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Asbestos in Electrical Wiring
Table Of Contents
Asbestos was used to make electrical panels and components. Examples include wire insulation, cable wraps and electrical paper. Asbestos wiring in electrical boards and panels reduced fire risk. Unfortunately, it posed a health risk to electricians.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 19, 2024
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Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 19, 2024
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Years Produced:1930s – 1980s -
Places Used:Electrical supply systems for buildings and ships -
Toxicity:Low -
Asbestos Use Banned:No -
Friable:No
How Was Asbestos Used in Electrical Panels and Wiring?
Since commercial electricity began, manufacturers have added asbestos to electrical panels. This material offered fire and electrocution protection. It also posed serious health risks to electricians and workers.
An electrical panel, or distribution box, is vital for managing a building’s electricity. It stops heat buildup that can cause fires or electrocution. In the early 1900s, with the rise of electricity in the U.S., manufacturers searched for safer materials.
Asbestos became popular for its heat and electricity resistance. It was affordable and easy to mix with other materials. Despite knowing the risks of asbestos dust in the 1930s and 1940s, companies kept this information secret. The link between asbestos exposure and diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma wasn’t made public until the 1970s.
Types of Asbestos Electrical Panel and Wiring Products
Ebonized Asbestos Panels
“Asbestos lumber” was a type of cement that contained asbestos. It was marketed as a fireproof, workable alternative to wood boards. Ebonized asbestos lumber was treated with a special compound to make it resistant to moisture as well.
Asbestos Cement Electrical Shielding
Asbestos cement sheets could shield electrical components. Additionally, it could be crafted into arc chutes that enclose switch gear.
Molded Asbestos Cement Bases
Manufacturers often shaped asbestos cement to fit specific electrical components. This removed the need to install extra parts for shielding.
Asbestos Electrical Paper
Pieces of asbestos insulation paper, also known as flash guards, were used to line the inside of many electrical boxes. Asbestos paper products are prone to wear and tear. This increases the risk of asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Wire Insulation
Asbestos was used to make wires fireproof and insulated. However, frayed wiring can release dangerous fibers.
Asbestos Cable Wrap
Like pipes, thick electrical cables were sometimes wrapped in asbestos paper or cloth. This wrapping can degrade and crumble over time. Many electrical components were also made of molded asbestos plastic.
Companies Connected to Asbestos in Electrical Panels and Wiring
Companies like General Electric and Westinghouse Electric made popular asbestos-containing electrical panel and wire insulation products.
| Manufacturer | Brand |
|---|---|
| General Electric | Deltabeston wires |
| Johns Manville | Ebony electric board, Electrobestos, Trancell, Vulcabestos |
| Siemens Energy & Automation | Bulldog, Murray |
| Turner & Newall | Sindanyo asbestos board |
| Union Carbide Corporation | Bakelite Panels |
Other manufacturers of these products include Allen Bradley, Cutler Hammer and Power Magnetics. Quin-T Corporation and Square D also made electrical products with asbestos.
Diseases Asbestos in Electrical Panels and Wiring Can Cause
In asbestos panel factories, workers mixed raw asbestos with tar, cement and millboard. This process created high levels of toxic dust. The amount of asbestos in mixtures varied. The finished products pose a threat to construction workers, electricians, homeowners and demolition crews. Sawing, drilling, sanding or breaking electrical panels can release asbestos fibers.
Simply replacing a blown fuse on an older electrical supply system can put electricians and those in other occupations in contact with crumbling asbestos materials. Do-it-yourselfers working on electrical panels in older homes also face the risk of exposure.
Microscopic asbestos dust is odorless and can cling to clothing. It may settle in the lungs permanently, causing damage. A 2022 health report noted that asbestos in electrical tapes and resin can also create dust.
Diseases Associated with Asbestos in Electrical Products
- Asbestosis
- Laryngeal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Ovarian cancer
- Pleural plaques, pleuritis and other benign pleural diseases
It is important to get medical advice from a doctor who specializes in your diagnosis. This may improve your chances of long-term survival.
