Asbestos Ceiling Tile Identification

5 easy steps to tell if ceiling tiles contain asbestos

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

Some ceiling tiles made before the late 1980s contain asbestos, a hazarous substance if the ceiling is damaged or if it is disturbed by demolition.

Here we explain how to make a reasonable guess at whether or not your ceiling tiles contain asbestos, and at the same time we emphasize that there's no reason to panic.

Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air. - US EPA & Other Sources

But you should take care not to create a dusty mess, and to avoid unnecessary expense and health risks caused by removing ceilings unnecessarily.

We also include photos of ceiling tiles that can easily be identified as not containing asbestos, and we describe how to safely collect a ceiling tile sample for asbestos test lab analysis.

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

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

5 easy steps to make a guess at asbestos hazard from unknown ceiling tiles

When Was Asbestos Used in Ceiling Tiles?

In the U.S. some but not all ceiling tiles contained asbestos as late as those made in 1989.

Asbestos was used in the some (not all) ceiling tile tiles and in drop-in 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.

5 steps that you can take to determine the chance your own ceiling tiles contain asbestos are given below on this page.

Asbestos ceiling tile risk level?

For ceilings that are undamaged and are not to be disturbed such as by demolition, sawing, chopping, etc, there is no meaningful asbestos hazard to building occupants.

That's because asbestos-containing ceiling tiles are not considered friable - not easily made into dust.

But such tiles are nevertheless soft enough that unnecessary sampling or disturbance could release asbestos dust and particles.

In addition, some ceiling tiles such as used in suspended ceilings (drop ceilings) in older buildings often hold a collection of dust and debris (from other sources) on the hidden upper side of the tile. So don't disturb your ceiling enough to create a dusty mess.

We've inspected roughly 4000 buildings for visually-obvious asbestos materials including ceiling tiles. Where justified we recommended testing of some of those ceilings for asbestos. But often you can make an intelligent first-guess at the asbestos question from just the steps below and in some cases you can immediately rule-out asbestos.

5 Steps to Check your Ceiling Tiles for Asbestos

VISUAL INSPECTION of YOUR CEILING TILES - can rule in or out possible asbestos
LOOK FOR CEILING TILE MANUFACTURER'S STAMPS or CODES
CHECK THE BUILDING AGE
CHECK THE CEILING AGE
PREPARE A CEILING TILE SAMPLE for ASBESTOS TESTING

We include photos of asbestos-suspect and some examples of asbestos-free ceiling tiles in the article below.

Step 1: Look at the ceiling tile material, particularly its edges and back surface

A view of the edges or back of the ceiling tile are particularly helpful in ruling in or out asbestos, but don't create a dusty mess just to get a look.

Signs that the ceiling tile may contain asbestos

If an edge-view of your ceiling tiles is grey-white or simply gray like the photo above, they could contain asbestos - though not always. Other gray ceiling tiles are simply paper-based. For tiles like those in this photo, I'd recommend having a sample tested.

Signs that the ceiling tile is not at all likely to contain asbestos

On the other hand, by mere visual inspection, it is possible to identify some materials that are definitely not asbestos.

Example: ceiling tiles or suspended ceiling drop-in panels made of fiberglass are easy to identify simply by visual inspection. Notice the yellow or tan fine, coarse fibers in the photos below.

...

Fiberglass, like that in our photos above and below is not an asbestos product. If your ceiling tile is homogeneous fiberglass it is not at all likely to contain asbestos unless by cross-contamination from another asbestos source.

More examples of asbestos-free ceiling materials are at

PHOTOS of ASBESTOS-FREE CEILING TILES

Step 2: look for manufacturer's stamps or data on the ceiling tile or its packaging

Look for any evidence of the manufacturer's name: a stamp on the back of a tile, packaging left-over, records of the installation.

Often one can infer the date of manufacture of a product by ancillary stamps or statements such as compliance with laws or standards whose initial date is known.

More detailed help is at

ASBESTOS CEILING TILE MANUFACTURERS

If you can identify the manufacturer of your ceiling tiles, also see this list of

ASBESTOS PRODUCING COMPANIES & TRUSTS

Some Manufacturers specifically say their ceiling tiles never contained asbestos

If the ceiling is made by one of the manufacturers who assert their products never contained asbestos or who give specific dates after which production of asbestos-containing ceiling tiles ceased that can answer the asbestos question for your home.

Step 3: Check the Age of Building - is it newer than when asbestos was in use?

