Trafford Tile Asbestos Cement Sheets

Product Description

Trafford Tile asbestos cement sheets were a corrugated or profiled building material used extensively in industrial and commercial construction throughout much of the twentieth century. The product took its name from its distinctive tile-like corrugated profile, which was designed to interlock and provide weatherproof cladding and roofing for factories, warehouses, agricultural buildings, and other large-span structures. The corrugated form gave the sheets structural rigidity without requiring heavy framing, making them an economical choice for industrial construction projects where large roof and wall areas needed to be covered quickly and cost-effectively.

Asbestos cement sheeting of this type was considered a premium industrial building material for decades. It was promoted as fire-resistant, durable, and resistant to chemical corrosion — properties that made it particularly attractive for manufacturing plants, chemical processing facilities, power generation stations, and heavy industrial complexes. The sheets were typically fixed to purlins and structural framing using hooked bolts or drive screws, and they were often cut, drilled, and trimmed on-site to fit around structural members, penetrations, and roofline details.

ASARCO, historically known as the American Smelting and Refining Company, operated across a range of industrial materials sectors during the twentieth century. Litigation records document that ASARCO was associated with the manufacture and distribution of asbestos-containing products including materials of the Trafford Tile type. The company’s broad industrial operations and materials supply activities placed its products in a wide variety of worksites across the United States and beyond.

Asbestos Content

Asbestos cement sheets of the Trafford Tile pattern relied on asbestos fibers as a critical functional component of their composition. In asbestos cement products of this class, chrysotile (white asbestos) was the most commonly used fiber type, though amosite and other amphibole varieties were also incorporated into certain product lines and manufacturing runs depending on the intended application and the era of production.

The manufacturing process for asbestos cement sheeting involved mixing asbestos fibers with Portland cement and water to form a slurry, which was then pressed or rolled into sheet form and cured. The asbestos fibers served as reinforcement within the cement matrix, preventing cracking and providing tensile strength that cement alone could not achieve. In finished, undisturbed sheet material, the asbestos fibers were generally bound within the hardened cement and considered relatively stable. However, plaintiffs alleged that during installation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition activities, the sheets released respirable asbestos fibers into the breathing zones of workers at concentrations capable of causing serious disease.

Litigation records document that asbestos cement products in this category could contain asbestos by weight in proportions that varied by manufacturer and product specification, with fiber content in some formulations representing a substantial fraction of total material composition.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers represent the primary exposed population documented in connection with Trafford Tile asbestos cement sheets and similar corrugated asbestos cement roofing and cladding products. Exposure pathways were numerous and often occurred across the full lifecycle of the material, from initial installation through later maintenance and eventual demolition.

During installation, workers cut sheets to length and shape using hand saws, power saws, angle grinders, and drills. These cutting and drilling operations generated visible clouds of dust that litigation records document as containing respirable asbestos fibers. Workers operating cutting tools, as well as those working nearby in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, were exposed to this airborne material. Plaintiffs alleged that inadequate warnings and the absence of required protective equipment left workers unaware of the hazard and unprotected against inhalation of asbestos-laden dust.

Maintenance and repair work on existing asbestos cement roofing and cladding presented ongoing exposure risks over the operating life of industrial facilities. Workers performing routine repairs — replacing cracked or broken sheets, resealing fastener holes, cutting new penetrations for pipes or ventilation equipment — repeatedly disturbed the material in ways that released fibers. Because industrial facilities were often in continuous operation, such work was sometimes performed in occupied spaces alongside other workers, potentially extending the population of those exposed beyond the immediate maintenance crew.

Demolition and re-roofing activities generated some of the highest documented fiber releases. Aged asbestos cement sheeting could become friable over time as the cement matrix weathered and degraded, making the material more prone to releasing fibers when broken or disturbed. Litigation records document that workers involved in stripping asbestos cement roofing from industrial buildings were exposed to significant airborne fiber concentrations, particularly when mechanical removal methods were used or when sheets were broken rather than carefully extracted intact.

General industrial workers — including laborers, maintenance personnel, construction tradespeople, and facility workers — were present in environments where Trafford Tile and similar asbestos cement products were installed, repaired, or removed. Plaintiffs alleged that ASARCO, as a company involved in asbestos-containing materials, knew or should have known of the hazards associated with asbestos inhalation and failed to adequately warn workers or take steps to reduce exposures.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

ASARCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and subsequently established the ASARCO LLC Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust as part of its reorganization plan. This trust was created to resolve current and future asbestos personal injury claims arising from ASARCO’s historical operations and its involvement with asbestos-containing products.

Individuals who developed asbestos-related diseases — including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-attributable conditions — as a result of exposure to ASARCO products may be eligible to file claims with the ASARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust. The trust processes claims according to established Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP), which set out eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and payment levels for different disease categories.

For those whose exposure to Trafford Tile asbestos cement sheets or similar products involved manufacturers or distributors beyond ASARCO, additional legal options may exist. Litigation records document that asbestos cement roofing and cladding products have been the subject of civil lawsuits in state and federal courts, with plaintiffs alleging product liability, failure to warn, and negligence against manufacturers, distributors, and premises owners. Claims may proceed through direct litigation where bankruptcy trust resolution is not applicable.

Workers or family members who believe they were exposed to Trafford Tile asbestos cement sheets should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation to evaluate the specific circumstances of their exposure, identify all potentially responsible parties, and determine the most appropriate legal pathway — whether through trust fund claim, civil litigation, or a combination of both. Statutes of limitations apply to asbestos claims and vary by state and disease type, making timely consultation important.