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Air Cell Pipe Covering
Air Cell Pipe Covering was an insulation material used to cover pipes located within the ceiling of homes or businesses. The covering kept the pipes at an optimal temperature all year long, and allowed them to continue working properly under most any conditions. One of the materials that was formerly used to create this type of insulation was asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to heat, cold and even fire. This made it one of the most favored compounds for almost every type of insulation created in America throughout the early 1900's.
Use of asbestos came to an end in the later 1970's when it was officially determined to be toxic. It is made up of tiny fibers that can break apart from the insulation product and then float freely in the air. When workers needed to cut pieces of the insulation to provide a proper fit, they would inadvertently release these fibers, thus putting themselves and others in danger. The particles were often ingested by people who were installing pipe coverings, or by others who just had the bad luck to be in the same room as this hazardous material. Asbestos particles can become lodged in a person's respiratory system and develop into diseases such as Mesothelioma and asbestosis. Many people have died as a result of being in close proximity to Air Cell Pipe Coverings and other products that were made with this mineral.
The first step anyone who believes they have been subjected to asbestos should take is to talk to their personal physician about their asbestos history. People who have been afflicted by these pipe coverings may also wish to explore legal actions against the manufacturers. Many of the people who owned and operated these companies were aware of the dangers asbestos posed for several years before they stopped using them. This has resulted in thousands of class action lawsuits being filed against executives for endangering the lives of their employees, as well as the customers who purchased these hazardous products.
Even today, the pipe coverings can pose a danger to unsuspecting people. In many buildings, this type of insulation has been removed by certified professionals, but there is no way of knowing how much of it might still be in place. After years of use, these coverings often become even more dangerous because by now they are likely to be falling apart, which is exactly how the asbestos fibers are released into the air.
Only a certified professional should ever touch or attempt to remove any item that contains asbestos. Simply moving the pipe coverings could cause it to break apart and become a danger to everyone around. In every state there are crews who are certified to deal with these hazardous materials, and they should always be called in to dispose of insulation that is tainted with asbestos.