Next consider the age of the home as a floor under the maximum age of the ceiling. If the building age is newer than the last date of use of asbestos in your country that can provide a credible "no asbestos" conclusion for the material in question.

For the U.S. that's 1989.

For the last-sale date for asbestos in other countries, see

HISTORY & DATES OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL BANS & REGULATIONS

Step 4: Check the Age of the Ceiling Tile Installation Itself

Next consider the age of the ceiling, e.g. dates or records of renovations - for the same reason given in the question above.

Date threshold: If the ceiling was installed in the U.S. after the mid-1980's and more certainly after 1989, 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.

For more detail

see

ASBESTOS CEILING HISTORY / DATES

and also

ASBESTOS MATERIAL REGULATIONS - where we provide asbestos last used, last sold or last imported dates for most countries.

Keep in mind that a ceiling installed shortly after that production date could still contain asbestos if new old stock asbestos-containing ceiling tiles were used.

Step 5: Test the Ceiling Tile for Asbestos

If you know nothing about the ceiling and can not remove it without making a dusty (and potentially hazardous) mess, then you may want to have a sample tested.

If you have extra ceiling tiles that were not installed, collect your sample from one of those.

If you have to remove part or all of installed ceiling tiles,

see

See

ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST - certified asbestos testing labs

Watch out: when collecting a sample of ceiling tile for asbestos testing, you should be sure to collect the full thickness of the tile, as asbestos may have been used in only the ceiling tile core, or in some products, as a layer of asbestos paper on a surface.

Watch out: use a sharp utility knife or "box knife" to make a thin clean cut in a ceiling tile to be tested, or send an entire intact ceiling tile to your lab. Do not break the tile and don't try cutting it with a saw - we want to avoid unnecessary dust creation.

Make your cut over spread newspaper, then when your sample is complete and has been bagged in a zip-lok type clear plastic bag for labeling, fold up the newspaper for disposal. Use damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming to clean up any dust.

Forms of Asbestos used in Ceiling Tiles

If your lab test finds that asbestos was used in your ceiling tiles, usually it's a small percent of the total ceiling tile volume, and it will be one of the following forms:

Amosite asbestos, 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.

Tremolite asbestos (shown above): ceilings in areas where fire risk was a particular concern were sometimes covered with nearly pure tremolite asbestos board or, alternatively by cement-asbestos products. You'll find these as a fire barrier in boiler rooms and similar locations..

Our photo shows tremolite asbestos panels glued to the ceiling over a basement of a commercial building in White Plains, New York.

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

This discussion has moved

to ASBESTOS CEILING HISTORY / DATES

Which ceiling tile brands are reported to have contained asbestos? Which ceiling tiles are asbestos free?

This topic moved

to ASBESTOS CEILING TILE MANUFACTURERS

This article series assists building buyers, owners or inspectors who need to identify asbestos materials (or probable-asbestos) in buildings by simple visual inspection.

...

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 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" - source: CELOTEX ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

"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) - No, 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.

The yellow-tan wood fiber based ceiling tile fragment shown above atop a silver-painted steel post is not likely to contain asbestos except by cross-contamination.

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.

And of course given the wide range of human behaviour it's possible, if unlikely, that someone might mixed asbestos with othe4r insulating material such as cellulose or wood fiber even though as a commercial product for general sale that would be unusual.

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:

Kollmann, Franz FP, Edward W. Kuenzi, and Alfred J. Stamm. "Fiberboard." In Principles of Wood Science and Technology, pp. 551-672. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1975. [Significantly this article refers to the occasional blending of asbestos with wood fiber products.] Lundgren, S. Ake. "Hardboard as construction material—a viscoelastic substance." Holz als Roh-und Werkstoff 15, no. 1 (1957): 19-23.

[ cf p. 551 - This book is available from Utah State University, Springer and also online via Google Books and other sources - Ed.]

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 - this website is a tremendous resource

@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 2023-10-30 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 - not necessarily; small holes in ceiling tiles just mean it's an acoustic tile

@Anonymous,

The small holes in ceiling tiles (shown in ouir photo above) are usually simply 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 how to make a reasonable guess or to actually determine if ceiling tiles contain asbestos is in the article above.

Please take a look and let me know if any of that is unclear.

On 2022-11-24 by JC - asbestos in 1978 gray-white material making up 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 2022-11-24 by InspectApedia (Editor) - gray or white ceiling tile may contain 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

...

