Asbestos Pipe Wrap

Asbestos was widely used in many building and construction materials, including pipe insulation, until the late 1970s. People who repair, renovate, demolish or maintain older buildings are most at risk of exposure to asbestos wrap on pipes. So are people in the asbestos removal industry.

People who live in older homes may be at risk for household exposure. In addition to asbestos pipe wrap, older construction could also contain the following asbestos products:

• Attic insulation
• Ceiling texture
• Ceiling tiles
• Decorative plaster
• Duct insulation
• Floor tile adhesive
• Furnace insulation
• Vinyl floor tiles, sheeting and wall coverings
• Wall insulation

Any product containing asbestos could pose a health risk because asbestos is a known human carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) all classified asbestos as a carcinogen.

If asbestos products are in good condition and left undisturbed, there is no immediate risk. Asbestos-covered pipes become dangerous when the covering is disturbed, cracked, damaged or worn. In these damaged states, coverings can release tiny asbestos fibers into the air. The loose fibers can get trapped in the body if people breathe them in and can cause serious health problems, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestos materials were manufactured and used from the 1940s to 1979, with usage peaking during the 60s and 70s. Asbestos fibers are naturally resistant to heat and fire, and using asbestos on pipes for insulation was common in residential and commercial applications during this time.

Homes, apartment buildings, office buildings and even schools built prior to 1980 may still contain these potential hazards:

• Asbestos-wrapped boilers
• Asbestos-wrapped hot water pipes
• Asbestos-wrapped pipes in basements
• Asbestos-wrapped steam pipes

Asbestos pipe wrap was used in industrial settings in many of the same ways as in residential buildings. Asbestos pipe wrap was also commonly used in shipboard plumbing and shipbuilding, as well as to insulate industrial pipelines.

Why do pipes need to be wrapped?

A pipe might need to be wrapped with asbestos (or may have been previously wrapped with asbestos) for three primary reasons:

• Protection from freezing: Outdoor and underground pipes may need protection in cold weather to prevent them from freezing. Cryogenic pipe insulation may be used in some commercial applications, such as making liquified natural gas (LNG). This type of insulation is capable of withstanding extreme sub-zero temperatures.
• Safety and fire protection applications: Wrapping gas lines or pipes that carry other flammable or hot materials helps prevent them from starting a fire or burning someone.
• Thermal insulation: Wrapping pipes can prevent them from losing heat, which can increase efficiency and lower emissions. Insulation can also protect pipes from damage from nearby heat sources. Thermal pipe insulation was commonly used for efficiency and safety in shipbuilding, factories, power plants and refineries.

Asbestos pipe wraps have several forms. Asbestos pipe wraps may look like:

• Blanket wraps: This type of asbestos pipe wrap looks like a flexible, cotton blanket. Asbestos cloth insulation often crumbles over time and releases asbestos fibers. You may find blanket wraps with asbestos around pipes in plumbing and HVAC systems.
• Paper wraps: Asbestos paper wraps resemble white-gray colored corrugated cardboard with multiple layers. It was used around pipes and piping parts, such as elbows and valves.
• Spray coatings: Spray-on asbestos is sometimes used around pipes in hard-to-reach areas. It looks like a thick, gray coating.

All types of asbestos pipe coverings are considered friable and hazardous. Friable means that the material could be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder with the human hand.

Can you remove asbestos-insulated pipes yourself?

You shouldn’t remove asbestos-insulated pipes yourself. Hire a trained professional if you have asbestos pipe insulation and it’s damaged or if you plan to renovate. If insulation isn’t removed properly, it can release asbestos fibers into the air.

Safe removal requires specific procedures to mitigate the spread of fibers. It also requires equipment that most homeowners likely do not have, such as HEPA vacuums and approved respirators.

Handling asbestos on your own or handling it incorrectly could be illegal. Federal laws don’t prohibit homeowners from removing asbestos themselves, but local and state regulations may have restrictions.

Several materials have replaced asbestos pipe insulation. Materials commonly used to wrap pipes today include:

• Cellulose foam
• Fiberglass
• Foil
• Neoprene foam
• Mineral wool
• Polyethylene foam

You may be eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit if you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. You may also be eligible if your loved one died from an asbestos-related disease.

Those harmed by asbestos exposure may be able to seek compensation through a couple of options:

• Bankruptcy trust claims: Over 100 companies that manufactured asbestos products have gone bankrupt because of asbestos litigation. These companies have established asbestos bankruptcy trust funds to pay ongoing claims. These trusts pay claimants on a sliding scale based on the severity of their injury. Some people may be eligible for claims against multiple trusts.
• Individual asbestos lawsuits: Some claimants have grounds for filing an asbestos lawsuit directly against an existing company. These cases can be highly complex.

Some asbestos lawsuits have been combined into multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDLs are a type of mass tort in which cases are temporarily consolidated for pretrial proceedings. They’re used when many plaintiffs claim similar harm by the same defendant.

Notably, Motley Rice acted as co-counsel for all cases in Multidistrict Litigation 875, In re Asbestos Product Liability Litigation, otherwise known as MARDOC. This MDL is the longest-running and largest in history. It also addressed thousands of claims made by merchant marines exposed to asbestos on various watercraft.

For decades, Motley Rice has been committed to helping individuals, families and communities seek justice for harm caused by asbestos exposure. Our attorneys have helped clients stand up to companies that failed to protect workers and consumers from the dangers of asbestos, and we continue to litigate these cases nationwide.

Our experience includes lawsuits involving:

• Asbestos in Canada
• Johns-Manville
• Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)
• Secondhand asbestos exposure
• Shipyard asbestos exposure

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition after being exposed to asbestos pipe wraps or another asbestos product, a Motley Rice attorney can discuss your legal options. Contact us today by filling out our online form or calling 1.800.768.4026.

Read more on our asbestos litigation experience.