Asbestos content of U.S. Gypsum building sheathing products.

Asbestos hazards for fiberboard panels, sheathing, insulating board & ceiling coverings or tiles. Does or did some gypsum-based or fiberboard-based and insulating board products contain asbestos?

This article also addresses worries about asbestos in fiberboard insulating sheathing.

This article series describes and provides photographs that aid in identifying various insulating board & fiberboard sheathing materials used on building walls and roofs. Here we provide fiberboard product names and we describe the components, properties, and applications of various fiberboard, hardboard, and insulating board or sound deadening board products.

Asbestos in USG US Gypsum Sheathing Board

Yes, some, in fact many USG insulating sheathing board products contained asbestos.

United States Gypsum, US Gypsum, now USG, or U.S. Gypsum, or USG - asbestos cement products produced between 1920 - 1976, USG, founded in 1901, produced a wide range of building products that contained asbestos between 1920 and 1978.

Photo: USG Insulating Sheathing IB R 132 - a wood or cellulose or fiberboard insulating sheathing product, courtesy of InspectApedia reader Michael (cited below).

[Click to enlarge any image]

These included (this is not the complete list)

• Asbestos cement panels, sheets, boards, transite panels
• USG gypsum board products, including USG Textolite spackling putty,
  
  ASBESTOS in DRYWALL
  
• U.S. Gypsum ( fire-resistant drywall, joint compound, possibly ceiling tiles) -
  
  see ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS
• USG Pipe coverings used on heating and water pipes and in industrial applications, including USG Pyrobestos, USG Rigid Block, USG Stack liners, USG Corrugated Wool Felt Air Conditioner Covering
• USG QT Spray textured coating
• USG Sabinite plaster
• US Gypsum or USG Siding, including Glatex asbestos-cement siding and USG shingles used as siding as well as USG roof shingles
• USG WEATHERWOOD STRUCTURAL INSULATING SHEATHING [PDF] product description, details, features, installation instructions from US Gypsum 1952 Technical specifications.
  
  See notes below about results of asbestos test of USG Weatherwood Sheathing.
• USG EXTERIOR SHEATHING [PDF] from US Gypsum 1952 Technical specifications, describes this
  
  fireproof gypsum sheathing material made in 2' x 8' x 1/2" panels with a "new type water-resistant "asphalted" gypsum core enclosed in a specially treated, water-repellent, heavy black paper.
  
  The long edges are V-tongued and grooved. The gypsum core is incombustible and will not communicate high temperatures until completely calcined - a slow process
• USG SHEETROCK PYROFILL ROOF DECKS [PDF] - US Gypsum Insulating Pyrofill & USG Asbestos Board Pyrofill & USG Acoustical Pyrofill product descriptions, specifications, installation details, from USG 1952 Technical Specifications describe the the following product descriptions excerpted from a more-complete list found in the document:
  
  SHEETROCK PYROILL USG Insulation PYROFILL an Asbestos Board Pyrofill roof decks are reinforced gypsum concrete (Pyrofill) slabs poured in place over permanent formboards of SHEETROCK, USG Insulation, or asbestos cement boards.
  
  SHEETROCK Formboard is a rigid type gypsum board, 1/2" thick by 32" wide (or 48" wide), and made to specified lengths to fit purlin spacings. Treated to resist mildew effectively. Federal Specifications SS-W-51a. Type A and ASTM C36-50.
  
  USG Insulation Formboard is a rigid type wood fiber insulation board, 1" thick, 32" wide (or 48" wide), and cut to specified lengths to fit purlin spacings. Treated to resist mildew effectively. Federal Specification LLL-F-321b.
  
  ASBESTOS-CEMENT Formboard is a rigid industrial type asbestos cement board, 1/4" thick, cut to 32" wide by 48" long. Note: Abestos cement formboard is not manufactured or sold by USG.
  
  PYROFILL is a mill mixed gypsum concrete consisting of calcined gypsum and not more than 12 1/2% by weight of wood chips, shavings or fibers. It requires the addition of water only on the job. Complies with ASA-A59.1-1945.
  

See details including a complete product listing found

at US GYPSUM ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

Asbestos Not Found in USG Weatherwood® Sheathing

On 2022-01-09 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Asbestos test: not found in USG Weatherwood® sheathing

@Don,

Good news indeed and thank you for the follow up. Your added information will help other readers.

On 2022-01-09 by Don

Good morning,
I wanted to let you know the results came back from test of Weatherwood® fiber board for asbestos—-great news- nothing detected. The breakdown was as follows:

1. 90% Cellulose 2. 10% Non- Fibrous Material

On 2021-12-31 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Don,

Good. We look forward to reading the test result - that will help other readers.

On 2021-12-31 by Don

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Thank you, very much appreciated, i sent sample to lab today, should here back tuesday, will post results

On 2021-12-31 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - does Weatherboard or Weatherwood sheathing contain asbestos?

@Don,

Asbestos is not an "official" ingredient in fiberboard insulating sheathing. However there are possibilities of cross-contamination of such products by asbestos as asbestos was processed at some of the same fabrication facilities that also made wood or vegetable fiber board products.

You called your product "Weatherboard" but in your photo I see Yellow Text that spells WEATHERwood (at least we can see most of the letters suggesting that name).

See related details at SHEATHING, FIBERBOARD ASBESTOS CONTENT

Weatherwood® is a USG Product.

Weatherboard™ is a CertainTeed product. Certainteed Weatherboard is made of a mixture of cement and wood fibers.

See more about CertainTeed products

at CERTAINTEED FIBER CEMENT SIDING IDENTIFICATION

and at CERTAINTEED WEATHER BOARD FC SIDING MARKINGS

On 2021-12-31 by Don

Working on remodel and ran into a black fiber board called Weatherboard, dug up info but doesn't really give details. Do you know or ever heard this may contain asbestos? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Photo above]

...

Continue reading at US GYPSUM ASBESTOS PRODUCTS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS - home
• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST and
• ASBESTOS TESTING SAMPLE COLLECTION
• DRYWALL, FIBERBOARD, PLASTER INTERIORS
• FIBERBOARD SHEATHING
• SHEATHING, FIBERBOARD ASBESTOS CONTENT
• HARDBOARD MASONITE™ & OTHER BRANDS
• SHEATHING, EXTERIOR PRODUCT INDEX

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USG US GYPSUM INSULATING SHEATHING ASBESTOS 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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Citations & References

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

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