Asphalt-Saturated Felts and Roll Roofing by Fibreboard-Pabco

Asphalt-saturated felt and roll roofing products manufactured by Fibreboard-Pabco contained chrysotile asbestos fibers throughout much of the twentieth century. Workers who handled, cut, or applied these materials between approximately 1920 and 1968 may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Civil litigation has addressed claims arising from this exposure, and individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases may have legal options available through the court system.

Product Description

Asphalt-saturated felt was a building material produced by saturating an organic or fiber-based mat with hot asphalt compounds. The resulting sheet product was sold in rolls and used extensively as an underlayment beneath finished roofing surfaces such as shingles, as a moisture barrier in wall assemblies, and as a standalone roofing membrane in industrial and commercial construction. Roll roofing, a closely related product, consisted of a similar asphalt-saturated base material surfaced with mineral granules and was applied directly as a finished roof covering, particularly on low-slope structures.

Fibreboard Corporation operated under various names and subsidiary arrangements throughout the twentieth century, including its Pabco division, which produced roofing and building products at manufacturing facilities primarily in the western United States. The Pabco line encompassed a range of felt-based and asphalt-saturated products marketed to the construction industry during the decades when asbestos was a standard additive in such materials.

These products were sold under industry-standard designations such as No. 15 felt and No. 30 felt, referring to approximate weight per square of roofing coverage. Roll roofing was similarly categorized by weight and granule type. Both product lines were widely distributed through building supply channels and used on residential, commercial, and industrial structures during the mid-twentieth century.

Asbestos Content

Fibreboard-Pabco asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing products manufactured during the approximately 1920–1968 production period incorporated chrysotile asbestos as a component of the fiber mat or base sheet. Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, is a serpentine mineral fiber that was widely used in roofing felts during this era because of its heat resistance, tensile strength, and compatibility with asphalt saturation processes.

In felt manufacturing, chrysotile fibers were blended with other organic materials and processed into a continuous mat that was then run through asphalt saturating tanks. The finished sheet contained asbestos fibers distributed throughout the base layer. In roll roofing products, the same fiber-reinforced base mat served as the structural foundation before surface granules were applied.

Litigation records document that Fibreboard-Pabco products produced during this period contained chrysotile asbestos as a deliberate component of their formulations. Plaintiffs alleged that the company was aware of or should have been aware of the health hazards associated with asbestos fiber exposure during the relevant production years, yet the products were manufactured and sold without adequate warnings to downstream handlers and end users.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulatory framework and subsequent OSHA standards established that chrysotile asbestos at elevated airborne concentrations poses serious risks of fibrosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These regulatory findings underpin the scientific basis for claims associated with products like Fibreboard-Pabco felts and roll roofing.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers and roofing tradespeople who handled Fibreboard-Pabco asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing products during the 1920–1968 production period faced potential exposure to chrysotile asbestos fibers through several mechanisms arising from routine job tasks.

Cutting and trimming were among the most significant exposure activities. Roll roofing and felt underlayment required on-site cutting to fit roof dimensions, ridge lines, and penetrations. Cutting with knives, snips, or mechanical saws released asbestos fibers from the cut edges and mat structure into the breathing zone of the worker performing the cut and those working nearby.

Unrolling and handling also generated fiber release. As felt rolls were unrolled across roof decks or wall substrates, mechanical flexing and manipulation of the material could dislodge fibers from the mat. Workers carrying, positioning, and securing these materials were exposed in the process.

Application in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces increased exposure concentrations. Attic spaces, interior wall cavities, and partially completed roof structures provided less ventilation than open outdoor environments, allowing airborne fibers to accumulate to higher concentrations during installation work.

Removal and demolition of previously installed Fibreboard-Pabco felt products presented additional exposure risks for workers engaged in reroofing, renovation, or demolition projects. Aged asphalt-saturated felt that had become brittle or friable over decades of service released fibers more readily during mechanical disturbance than freshly installed material.

Litigation records document that workers performing these tasks did so without respiratory protection or meaningful hazard warnings during the decades when these products were in use. Plaintiffs alleged that the absence of warning labels, safety data disclosures, or instructional guidance regarding fiber release left workers uninformed about the inhalation risks associated with routine handling of these materials.

OSHA’s current permissible exposure limit for asbestos is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter as an eight-hour time-weighted average, with an excursion limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter for any thirty-minute period. Studies of historical roofing and felt installation tasks conducted before modern controls were implemented recorded fiber concentrations substantially exceeding these contemporary limits.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

Fibreboard Corporation established the Fibreboard Asbestos Settlement Trust as part of a comprehensive bankruptcy resolution, and that trust has administered claims related to certain Fibreboard products. However, individuals seeking compensation specifically for exposure to Fibreboard-Pabco asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing should consult with qualified asbestos litigation counsel to determine whether their particular exposure circumstances and disease diagnosis fall within the scope of that trust’s claim criteria, or whether civil litigation against solvent defendants in the product distribution chain represents the appropriate legal avenue.

Because no active trust fund is currently identified as the primary compensation mechanism specifically for Fibreboard-Pabco roofing felt exposures at this time, claims related to these products are addressed primarily through civil litigation. Litigation records document that plaintiffs diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases have pursued claims alleging exposure to Fibreboard-Pabco roofing products. Plaintiffs alleged theories of negligence, strict product liability for design and warning defects, and failure to warn consumers and workers of known hazards.

Individuals who believe they were exposed to Fibreboard-Pabco asphalt-saturated felts or roll roofing and who have received a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease should document their employment history, identify worksites and time periods of exposure, and retain records of medical diagnoses. Statutes of limitations governing asbestos personal injury claims vary by jurisdiction and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Prompt consultation with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation is advisable to preserve legal rights within the applicable limitations period.

This article is provided for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Individuals with potential asbestos exposure claims should consult a qualified attorney.