Stone Corrugated Sheets & Stone Sheathing
Stone corrugated sheets and stone sheathing are materials commonly used in the construction of industrial buildings, residential homes and other structures. Stone corrugated sheets, also called corrugated asbestos-cement sheathing or corrugated asbestos sheets, were commonly manufactured with asbestos fibers in the United States from the 1920s to the 1980s. The products were known to contain 20 to 45 percent asbestos.
Manufacturing and Uses of Asbestos Stone Corrugated Sheets & Stone Sheathing
Asbestos-containing stone corrugated sheets were used in place of corrugated iron-on roofs or as siding for walls to provide structural support and protection from fire. Corrugated asbestos-cement sheets were commonly manufactured using cement, water and asbestos fibers of the chrysolite type.
The mixture of cement, water and asbestos was layered and then pressed between metallic plates with heavy pressure to squeeze out excess water and create a corrugated pattern, which appears as a series of parallel ridges that add strength to the cement sheets. By mixing asbestos with cement, the sheets could protect structures from moisture, as well as provide insulation from heat and fire.
Sheathing refers to the covering that is applied to the studs and framework of a structure, beneath the siding, clapboard or other exterior surfaces. Before asbestos sheathing was utilized in construction, fires could easily spread through the walls and joints in the siding, engulfing a structure in flames within a short period of time.
Asbestos corrugated sheets and sheathing was used in the following types of structures:
- Residential homes
- Industrial buildings
- Railroad buildings
- Temporary structures
- Emergency structures
Dangers of Asbestos Stone Corrugated Sheets & Stone Sheathing
Asbestos-containing corrugated sheets used as siding and roofing materials may pose a health hazard if the microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air during installation or renovation. If asbestos corrugated sheets or sheathing is power washed, sanded, sawed, drilled, removed or otherwise disturbed, the fibers can become airborne and pose a serious health risk if inhaled or ingested.
People at risk for exposure to asbestos in corrugated asbestos-cement sheets or sheathing materials may include:
- Construction workers
- Remodelers or renovators
- Demolition crews
- Factory workers who manufactured the products (such as those who were employed at Asbestos Shingle, Slate, and Sheathing company or Turner's Asbestos Cement Company)
If asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, the tiny fibers can become lodged in lung tissue or digestive tissue, where they can then cause damage, inflammation and possibly cancer many years later. Asbestos exposure has been linked to serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other conditions.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
