Asphalt-Saturated Felts or Roll Roofing by Fibreboard

Product Description

Asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing were widely used construction materials throughout much of the twentieth century. These products were manufactured by saturating a base mat—composed of organic fibers, cellulose, or mineral wool—with hot asphalt or coal tar compounds to produce a flexible, weather-resistant sheet material. The finished product was rolled and sold in standard widths for use as an underlayment beneath shingles, as a standalone low-slope roofing membrane, or as a moisture barrier in wall and floor assemblies.

Fibreboard Corporation, which operated under various corporate structures and subsidiaries during its productive years, was among the manufacturers that produced asphalt-saturated felt and roll roofing products for the commercial and residential construction markets. The company had a broader manufacturing portfolio that included products across multiple building material categories—among them floor tile, pipe insulation, and refractory materials—making Fibreboard a significant supplier to the construction trades during the decades when asbestos use in building products was standard industry practice.

Asphalt-saturated felts were valued for their durability, flexibility in cold temperatures, and resistance to moisture infiltration. These performance characteristics made them a staple on job sites ranging from residential home construction to large-scale industrial and commercial roofing projects. As a result, the products reached a wide distribution network and were handled by workers across numerous industries and building trades.

Asbestos Content

Asbestos fibers were incorporated into asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing products by numerous manufacturers during the mid-twentieth century as a reinforcing and fire-retardant additive. Chrysotile (white asbestos) was the most commonly used fiber type in these applications, though other asbestos varieties appeared in certain formulations depending on the manufacturer and the intended end use of the product.

In felt-based roofing products, asbestos fibers were blended into the base mat prior to asphalt saturation, providing dimensional stability and resistance to tearing. In some formulations, asbestos was also present in coatings or adhesive compounds applied alongside the felt during installation. The resulting composite material could contain asbestos distributed throughout the sheet matrix, meaning that any activity that disturbed, cut, or abraded the product had the potential to release asbestos fibers into the surrounding air.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged Fibreboard’s asphalt-saturated felt and roll roofing products contained asbestos as a component material. Plaintiffs alleged that this asbestos content was not adequately disclosed to workers who handled and installed the products on construction sites, leaving those individuals without knowledge of the health risks they faced.

The specific asbestos content by weight in Fibreboard’s roofing felt products has been addressed in litigation proceedings, where documentation introduced into evidence examined formulation records, product specifications, and internal company communications related to material composition.

How Workers Were Exposed

Exposure to asbestos from asphalt-saturated felts and roll roofing products occurred through several distinct mechanisms, primarily affecting workers who handled the material in the course of their regular job duties. Industrial workers generally—including those in manufacturing, construction, and facility maintenance roles—were among those identified in litigation as having sustained occupational exposures.

Installation activities created significant exposure potential. Workers cutting roll roofing to fit roof dimensions used hand tools, utility knives, or power saws that generated dust and debris from the cut edges and surfaces. In enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, this dust could accumulate to high concentrations.

Dry fitting and manipulation of the felt sheets also released fibers. Workers who bent, folded, or otherwise worked the material by hand could dislodge loose asbestos fibers from the mat surface or from areas where the asphalt coating had cracked or deteriorated.

Removal and demolition work represented a particularly high-exposure scenario. Older asphalt-saturated felt that had become brittle through weathering or thermal cycling could fragment readily during tear-off operations, releasing previously bound fibers into the air in large quantities. Roofers and laborers performing re-roofing work on existing structures—particularly those built before the 1980s—faced exposure to degraded felt materials that were more friable than new product.

Adjacent trades on construction sites were also potentially affected. Workers in nearby areas who were not directly handling roofing materials could nonetheless inhale fibers that became airborne during cutting or removal operations conducted by others on the same job site.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged exposures occurred over extended periods of employment, in some cases spanning decades during which asbestos-containing roofing felts remained in common use. Plaintiffs alleged that the cumulative nature of these exposures, combined with a lack of adequate protective equipment or hazard communication, contributed to the development of serious asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

Fibreboard Corporation became a defendant in large-scale asbestos personal injury litigation during the latter decades of the twentieth century. The volume and severity of claims filed against the company ultimately led to Fibreboard’s involvement in bankruptcy proceedings and the establishment of legal mechanisms intended to compensate injured individuals.

Pacificorp Fibreboard Asbestos Claims Trust and related settlement structures were established as part of the resolution of Fibreboard’s asbestos liabilities. Individuals seeking compensation for asbestos-related injuries connected to Fibreboard products have pursued claims through these legal channels.

Because this product falls under Tier 2 — Litigated status, claimants and their legal representatives should be aware of the following:

• Litigation records document that claims involving Fibreboard asbestos-containing products have been pursued in courts across multiple jurisdictions, with plaintiffs alleging product liability, failure to warn, and negligence theories.
• Plaintiffs alleged that Fibreboard had knowledge of the hazards associated with asbestos-containing materials and failed to take adequate steps to warn workers or eliminate the risk.
• Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases who have a documented history of exposure to Fibreboard roofing felt or other Fibreboard asbestos-containing products may have viable legal claims.
• Claims may be pursued through direct litigation against successor entities or through trust fund claim processes where applicable trust structures remain active and funded.

Workers in the industrial and construction sectors, including those who handled asphalt-saturated felts or roll roofing in any capacity, are encouraged to consult with a qualified asbestos litigation attorney to evaluate their potential eligibility for compensation. Employment records, union records, Social Security earnings histories, and co-worker testimony can all serve as forms of exposure documentation in support of a claim.

The statute of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims varies by state and typically begins to run from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Prompt legal consultation is advisable for any individual recently diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease who believes they may have worked with Fibreboard products.