Rock Wool Manufacturing Company is a wool insulation manufacturer that used asbestos in several of its products until the 1970s. Asbestos litigation caused the company to file for bankruptcy in 1996. An asbestos trust fund was established in 1999 to compensate victims.
Written by D. Carl Money | Scientifically Reviewed by Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited by Amy Edel | Last Update: January 13, 2026
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The Rock Wool Asbestos Trust handled claims from December 20, 1999 until January 13, 2011. It was created after the company filed Chapter 11 to set aside funds for those who were exposed to the company’s asbestos products and layer developed mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The trust made payouts to people who met its medical and exposure criteria. Asbestos companies often use bankruptcy and create an asbestos trust fund when they amass asbestos lawsuit costs. Because the trust paid its final claim in 2011 and no longer accepts new claims, it’s essential to speak with an experienced asbestos attorney to explore all of your available options for mesothelioma compensation.
People who developed mesothelioma or lung cancer from exposure to Rock Wool Manufacturing Company’s asbestos products benefit from experienced legal counsel. With the company’s asbestos trust fund closed, a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney can look at all of your options. This can include workers’ compensation and exploring any other parties that may be responsible for your asbestos exposure.
Finding the right lawyer for you and your family can feel like an intimidating process. A Patient Advocate will personally match you with a lawyer with a record of success helping those who were also exposed to Rock Wool products but are now unable to file claims with the trust find other avenues for financial assistance.
Your Patient Advocate will also provide you and your family with ongoing support, connections to mesothelioma specialists leading innovative treatment, schedule appointments and help you navigate insurance. They can also manage your VA benefits claims, send you free resources covering topics like treatment and nutrition and introduce you to support groups for survivors and caregivers.
Learn about legal options and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowRock Wool Manufacturing faced an estimated 150,000 asbestos lawsuits. In a 1994 trial, a jury found Rock Wool negligent of producing unreasonably dangerous products. In addition to having to pay damages to a number of parties, the company was found guilty of not placing hazard warnings on their products.
Many mesothelioma lawsuits against the company ended in private settlements for undisclosed amounts. Some settlements happened mid-trial. For example, Samuel Jackson and his wife’s 1995 case was settled during trial. Rock Wool was one of a number of co-defendants that settled. The Jacksons’ suit claimed Rock Wool’s products caused Jackson’s asbestos-related disease.
Rock Wool Manufacturing Company’s asbestos history began in 1943 when the company started in Leeds, Alabama, to produce residential blowing wool insulation. In the 1950s, Rock Wool expanded into insulating cements and mineral wool boards. The company experimented with combining asbestos and rock wool.
Rock Wool used asbestos fibers to create construction materials with increased heat resistance. Workers and contractors who installed or removed these products inhaled asbestos fibers in the air over time, putting them at risk.
Later in the 20th century, Rock Wool shifted away from asbestos use. The company added wrapped pipe insulation in 1988, and most products sold today carry the DELTA trade name. Current products don’t contain any asbestos and serve residential, industrial, commercial and marine construction applications.
Former Rock Wool employees who manufactured these products faced high on the job asbestos exposure risks. When the products were installed, removed or disturbed during renovations, asbestos dust became airborne and anyone nearby could inhale the toxic fibers.
Higher Risk Occupations
The widespread use of Rock Wool asbestos products affected many types of workers in construction, maritime and industrial settings. Exposure occurred during manufacturing, installation, maintenance and demolition work.
The company made asbestos products from 1958 to 1970. Its cement adhesives were used to secure thermal pipe insulation to pipes after asbestos insulation was tightly wrapped around them.
Asbestos-Containing Rock Wool Products
These Rock Wool products incorporated asbestos into cements and insulation, creating materials that exposed workers and contractors to harmful fibers. Their use illustrates the company’s direct involvement in asbestos-related health risks during that period.
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Asbestos.com. (2026, January 13). Rock Wool Manufacturing Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/rock-wool-manufacturing-company/
"Rock Wool Manufacturing Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Asbestos.com, 13 Jan 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/rock-wool-manufacturing-company/.
Asbestos.com. "Rock Wool Manufacturing Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Last modified January 13, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/rock-wool-manufacturing-company/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Sean Fitzgerald, PG, is a research geologist specializing in asbestos environmental studies.
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