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

Or see ASBESTOS CEILING TILE FAQs - questions and answers posted originally at the bottom of this page. Or see ASBESTOS CEILING TILE FAQs-7 where other recent Q&A are posted.

Or see these

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

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Comments

Heather · Feb 12, 2025
This is a ceiling tile in a 1980s remodel in a space that I just started renting. It was ripped before I even obtained occupancy. Should I be worried? Thank you for any feedback.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Feb 12, 2025
@Heather,

If that remodel was done using materials manufactured in the US after 1986 it's very unlikely that there would be an asbestos concern.

In any case both for cosmetic reasons and to stop any shedding you might simply hit the gouge with a bit of spray paint that's as close in color as you can manage..

Daniel

Heather · Feb 12, 2025
@InspectApedia Publisher, as far as I can tell by the tax records the remodel was done in 1980. Thank you for your quick reply!

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Feb 13, 2025
@Heather,

In that case I'm sorry to say that it's certainly likely that the ceiling tiles were manufactured when some manufacturers were using asbestos in some of those products. That fact combined with the gray appearance leaves me unable to say with certainty that they are asbestos free. However there's no meaningful hazard to you if you simply leave the ceiling tiles in place, undisturbed. So you're still in good shape if you are comfortable with just spray painting the surface. On the other hand if you insisted on having the damaged tiles removed and replaced, although that's not a large or significant amount of work it is actually more hazardous than if you just leave them alone.

Daniel Friedman

Anonymous · Feb 17, 2025
@InspectApedia Publisher, thank you Daniel! Would it be ok to caulk it or is that too dangerous? These tiles are coming out of place but not so that they would fall.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Feb 18, 2025
@Anonymous,

I've seen this problem, too, often with stapled-up ceiling tiles in which the staple has pulled through the soft thin stapling tab.

You can caulk the gap but that's a bit of a messy repair. I'm afraid that caulking, while it may slow or stop further ceiling tile drop-down, will leave an un-even ceiling and an unsightly caulk gap. It's not a crime, just not the nicest repair.

What I do is to press the ceiling tiles up gently into position and then drive a few thin but headed wire nails into the backing furring strip to which the tile was originally stapled. Take care not to bang the ceiling tile itself with your hammer.

There's no perfect repair for this problem if the original fasteners are failing, though nailing carefully and neatly may be better than nothing.

Daniel

Brandon · Jan 13, 2025
Here’s a picture of the same ceiling, showing the opening for a ceiling fan. Any insights would be greatly appreciated—thank you!

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Jan 13, 2025
@Brandon,

Those brown fibers showing around the ceiling light fixture look very much like fiberboard - a plant based product that does not normally contain asbestos though there were a few (quite unlikely) exceptions as we explain in more detail (if you want it) at SHEATHING, FIBERBOARD ASBESTOS CONTENT inspectapedia.com/structure/Fiberboard-Sheathing-Asbestos.php

Daniel Friedman

Brandon · Jan 13, 2025
Here is the ceiling tile I was speaking of.

Brandon · Jan 13, 2025
“Hello, everyone! Does this look like an asbestos tile? The house was built in the 1940s, but this room, which contains this ceiling, was added later—though I’m not sure exactly when. I have another picture I can share (it only lets me upload one at a time) that shows the opening where a fan was installed. The inside of this tile has a wood-colored appearance, but again, I’m uncertain about its material. Any insights?”

Bridget · Jan 2, 2025
Does this look like asbestos? House built in 1948, these are our enclosed back porch ceiling tiles. I removed them without any protection before I realized I had done a very stupid thing. We are sending it in to get tested.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Jan 2, 2025
@Bridget,

That's wood fiberboard, a plant-based product.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Jan 2, 2025
@Bridget,

Still I'd like to see a copy of the lab test report as it'd be great to have such a test on file for other readers, redacted, of course, to protect your privacy.

Daniel

J · Sept 25, 2024
Hi, I’m not sure if my tongue and groove ceiling contains asbestos or not. My house was built in the 1940s in South Carolina and these tiles are in most of the rooms other than the bathrooms, hallway, and living room. We had to replace the roof this year due to it leaking and it has caused the paint/covering on the tiles in our bedroom to peel off. I was going to peel the paint off and just repaint them. Don’t want to do anything to put my health at risk.

Anonymous · Sept 25, 2024
@J, Not all of the tiles are brown. Not sure if the discoloration is from water damage, age, or someone previously smoked in the house.

