Why was asbestos used in building and insulation products?

The primary reasons that asbestos was used in building products were for its strength, durability and resistance to heat and fire.  Asbestos is stringy and resilient, and thus, makes a good binder.  The resilient properties of asbestos also reduced the breakage when products were transferred between the factory and the work site. In pipe covering and other materials, asbestos created air pockets which provided heat resistance.

Asbestos was also marketed for its fire resistant qualities. In reality, at approximately 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, asbestos transforms into an inert mineral. Other materials were available, even in the 1930s and thereafter, that could have been used, and, in fact were used as substitutes for asbestos without any sacrifice in product integrity or heat resistance. The asbestos industry peddled asbestos as a "magic mineral," creating a demand for the material, without advising of the dangers of asbestos. As a result, thousands of American workers were injured and killed. It was unnecessary and could have been avoided.

Learn more about what asbestos manufacturers and companies knew about the dangers of asbestos.