Substitutes for Asbestos-Cement Construction Products

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 Product	Substitute 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

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

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