Banned Asbestos Products

Due to the severe health hazards associated with asbestos, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued bans on certain asbestos products. Asbestos is no longer used as a reinforcing fiber in construction materials, appliances and other household materials.

Asbestos Legislation

Banned products fall under two federal laws, which include:

• Clean Air Act, including the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
• Toxic Substances Control Act

Some consumer products have also been banned by the Consumer Safety Product Commission. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also set limits stating that during an eight-hour time period or a 40-hour work week, no more than 100,000 airborne fibers may be present in a workplace in order to minimize occupational asbestos exposure.

Banned Products

The EPA banned most asbestos-containing products in 1989 under the "Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule," but the ruling was appealed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans soon after the approval. Due to the court's ruling, certain asbestos materials and asbestos products remain unbanned in the United States.

Under the Clean Air Act, the following asbestos-containing products have been banned:

• Wet-applied pipe insulation
• Pre-formed pipe insulation (such as Ehret block)
• Pre-formed insulation for boilers, hot water tanks
• Spray-applied insulation used for fireproofing, insulation or decoration
• Thermal insulation

According to the Toxic Substances Control Act, the following asbestos products are currently banned:

• Flooring felt
• Rollboard
• Corrugated paper
• Commercial paper
• Specialty paper

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also issued bans for textured paint and wall patching compounds. The regulations also apply to new uses of asbestos, or the use of asbestos in products that did not typically contain asbestos in the past.

The spraying of materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos is also prohibited from being applied to buildings, structures, conduits or pipes unless it is bound properly in a binder material.

Products Not Subject to a Ban

The following products are not subject to the 1989 Toxic Substances and Control Act and are not considered to be banned in the U.S.:

• Corrugated cement sheeting
• Cement sheets
• Asbestos clothing
• Pipeline wrap
• Roofing felt
• Vinyl floor tile
• Cement shingles
• Millboard
• Cement pipes
• Disc brake pads
• Roof coatings
• Automatic transmission components
• Clutch facings
• Non-roofing coatings
• Brake blocks
• Gaskets

Although these materials are not currently subject to a federal ban, if the materials become friable, or easily crumbled by hand, they may pose a health hazard. If asbestos-containing materials become frayed, broken or torn, contact a licensed asbestos contractor for the safe removal or encapsulation of these products.