Transite started as the name for an asbestos-containing mix of cement and asbestos that formed many products, including wallboard. Johns Manville, the nation’s top-selling of asbestos-containing products for many years, first sold it. As the product became more popular and other companies started selling their versions, transite became a generic name for products made with cement and asbestos, a naturally occurring fiber causing cancer.

If you or a loved one became seriously ill or died of an asbestos-related disease, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, can help. We represent those seeking compensation for the harm asbestos caused. If transite or another asbestos-containing product caused your suffering, call us at 855-835-9532 today.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber used for centuries in thousands of products. These fibers are resistant to fire, heat, chemicals, and electricity. They’re also strong, durable, light, and an effective insulator. During its peak use, asbestos was also widely available and inexpensive.

What is Transite?

Transite is a brand name for a range of asbestos-containing cement products, including boards and pipes, widely used in construction and industrial applications from the early 20th century until the 1980s. It was a versatile building material because it was fire-resistant and durable.

Transite products came in many different shapes and sizes. They include:

• Building Siding and Roofing: Panels were used as building siding and roofing material. They offered fire protection and weather resistance
• Pipes: Transite pipes that transported water and waste products were widely used
• HVAC Ducts: It created ductwork for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Industrial Applications: Transite was used as furnace linings and kiln linings, and equipment insulation because it could withstand high heat
• Partitions and Panels: Panels were used as partitions and wall panels in buildings

How Did Workers Install Transite?

Depending on which transite product was used, and what it was supposed to accomplish for the customer, transite was typically installed by:

• Cutting and Shaping: Transite sheets and boards were easily cut and shaped using saws, drills, and cutting blades
• Fastening: Transite sheets were typically fastened to a wall or roof using nails, screws, or other fasteners
• Sealing and Joint Treatment: Joints between transite sheets were often filled with a sealant (usually containing asbestos) to prevent water infiltration and improve the overall appearance
• Painting or Coating: Transite could be painted or coated to provide additional protection and improve its look. These coatings and paints may also have asbestos in them
• HVAC Ducts and Piping: Transite ductwork was sold, and it was used as insulation around pipes

Workers may have sawed, sanded, penetrated, or drilled through transite for many reasons for a particular installation. When they did, they endangered their health by filling the area with tiny asbestos fibers that floated through the air and settled on nearby surfaces. If transite was removed, it might be cut, sawed, drilled into, hammered, or pulled apart, releasing more fibers.

Why Was Asbestos in Transite?

Asbestos has many properties that made it useful in many applications. Here are some reasons why asbestos was in transite:

• Fire Resistance: Asbestos fibers are heat- and fire-resistant. Transite could be a way to “fire-proof” a structure because it could withstand high temperatures without degrading or catching fire
• Chemical Resistant: Asbestos fibers are resistant to many chemicals and corrosive substances. Transite became a popular choice for lining industrial equipment, pipes, and other structures that came into contact with corrosive materials
• Strength and Durability: Asbestos fibers added strength and durability to transite. Compared to cement products, it was more potent and could better withstand mechanical stress, impacts, wear, and tear
• Insulation: Asbestos is a good insulator of heat and electricity, so transite was a suitable material for insulating pipes, ducts, and industrial equipment
• Cost-Effective: Asbestos was relatively inexpensive and readily available, contributing to its widespread use in construction and industrial applications. Not part of the price was the cost of the harm to those creating and using transite
• Sound Absorption: Transite had sound-absorbing properties, which made them useful when noise reduction was important, such as in HVAC systems and industrial plants

Another reason asbestos was used in many products was that Johns Manville, along with other companies and organizations, suppressed the fact that asbestos caused severe illnesses and fatal cancers to many who inhaled and swallowed the fibers.

Johns Manville knew of asbestos’ hazards in the 1920s but engaged in a decades-long cover-up. Asbestos wasn’t largely removed from products until about 50 years later, and some asbestos-containing products are still sold today.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos’ microscopic fibers, which, when released into the air and inhaled or swallowed, can pose serious health risks:

• Inhalation and Ingestion of Microscopic Fibers: Asbestos fibers are microscopic and lightweight. When fibers are in the air, they’re easily inhaled or ingested. Those working with asbestos often returned home with fibers on their clothes, which spread through households and exposed family members
• Long Latency Period: The health effects of asbestos exposure often don’t appear until decades after exposure. Once trapped in the lungs, respiratory system, and other organs, fibers can remain in the person’s body for the rest of their lives because the immune system can’t destroy them
• Serious Health Risks: Asbestos causes many serious and fatal health conditions, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and other organs), and asbestosis (a chronic lung disease). These diseases are life-threatening and have a significant impact on the quality of life

Because of these three issues, asbestos-related conditions are often difficult to treat and are often fatal.

Exposed to Transite and Suffer an Asbestos-Related Disease? Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

We are your boots on the ground if you or someone you love in Kentucky suffers from mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness due to transite exposure. You can call 855-385-9532 to reach our Louisville office or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.