I lived there but the place and landlord are still there. I don't think they removed the fireplace.

Thank you for any advice.

Possible asbestos in New York apartment? (C) InspectApedia.com reader

 

2018/07/07 Reader question:

I am wondering if you know how common past asbestos use was in brick/mortar house siding (as opposed to fire bricks and other heat resistant applications). Our neighbor’s light-colored brick house (built circa 1939) is having the brick siding removed and the workers have been power sawing through the brick work, creating a lot of dust

. I’ve looked at your website faq’s where you respond to a couple related questions. However, I’ve also come across a couple other websites that seem more alarmist on the subject. - Anonymous by private email

Reply: in our opinion while asbestos was certainly added to some mortar mixes to add strength, water resistance, fire resistance, it would not have been necessary nor appropriate for ordinary brick masonry wall construction.

Question: brick chimeny asbestos?

(June 30, 2015) Jazzylady44 said:

My contractor removed the wall in kitchen adjacent to dining room. He found the kitchen is a possible add on. He found the brick chimney with stack piping present with a white paste looking substance covering the bricks. There are bricks that fallen inside the wall. help?

Reply:

Jazz

I can't guess what help you need with so little information, but if the chimney is in use it's almost certainly unsafe if some of its bricks have fallen away.

That's a more immediate fire or death by carbon monoxide hazard than an asbestos scare. Immediately shut down any heating appliances using the flue and ask for an inspection by a certified chimney sweep.


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