Johns Manville stopped using asbestos in most of its insulation products in the mid-1970s, but the phase-out was gradual and tied to regulation and litigation. Johns Manville was historically the largest manufacturer of asbestos-containing products in the United States, producing asbestos pipe insulation, block insulation, and cement boards from the early 1900s onward. As health evidence linking asbestos to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma became undeniable, the company began reducing asbestos content in the late 1960s. The major turning point came after OSHA and EPA regulations in 1972 to 1973 that limited asbestos exposure. Johns Manville ceased production of most asbestos-containing insulation by 1974, and by 1975 to 1976 had largely transitioned its product lines to fiberglass and other non-asbestos materials. However, asbestos-containing products already installed remained in buildings for decades. Facing over 20,000 lawsuits, Johns Manville filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982, the first major company to do so due to asbestos liability, and created the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust in 1988 to compensate victims. That trust still operates today. Any Johns Manville insulation purchased today, including fiberglass batts, Climate Pro, Spider, and MinWool mineral wool, is completely asbestos-free and certified as such. If your home has insulation from before 1980 that looks like white corrugated pipe insulation, it may contain asbestos and should be tested.
1 votes
Marked as accepted