Armstrong World Industries

Armstrong’s Connection to Asbestos

Armstrong made adhesives, backing and floor tiles with asbestos. It also added asbestos to gaskets, corkboard and fiberboard. This put workers at risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos was a cheap and effective option for the company’s insulation needs. Over the course of 40 years, Armstrong’s asbestos products were used in homes, businesses and factories.

Armstrong’s Asbestos Products

• Accobest gasketing material
• Accopac asbestos paper
• Acoustic cement
• Armaspray asbestos insulation
• Asphalt tile
• Cork pipe covering
• Felt
• Hydrocord asbestos backing
• S-89 and S-90 adhesives
• Vinyl tile

Flooring and roofing installers were exposed to asbestos in Armstrong’s asbestos tiles, adhesives, mastics, backing, felt and paper. Armstrong also made asbestos spray insulation, which is one of the most dangerous forms of exposure. Armaspray contained at least 85% asbestos fibers. 

Though it may be an effective insulator, asbestos is a toxic mineral. Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma. When inhaled, asbestos fibers cause inflammation. This may lead to cancer and other diseases.

Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Armstrong?

Workers at Armstrong’s factories and those installing their asbestos products faced exposure risks. The risk for people who worked with asbestos directly is higher than for consumers. 

Spending more time around asbestos increases the likelihood of getting sick. However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.

Occupations Exposed to Armstrong Asbestos Products

• Construction worker
• Demolition worker
• Factory worker
• Firefighter
• Insulator
• Mine worker
• Navy veteran

Anyone who worked with Armstrong’s asbestos products may have accidentally brought the fibers home on clothing. This can lead to secondary asbestos exposure in family members. Secondary exposure is also known to cause asbestos-related diseases. 

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving Armstrong

Armstrong World Industries faced thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits from the 1970s until it went bankrupt in 2000. In the 3 years before filing for bankruptcy, Armstrong paid more than $500 million in asbestos settlements. This included defense costs. 

The courts have consistently ruled Armstrong knew the dangers of asbestos. It failed to inform employees and consumers, thereby endangering them. Among the thousands of asbestos cases the courts have processed since the ‘70s, a few stand out as landmarks that defined later cases.

Landmark Armstrong Asbestos Litigation

• Clarence Borel sued Armstrong and 10 other asbestos product manufacturers in a historic 1970 lawsuit. Courts sided with Borel who had developed mesothelioma and asbestosis. Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. set a key precedent that asbestos manufacturers are responsible for disclosing any risks their products pose.
• Raymond Miller brought his asbestosis case against Armstrong World Industries in 1991. Miller worked as an insulator from 1946 to 1951. Because the statute of limitations had passed Armstrong argued he couldn’t sue. The courts initially sided with Armstrong, but the ruling was soon overturned in favor of Miller.

Armstrong had about 173,000 asbestos lawsuits pending when it filed for bankruptcy. These include personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death claims. These product liability suits often claim negligent exposure and a failure to warn about the risks of asbestos.

Armstrong Bankruptcy and Trust Fund

Armstrong declared bankruptcy in 2000. Asbestos litigation had drained its financial resources. After it reorganized 6 years later, it funded the Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust with more than $2 billion. Since it opened in 2007, the trust has received nearly 800,000 claims and paid more than $3 billion in damages.

This trust initially established a payout of $110,000 for each mesothelioma claim. As of March 2025, mesothelioma claimants will get $11,880 based on a percentage of 10.8%. Though this means less payout per person, it ensures there will be enough money to pay all asbestos trust fund claims. 

Claimants need to show they were exposed to specific asbestos products. These include both Armstrong’s asbestos products and Nicolet’s, which used to be Keasbey & Mattison. The trust also has an approved job site list. You may be eligible to file an asbestos trust fund claim if you worked at one of these job sites.  

Legal Help for People Exposed to Armstrong’s Asbestos Products

Seeking legal help with filing your Armstrong asbestos trust fund claim can ensure it’s filed properly and on time. There is a statute of limitations on filing, which is a rule that says you only have a certain amount of time to file your trust fund claim. A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer will have experience with the process. 

Our Patient Advocates can answer your questions about asbestos trust funds. They can also help you find the right lawyer for you and your family. They’ll handle your Armstrong trust claim so you can focus on your mesothelioma treatment and spending time with your family.

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