Asbestos in Sears Ceiling Tiles

Do some Sears Roebuck ceiling tiles contain asbestos?

POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to identify ceiling tiles that contain asbestos

Some Sears-brand ceiling tiles may contain asbestos:

In this article series 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.

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Do these Sears Roebuck & Co. Ceiling Tiles Contain Asbestos

Reader Question: is there asbestos in tehse Sears ceiling tiles?

Hello, I am currently remodeling an 185t farmhouse that was "updated" several times through the years. There are 12" square ceiling tiles in two upstairs bedrooms. There are extra in a box in the attic (pictured). They are Seats brand. Can you please tell me if these are asbestos?

Thank you very much - 2016/06/09 Anonymous by private email

Reply:

An initial search of our records and other sources did not find a certain answer to the question of asbestos content in older acoustic ceiling tiles sold by Sears. We are continuing to research and will post findings here. Your photos and question may invite posts from other readers too.

To know for certain if these particular Sears Roebuck Co. ceiling tiles contain asbestos you'd need to have a sample tested by a certified asbestos test lab - at a cost of about $50. if you're in the U.S.

See ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST if you want to take that course and do keep us informed as what you learn will help others.

Some sources we read, not specifically naming asbestos-containing ceiling tiles sold by Sears Roebuck & Co., have asserted that older asbestos-containing ceiling tiles or acoustic ceiling tiles typically had a pattern of two different-sized pinholes plus in some ceiling tiles, variegated short crack-appearing openings.

This pattern was widely used and appears in acoustic ceiling tiles as well as drop-in suspended ceiling panels.

We have not found an authoritative source [yet] that supports the claim that by noticing the design or hole pattern on acoustic ceiling tiles one can assert their asbestos content. That approach sounds rather questionable.

Sears & Roebuck Products that Did Contain Asbestos are described at ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS

Also see HOMART CEILING TILES

Also see SEARS & HOMART ASBESTOS-CONTAINING FLOOR TILES

...

Continue reading at ASBESTOS CEILING TILE REMOVAL PROCEDURES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

[12] Wikipedia Web: https://www.wikipedia.org/ provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a " retrieved on" date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative. Web search 6/30/12: "Ceiling Tiles"
[16] Steven Mlynarek, Morton Corn, Charles Blake, "Asbestos Exposure of Building Maintenance Personnel", Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 23, 213–224 (1996) ARTICLE NO. 0045, http://library.certh.gr/libfiles/PDF/GEN-PAPYR-4810-ASBESTOS-by-MLYNAREK
-in-RTAP-VOL-23-ISS-3-PP-213-224-Y-1996.pdf
[18] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA—Green Book) (1990). In Managing Asbestos in Place: A Building Owners Guide to Operations and Maintenance Programs for Asbestos-Containing
[28] D. Auribault, "Note sur l'Hygiène et la Sécurité des Ouvriers dans les Filatures et Tissages d'Amianté (On hygiene and security of the workers in the spinning and weaving of asbestos)" in Le Bulletin de l'Inspection du Travail, 1906, pp 120–132.
[29] Wikipedia entry on Asbestos and various citations from that article, web search 6/30/12, original source: en.wikipedia.org "Asbestos"
Asbestos Identification and Testing References

Asbestos Identification, Walter C.McCrone, McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, IL.1987 ISBN 0-904962-11-3. Dr. McCrone literally "wrote the book" on asbestos identification procedures which formed the basis for current work by asbestos identification laboratories.
Stanton, .F., et al., National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506: 143-151
Pott, F., Staub-Reinhalf Luft 38, 486-490 (1978) cited by McCrone

EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested

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Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .

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Asbestos in Sears Ceiling Tiles

Do some Sears Roebuck ceiling tiles contain asbestos?