Substitutes for Asbestos-Cement Construction Products 

by Barry Castleman

 

 

Updated October 8, 2009

Substitutes for these asbestos products are not limited to products that simply replace asbestos with another material (e.g., PVA and cellulose in fiber-cement roofing sheet). There are also a number of wholly different products that can replace the asbestos products. A number of substitutes for asbestos-cement products are included in the following table.

Asbestos ProductSubstitute Products
Asbestos-Cement
Corrugated Roofing
Fiber-cement roofing using: synthetic fibers (polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene) and vegetable/cellulose fibers (softwood kraft pulp, bamboo, sisal, coir, rattan shavings and tobacco stalks, etc.); with optional silica fume, flyash, or rice husk ash
 
Microconcrete (Parry) tiles
Galvanized metal sheets
Clay tiles
Vegetable fibers in asphalt
Slate
Coated metal tiles (Harveytile)
Aluminum roof tiles (Dekra Tile)
Extruded uPVC roofing sheets
Recycled polypropylene and high-density polyethylene and crushed stone (Worldroof)
Plastic coated aluminum
Plastic coated galvanized steel.
 
Asbestos-Cement Flat Sheet (ceilings, facades, partitions) Fiber-cement using vegetable/cellulose fibers (see above), wastepaper, optionally synthetic fibers
Gypsum ceiling boards (BHP Gypsum)
Polystyrene ceilings, cornices, and partitions
Façade applications in polystyrene structural walls (coated with plaster)
Aluminum cladding (Alucabond)
Brick
Galvanized frame with plaster-board or calcium silicate board facing
Softwood frame with plasterboard or calcium silicate board facing.
 
Asbestos-Cement Pipe High Pressure:
Cast iron and ductile iron pipe
High-density polyethylene pipe
Polyvinyl chloride pipe
Steel-reinforced concrete pipe (large sizes)
Glass-reinforced polyester pipe
 
Low Pressure:
Cellulose-cement pipe
Cellulose/PVA fiber-cement pipe
Clay pipe
Glass-reinforced polyester pipe
Steel-reinforced concrete pipe (large diameter drainage)
 
Asbestos-Cement Water Storage Tanks Cellulose-cement
Polyethylene
Fiberglass
Steel
Galvanized iron
PVA-cellulose fiber-cement
 
Asbestos-Cement Rainwater Gutters; Open Drains (Mining Industry) Galvanized iron
Aluminum
Hand-molded cellulose-cement
PVC

 
I have started to gather information on purveyors of asbestos product substitutes and am pleased to share with you what I have so far.

Global Suppliers of Alternative Products – Non-Asbestos

 
 

Everite Group, South Africa – fiber-cement flat sheet and roofing. http://www.everite.co.za

Etex Group, Belgium – fiber-cement roofing, boards, siding; affiliates worldwide.
http://www.etexgroup.com

Parry Associates, UK – microconcrete roofing; design and engineering firm that has worked with local and international clients in 80 countries. http://www.parryassociates.com

Worldroof, Belgium – recycled polypropylene and high-density polyethylene and crushed stone. http://www.worldroof.be/web/index.asp?lang=E&cust=1

Kuraray, Japan – manufacturer of PVA fiber used to make fiber-cement by companies in countries including Ukraine, Nigeria, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. http://www.kuraray.co.jp/en/products/vinylon.html

Unitika, Japan – manufacturer of PVA fiber used in fiber-cement. http://www.unitika.co.jp/e/home.htm

Domtar Paper Co., US – wood products company developing fiber-cement markets using wood pulp. Contact: brian.wester@domtar.com

Fiber Cement Forum, Norway – expanding markets for use of waste materials silica fume, flyash, and rice husk ash in fiber-cement products. Contact: gerry.brown@elkem.no

Saint-Gobain, France – developing fiber-cement products using polypropylene and cellulose for use in Brazil, India, etc. Contact in Brazil: João Carlos Duarte Paes abifibro@terra.com.br

FCM Bell, Switerland – supplies machines for making flat and corrugated fiber-cement sheets. http://www.fmcbell.ch

Wehrhahn, Germany – supplies machinery and plants for making fiber-cement roofing and sheets. http://www.wehrhahn.de

Sichuan, China vinylon plant (SVW)

Anhui, China chaohu PVA plant (Wanwei)

