Asbestos Electrical Cloth & Electrical Panel Partition

Electrical products made of asbestos were widely used throughout the mid-1900s. Two of the most commonly used products include:

• Electrical cloth
• Electrical panel partitions

While the use of asbestos in electrical cloth and electrical panel partitions was mostly phased out during the 1980s, products that contain the substance may still be present in a number of older homes and commercial buildings.

Electrical Cloth

Electrical cloth that contained asbestos was frequently used to insulate electrical wiring. The cloth helped contain and quell electrical fires that might otherwise have expanded to surrounding areas.

Asbestos was a popular material for the cloth because it is very durable and resistant to high temperatures, yet flexible and tensile. Asbestos was also a very popular material for electrical cloth because of its cost-effective nature.

Electrical Panel Partitions

Electrical panel partitions are used to separate different electrical components of a wiring system in order to reduce the risk of damage and overheating associated with the existence of a high volume of electricity in a small location. Because of its excellent insulating properties, sturdiness and flexibility, asbestos was commonly used as a component of electrical panel partitions.

Electrical panel partitions were in high demand during World War II and the years that followed, leading to the installation of many asbestos-containing electrical panel partitions in homes, schools, offices and other buildings or ships throughout the United States.

Electrical Cloth, Electrical Panel Partition and Mesothelioma

Harmful asbestos fibers may be released from electrical cloth or electrical panel partitions into the air, and individuals in the immediate area may inadvertently ingest or inhale the fibers.

These asbestos fibers, which cannot be dislodged, often become caught in the thin lining of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs. The presence of the fibers in these tissues can lead to the development the rare cancer known as mesothelioma.

Individuals at Risk of Asbestos Exposure from Electrical Cloth or Electrical Panel Partitions

Certain work-related activities can place individuals in certain occupations at an exceptionally high risk of dangerous asbestos exposure from electrical cloth or electrical panel partitions. Workers at high risk of exposure include:

• Electricians
• Manufacturers
• Construction or maintenance workers
• Demolition workers

In addition to the workers listed above, homeowners, office workers, students and other individuals have also been placed at risk of asbestos exposure due to electrical cloth or electrical panel partitions.