J · Sept 25, 2024
@J, another photo

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Sept 25, 2024
@Anonymous, J;

That's not a ceiling tile failure that I've seen before; it looks as if someone applied a paint or coating that then has come away, perhaps due to a water leak from above.

And yes white or gray ceiling tile material could contain asbestos.

If paint is coming off in large pieces and you're not creating dust, the risks are much less; the, too, we don't know how old is that paint so we don't know if there's a lead paint hazard.

You can try re-painting; a better job, but more work and cost, would be to add a covering of drywall over the whole ceiling.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Sept 25, 2024
@Anonymous, J

Continuing

Be sure there are no ongoing leaks from plumbing or from the roof above.

Let me know if you find water leaks as there may then be a mold question to investigate too.

J · Sept 25, 2024
@InspectApedia Publisher, There are no pipes on our roof it was all from having damage to the roof and they hid it with 2 layers of shingles. The paint peels off in a sheet and there is some dust coming with it. Looks to be glue?

Anonymous · Sept 25, 2024
@InspectApedia Publisher, There is some mold from a prior leak nothing we can do at this moment other than treat it. Definitely going to paint. The water did cause a few of the tiles to fall they aren’t really being held up by anything that we can see. Maybe at one point in time there was but not sure anymore. There was a fire in this house and it ran from the back of the house to where the bedroom is located so I’m assuming the tile may have been replaced at one point in time. This house was also a rental home before we bought it 10 years ago.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Sept 25, 2024
@Anonymous,

"Treating" mold is imo and experience (> 5 decades) ineffective, in part because "dead" mold spores can still be toxic and harmful and in part because not one treatment I've ever seen actually "treated" 100% of the mold.

The proper procedure is

1. remove moldy materials that can't be cleaned such as drywall or ceiling tiles or insulation

2. clean remaining surfaces

3 be sure any leaks are fixed

I'd be careful about spending on what amounts to a surface repair that leaves mold reservoirs in the building as you may find the cost more than doubles when later you have to do it all over again, tearing out materials to get rid of mold.

Anonymous · Sept 25, 2024
@InspectApedia Publisher, we were planning on going room to room removing ceilings and putting up new sheet rock. Going to take time and money but we will get to it.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Sept 25, 2024
@Anonymous,

Use good dust control and remember to clean up thoroughly. I like damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming.

M · July 3, 2024
Thank you for this very informative website. The location of these dwellings is in South Africa. The home was built long before 1980. The style of plumbing dates to the first plumbing in use in the 1920s. However, this plumbing was used for some time without regulation in place. Speculation about this being a replacement tile exists. The tile is a cement adhesive containing fibers shaped like tubulars, filaments whiskers, discolored glass-like tubes, silicates, and other materials. Some of the "man-made mineral fibers" (?) have no markings and no classification. No ISO code could be seen. They are unmarked. This may have been the first batch manufactured. One or two others had a triangle (warning sign, maybe an exclamation) and one or two may have a number (ISO code?) I couldn't read it. Possibly purchased as money was available and at different times since markings are present and different Most of the content appears to have been mixed like asbestos waste from a local factory that has since closed in the 1980s. There are no safety data sheets. This is not a problem. Any take on the products disturbed during electrical rewiring (to earth the house) by contractors in 2010? Electromagnetic radiation factors. The other tiles became like powder. The man-made fibers were hard and did not break. I'm presuming the cement is the old asbestos, lead, and radiation-containing type of cement. No warning was given, no safety data sheets, and no testing was done. I did some private research and testing for bio persistence, health and safety monitoring, and compliance such as SDA settle plates because of dampness and mold, Air quality for VOC, and a few others. Testing will be done. Just wondering if it can be identified from the image. The files are water-damaged and have some hairline cracks. Any available information would help especially for the HAZARD registry for health and safety practices, labor, research, treatment, and other addresses and redress.

InspectApedia DF (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

Please try again to post a photo or two by using the Add Image button. Only one photo per comment is allowed but you can post as many comments as you wish.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

While you probably understand from this article series one cannot positively identify the presence or absence of asbestos in the materials you describe by photos alone, I still would very much appreciate seeing sharp images of both sides of any of these tiles that you can photograph, any markings you find, and a photo of the edge.

From your description it certainly would be correct to treat the material as presumed to contain asbestos.

Normally, hard, cementious materials such as fiber cement siding are not friable and are not easily made into significant levels of dust if there's no demolition going on.

But where we are talking about indoor use ceiling tiles, I would expect those to be a much softer product.

