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White Shield Backer on older Congoleum Nairn floors contains asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com Congoleum Nairn White-Shield Backer Asbestos?

Older but not Current Congoleum White-Shield Backed flooring contained asbestos

Congoleum White Shield backed flooring history & use of asbestos.

This article series provides a guide to identifying traditional or early Congoleum rugs and other sheet flooring products, Congoleum-Nairn asphalt-asbestos, vinyl asbestos floor tiles, linoleum, and sheet flooring (resilient flooring).

Some of these Congoleum floor covering materials contain asbestos in asbestos fiber or asbestos powder-filler form.

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Asbestos in Older White-Backing Congoleum-Nairn Vinyl Floor Tiles & Congoleum Resilient Sheet Flooring

Congoleum no-wax sheet vinyl flooring - asbestos containing (C) InspectAPedia

The 1982 white-backed Congoleum flooring shown above was tested for asbestos - confirming asbestos in this product.

This floor is discussed in detail

at CONGOLEUM-NAIRN FLOOR TILES & LINOLEUM

[Click to enlarge any image]

White Shield Backing ® may identify asbestos-containing Congoleum flooring - or not

On 2021-04-23 by Lori

We ripped up some flooring and found on the back "White Shield Backing®". Any idea who make this and if it has asbestos?

This Q&A appeared originally at DOES THIS FLOORING CONTAIN ASBESTOS?

On 2021-04-23 by (mod) - White Shield Backing ® may identify asbestos-containing Congoleum flooring

White Shield Backing (R) in older but not modern Congoleum Flooring means it containd asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com

Above: "White Shield Backing" incuded in technical data describing a range of residential resilient sheet flooring in a modern (2015) Congoleum flooring catalog does not indicate the use of asbestos, but in older flooring products it does.

[Click to enlarge any image]

@Lori,

"White Shield Backing ® " appearing on the back of vinyl flooring may have been used by other manufacturers but it did appear on the back of some Congoleum flooring popular in the 1960s.

At CONGOLEUM-NAIRN FLOOR TILES & LINOLEUM

you'll see that some Congoleum flooring contained asbestos, often in the white backer.

At least some Congoleum catalogs included a "white shield backing" flooring option noting that

"The White Shield asbestos back assures outstanding performance on most on-grade and below-grade subfloors." - Congoleum flooring catalog 1965

However: that same "White Shield Backing" phrase is still used by some modern Congoleum flooring products made after 1986 and that do NOT use asbestos - describing it as

"Inner Liner: White Shield Filled Fibrous Composition" - Congoleum catalog 2015

The flooring cataog excerpt I show above is from a 2015 CONGOLEUM FLOORING PRODUCTS CATALOG [PDF] where you'll see "White Shield Filled Fibrous Composition" for a modern white or light gray backer on many resilient flooring products.

Watch out: Keep in mind that many other resilient flooring products including both sheet flooring and vinyl floor tiles, made by a range of manufactuers, all used a white or light gray backer, many of which contained asbestos. The possibility of asbestos in a white or light coloured floor backer is not confined to Congoleum.

Also, resilient flooring backer of other colors, such as black asphalt-impregnated felt, also may contain asbestos, again, depending on when the flooring was manufactured. Asbestos in asphalt-impregnated felt as a flooring backer was in widespread use in North America between about 1965 - 1980. - source: Guidelines for Enhanced Management of Asbestos in Water at Ordered Demolitions, Appendices US EPA [PDF] (2016)

You need to know more about your building's age and from that infer the possible age of your flooring.

Beyond that guess, my best advice, more complete and researched than I can create in an off-the-cuff reply to a brief note with just a bit of data, is in

DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos

Please take a look and then don’t hesitate to post follow-up remarks or questions and we’ll do our best to be helpful.

Separately

at IDENTIFY SHEET FLOORING TYPE, HOW TO

we also describe "white core" vinyl sheet flooring that might contain asbestos. Both terms are probably used synonymously in the industry.

On 2021-04-24 by (mod) - does this Congoleum no-wax white-backed flooring contain asbestos?

@Paula,

Please see WHITE SHIELD® BACKING ASBESTOS in FLOORING https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Congoleum_Vinyl_Asbestos_Floors.php#WhiteShield [just above on this page - Ed.]

then answer the questions at DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos

to see if your floor was manufactured in North America before 1986 or before other asbestos-use-cessation dates in other countries, depending on where your floor is located.

Don't hesitate to post follow-up questions or comments


On 2021-04-24 by Paula

I’m concerned- I have pics- this product was inside the kitchen cabinets of a home we are renovating. Not sure if there’s aspestos or not - [photo above]

On 2018-11-05 by (mod) - White Shield Backing on flooring contains asbestos - or not - depending on age

Trey

at WHITE SHIELD® BACKING ASBESTOS in FLOORING

and

at 1970's CONGOLEUM FLOORING we have written-up what we know so far about Congoleum Pacemaker flooring and asbestos.

Perhaps there you can use the Add Image button to add some images of the pattern as well as stampings on the back surface of your floor and that will help others comment.

On 2018-11-05 by Trey

Hi, I tore up some flooring in an in-law suite in our home. The flooring was laminate glued to vinyl sheet. The Vinyl sheets look to be Congoleum Pacemaker II stamped on them with White Shield Backing.

I have already done the demolition for the most part, but wanted to know if I should be concerned for Asbestos. The house was built in 1982 and the in-law suite was an addon after the fact. The only thing that I can find on the Pacemaker II is that its trademark logo was applied for in 1982. Any help would be great!

Question: asbestos in 1970's sheet vinyl, "white shield backing" & congoleum seam sealer SU92

(Mar 31, 2016) Lynne said:

We have sheet vinyl laid in the early 70's.

Looking at the white backing, it has markings of "white shield backing" and "seams must be sealed with congoleum seam sealer SU92".
It's in need of replacing as joins are lifting up.

We were wondering if we can do this ourselves as it is adhered completely to the concrete floor not just the perimeter.
Tried to enclose a few photos for identification regarding possible asbestos, to no avail :( any tips here would be gladly welcomed.

Reply:

Lynne

You can send us photos for comment using the page bottom CONTACT link.

Most likely you'll want to have a sample of the material tested, possibly also testing the adhesive as some of those also contained asbestos in the 1970's.

Search InspectApedia for ASBESTOS TEST LABS to see how to find a certified lab if you decide to test.

We also describe proper flooring removal procedures at ASBESTOS FLOOR REMOVAL found by searching this site.

 

 


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Continue reading  at 1960's CONGOLEUM FLOORING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see CONGOLEUM-NAIRN FLOOR TILES & LINOLEUM FAQs - questions & answers about identifying Congoleum flooring and which products contained asbestos, posted originally on this page.

Or see this

Article Series on Congoleum Flooring

Suggested citation for this web page

WHITE SHIELD BACKING ASBESTOS in FLOORING 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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