Fujian, China PVA plant (Fuwei)

Lan Zhou, China PVA plant (Lanwei)

Building Materials & Technology PTY LTD – consultants for cellulose fiber-cement.
http://www.fibrecementconsulting.com/

EUROPE

 

Cembrit Group, Denmark – fiber-cement flat sheets and corrugated roofing made in Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Italy, Hungary. Henning Thygesen henning.thygesen@cembrit.com
http://www.cembrit.com

Eternit, Switzerland – fiber-cement sheet and other products. http://www.eternit.ch

Società Italiana Lastra, Italy – fiber-cement sheet. http://www.sil-lastre.com

Landidi, Italy – fiber-cement roofing and ducts. http://www.landinispa.com

TURKEY

 

Atermit, Turkey – fiber-cement sheets. http://www.atermit.com

BRAZIL

 

Brasilit – polypropylene and cellulose fiber-cement roofing. http://www.brasilit.com.br

Infibra – fiber-cement roofing. http://www.infibra.com.br

Engeplas + Ecotop – recycling dental tubes plastics + aluminum. http://www.engeplasonline.com.br

http://www.onduline.com.br (vegetable fiber + asphalt/betume).

http://www.tecolita.com.br (vegetable fiber + asphalt).

http://www.viralata.org.br (recycling paper + asphalt)...this is a cooperative of poor people ...social inclusion program.

ibicunha@brturbo.com (long life packs – milk box recycling).

http://www.rbrepresentacoes.com/flash.html (ceramic tiles).

MALAYSIA

 

UAC Berhad – Siding, interior boards, ceiling panels. http://www.uac.com.my/

Hume Cemboard – Siding, interior boards, ceiling panels. http://www.humecemboard.com.my/

TAIWAN: (ceiling and interior boards, siding)

 

Taisyou International Business Col, Ltd. http://www.taisyou.com.tw/e/e-index.htm

L.H. Fortune Co., Ltd.

Wellpool Co., Ltd. http://www.wellpool.com.tw/cg/ch/

KOREA

 

Byucksan http://www.byucksan.com/byucksan_e/intro.htm

Kumgang Korea Chemical Co., Ltd. http://www.kccworld.co.kr/korea/

INDONESIA

 

Nusantara

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND

 

James Hardie  http://www.jameshardie.com/index.htm

CSR Fibre Cement http://www.csr.com.au/Corporate/default.asp

PHILIPPINES (fiber-cement manufacturers)

 

James Hardie http://www.jameshardie.com/index.htm

Aptech Manufacturing Corp., Angeles and Pampanga, plantation wood/rattan wastes

Fabricemtech, Lucena and Quezon, plantation wood and bagasse

GC Enterprises, Zamboanga, yemane and palo verde

San Nicolas Multipurpose Coop., Candon and Ilocos Sur, giant ipil-ipil and tobacco stalks

R-II Builders, National Capital Region, plantation wood

Cemboard Systems Inc., Lipa and Batangas, yemane

Phela Resources, Genaral Samtos City, yemane

Boalan Agri-Resources, Zamboanga del Sur, yemane and palo verde

Cruzayco Corp., Kambankalan, Negros Occ., yemane

Cagayan Wood Works Manufacturing Corp., Solana and Cagayan, yemane

Caraga Women's Cooperative, Butuan City, yemane and rattan waste

Earn Corporation, Bay and Laguna, yemane

Villarica Forest Products, Samal Island and Daval, yemane

Zementboard Cooperative, Korondal and South Cotabato, yemane

Versaboard Enterprises, Angeles and Pampanga, bagasse

Alenter Cane Corp., Cebu, rattan wastes

Lemon Products Int'l./Victorians Marketing, Imus and Cavite, rattan wastes

Reference: The Wood Wool Cement Board Industry in the Philippines:
http://sres.anu.edu.au/associated/fpt/nwfp/woodwool/woodwoolphil.html#anchor5666869

THAILAND

Mahaphant – fiber-cement roofing and sheet. http://www.mahaphant.com

Diamond Roofing Tiles. http://www.diamondtile.com

Siam-Fibre Cement – fiber-cement roofing and sheets. http://www.siamcement.com/en/

Conwood – http://www.conwood.co.th/en/index.asp

________

April 8, 2008; updated October 8, 2009

 

 

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