The first priority is to avoid making matters worse by messy demolition, and to avoid creating high levels of potentially dangerous indoor dust by ordinary vacuuming or sweeping.

If you have a HEPA type vacuum cleaner available, that plus damp wiping would be the best way to clean up any debris or dust.

Thank you for your generous words about our website. We work hard on this material for years to make it useful and trusted so we are very grateful when readers find it so.

Daniel & Amy

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

Continuing

If you have a specific questions about the condition of these ceilings and what needs to be done to them it'll be helpful to hear those and to see perhaps some photos showing the conditions that you face.

If you're asking for help finding documents that give more details about clean up or containment procedures for asbestos containing ceiling materials let me know and I'll point you to that page.

DF

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

And see

CEILING TILE REMOVAL PROCEDURES

inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos-Ceiling-Tile-Removal-Procedure.php

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

For other readers: South Africa was one of the largest producers/exporters of asbestos, so it would be no surprise for older ceiling tiles in buildings in South Africa to contain asbestos in various forms across several generations of ceiling tile manufacture. Three asbestos forms were common: Crocidolite Asbestos (most-widely used), Chrysotile Asbestos and Amosite Asbestos.

A key researcher on this topic was a South African:

Wagner, J. Christopher, Christopher A. Sleggs, and Paul Marchand. "Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province." Occupational and Environmental Medicine 17, no. 4 (1960): 260-271.

Abstract: Primary malignant tumours of the pleura are uncommon. Thirty-three cases (22 males, 11 females, ages 31 to 68) of diffuse pleural mesothelioma are described; all but one have a probable exposure to crocidolite asbestos (Cape blue). In a majority this exposure was in the Asbestos Hills which lie to the west of Kimberley in the north west of Cape Province. The tumour is rarely seen elsewhere in South Africa.

This link provides a way to purchase a PDF of that article for those who need it: oem.bmj.com/content/17/4/260

Also see

Sluis-Cremer, G. K. "Asbestosis in South Africa--certain geographical and environmental considerations." Ann NY Acad Sci 132, no. 1 (1965): 215-234.
Here's a copy of that paper provided by J Wiley publisher

nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1965.tb41103.x

If you have trouble downloading that PDF we also have a local copy saved as Asbestos-in-South-Africa-Cramer.pdf

Readers should avoid confusing probable or possible asbestos-containing ceiling tiles with other materials such as fiberglass ceiling tiles - we show photos of both above on this page.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · July 3, 2024
@M,

about your other question:

"Any take on the products disturbed during electrical rewiring (to earth the house) by contractors in 2010? Electromagnetic radiation factors. "

Without an expert onsite inspection and details of just what electrical work was done, where, when, how, any opinion about the effect of electrical work on disturbing South African asbestos-suspect ceiling tiles is so speculative as to be avoided. So I won't speculate.

About electromagnetic radiation related to building electrical wiring, there is no interaction and no effect of any significance: that is there would not be an electromagnetic field hazard from normal building wiring and no expected effect on asbestos release or distribution from an electrical field.

For a better understanding of this question please take a look at

EMF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS & HUMAN EXPOSURE inspectapedia.com/emf/EMF_Electromagnetic_Field_Hazards.php

and of course don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions as needed.

We look forward to seeing your photos and to reviewing more details about the buildings with which you're concerned.

Julia Beran · Mar 19, 2024
The house was built in 1967 in Louisville Kentucky and the acoustic drop ceiling in the basement added after that (date unknown). It is White with holes, suspended on a metal rack. Reverse side is yellow with OCF manufacturer stamp. Do you think it is made of asbestos? I am sending it off to a lab and will share results.

InspectApedia Publisher (mod) · Mar 19, 2024
@Julia Beran,

I addition to looking at an edge of the ceiling tiles to see if it's gray/white (maybe asbestos-containing) vs yellow brown tan (probably plant fiber),

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

inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Ceiling_Tiles.php#asbmaybe

to make an educated guess.