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Get Help NowCompensation for Exposure to Asbestos in Electrical Panels and Wiring
Electricians have filed claims against asbestos manufacturers after developing mesothelioma. Both Westinghouse and General Electric have lost many workers’ compensation cases based on occupational asbestos exposure. Victims have received compensation through personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits as well.
- Albert Bertini worked as an electrician for the U.S. Navy during the 1960s and 1970s. He used asbestos-containing electrical parts from Gould Electronics and Nikko Materials USA Inc. Later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. In 2017, he filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers.
- In 2003, a San Francisco jury awarded nearly $3 million to Philip Hoeffer, a retired electrician with pleural mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos while working on electrical panels during his U.S. Navy service and later career. Rockwell Automation, the successor to Allen-Bradley, was the defendant. This award was just part of Hoeffer’s total compensation. Other companies settled with him privately.
In many cases, mesothelioma compensation options are available through special trust funds for asbestos-related claims. In 1988, Johns Manville set up the first asbestos injury settlement trust. Many former asbestos companies have since followed this precedent in bankruptcy law.
An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assess your case. They will see if you can file a lawsuit or claim trust funds. Other forms of compensation include VA claims, workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and treatment and travel grants.
Abatement and History of Asbestos in Electrical Panels and Wiring
Asbestos abatement often requires wetting areas to stop fibers from becoming airborne. However, this isn’t safe for electrical systems. Licensed workers must either use dry methods with special ventilation or ensure connections are turned off.
Dry methods for removing asbestos need approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A licensed professional should abate asbestos electrical panels.
In the 1970s and 1980s, personal injury lawsuits revealed the dangers of asbestos. As a result, electrical panel manufacturers replaced the asbestos in their products. They used substitutes such as gypsum, calcium silicate, expanded perlite, cellulose and polystyrene.
By the 1940s, electricity was common in American towns and cities. Companies like Johns Manville had already made profits from asbestos cement and insulation. They also used asbestos in electrical panels and parts. Similarly, companies like Westinghouse Electric and Detroit Fuse and Manufacturing Company did too.
This Page Contains 14 Cited Articles
The sources on all content featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com include medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents from reputable organizations.
- Elizalde, R.R. (2022). Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences Technology. Retrieved from https://onlinescientificresearch.com/articles/asbestos-presence-in-20th-century-buildings.pdf
- PacerMonitor. (2021, February 1). Bertini et al v. Goulds Electronics et al. Retrieved from https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/21218607/Bertini_et_al_v_Goulds_Electronics_et_al
- U.S. EPA. (2012, June 8). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Notification of Rules and Regulations Regarding the Demolition of Asbestos-Containing Structures. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/nps5da.pdf
- The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. (n.d.). Asbestos safety for householders and home renovators. Retrieved from https://asbestossafety-homeowners.com.au/
- New York County Supreme Court. (2011, March 7). Amato v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co. Retrieved from http://www.courts.state.ny.us/Reporter/pdfs/2011/2011_30548.pdf
- Asbestorama. (2010). Electrical Panel Base – Ebonized Asbestos & Detail. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/asbestos_pix/4325671809
- Cohen, K. Expert Witnessing and Scientific Testimony. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis Group, 2008.
- Wasserman, S. et al. (2007). Asbestos Litigation in California: Can it change for the better? Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=plr
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce. (2004, March 10). American Alternatives. Retrieved from http://www.pic.int/Portals/5/en/DGDs/Alternatives/USA/American%20alternatives%20part%204.pdf
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1985, June). Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings. Retrieved from https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=2000I0LQ.TXT
- National Toxicology Program. (1980). Asbestos. First Annual Report on Carcinogens, 11th ed. Retrieved from http://web.archive.org/web/20110429155522/http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s016asbe.pdf
- Congress of Technology. Technology and Industrial Efficiency. New York: McGraw Hill, 1911.
- Westinghouse. (n.d.). History of George Westinghouse – Innovation Changing the World. Retrieved from http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/About/History
- Schneider Electric. (n.d.). The history of Square D. Retrieved from https://www.se.com/ww/en/about-us/company-profile/history/square-d.jsp
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