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Citations & References

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

3/07: special thanks to Gary Randolph, Ounce of Prevention Home Inspection, LLC Buffalo, NY, for attentive reading and editing suggestions. Mr. Randolph can be reached in Buffalo, NY, at (716) 636-3865 or email: gary@ouncehome.com
EPA ASBESTOS MATERIALS BAN: CLARIFICATION 1999
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
Thermafiber, Inc. (now a division of Owens Corning®) at Thermafiber, Inc., 3711 Mill Street, Wabash, IN 46992, Tel: 888-834-2371 (U.S. & Canada) - 260-563-2111 Website: www.thermafiber.com or Thermafiber technical services at 888-834-2371 (U.S. & Canada) ; Phone: 260-569-0801, Fax: 260-563-8979 or Email: technicalservice@owenscorning.com
[1] Celotex 1973 Celotex Acoustical Systems catalog, January 1973

Celotex ceiling products division was purchased by Ceiling Products & Gypsum Wallboard (BPB) of the U.K. beginning in 1999
[2] Celotex Home Building Materials, 1947 catalog, lists: Cane fiber products: Celotex sheathing, Celotex insulating lath (board), Celotex interior finish, Celo-Siding, Celo-Rok Gypsum products [may contain asbestos]: Celo-Rok anchor lath, Celo-Rock wallboards, Celo-Rok plasters, and Other Products: Celotex rock wool, Celotex roofing, Celotex hard boards, Celotex Cemesta, Celotex Corporation, Chicago IL
[3] Celotex Insulating Cane Board, product catalog
[4] Celotex Building Insulating Materials, 1948 Catalog, listing: Cemesto insulation, Cemesto roof decks, Cemesto exterior wall coverings, Cemesto interior wall coverings [we believe the Cemesto lines refer to cement-asbestos products - ed. ]
[5] Celotex Sound Conditioning, 1948 Catalog, including perforated asbestos board sheets
[6] Certainteed Ceilings, Adagio fiberglass/mineral fiber composite acoustical ceiling product MSDS, web search 11/22/2011, original source: certainteed.com/resources/Adagio_MSDS_2010.pdf
[7] "Board of Education for the School District of the City of Detroit v. Celotex, et al., Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, No. 84-429634-ND"
[8] Armstrong Corporation, web search 6/22/12, original source: http://www.armstrong.rs/commclgeu/eu1/uk/rs/FAQ_other.html, [Copy on file as Armstrong_Ceil_Asbestos.pdf]
[9] Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC, "Carpenters and Mesothelioma", Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC, 135 Delaware Ave, 5th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202-2415 (716) 849-0701. Web search 6/22/12, original source: http://www.mesotheliomacarpenter.com/carpenters-asbestos-exposure/ceiling-tile/ [Copy on file as LiIpsitz_Asbestos.pdf]
[11] Celotex [UK] History, Celotex Insulation Specialists, web search 6/30/12, original source: http://www.celotex.co.uk/celotex-history [Copy on file as Celotex_History_UK.pdf ]
[14] Armstrong Corporation, "Corporate History: a Historical Summary", web search 6/30/12, original source: https://www.armstrongflooring.com/corporate/corporate-history.html
[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
[17] National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1989). In NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (P. M. Eller, Ed.), Method 7400. NIOSH, Washington, DC.
[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
[19] U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USDOL) (1994). In Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: Final Rule, FR Vol. 59, No. 153:40964–41162. Materials, Report 2OT-2003. USEPA, Washington, DC.
[20] U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(USDOL) (1986). In Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite: Final Rule, FR Vol. 51, No. 119:22631–22644.
[21] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1990). In Environmental Asbestos Assessment Manual, Superfund Method for the Determination of Asbestos in Ambient Air, Part 2, Technical Background Document, Report EPA/540/2-90/005 b. USEPA, Washington, DC
[22] Armstrong Ceiling - Frequently Asked Questions, Armstrong Corporation, web search 6/30/12, original source: https://www.armstrongflooring.com/resclgam/na/ceilings/en/us/article17697.html
[23] BPB America Inc., 5301 West Cypress St., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607, Tel: 866-427-2872 E-mail: crc@bpb-na.com Web: www.bpb-na.com. Acoustic ceiling tile & accessories.
[24] Affa Tile Company No. 1116/8, Poonamalee High Road, Opposite Hotel Shan Royal, Koyambedu Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600 107, India, E-Mail: affatiles@gmail.com website: http://www.affatiles.com Tel:044-24757498, 044 - 24757497
[25] Made-in-China.com, online sevice to connect buyers with product suppliers in China, web search 6/30/12
[26] "Directive 2003/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 March 2003 amending Council Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work". Publications Office of the European Union. 27 March 2003 Web search 6/30/12, original source: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32003L0018:EN:NOT
[27] H. M. Murray, testimony before the Departmental Committee on Compensation for Industrial Diseases "Minutes of Evidence, Appendices and Index", 1907. p. 127
[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"
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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Asbestos Ceiling Tile Identification

5 easy steps to tell if ceiling tiles contain asbestos