Cork Board
From the time it was first patented in 1891 until well into the 1970s, cork board was a popular and widely used construction material. As a lightweight and easy-to-install product, cork board coverings for walls and ceilings were in vogue for many years, and their low cost and flexibility made them especially popular for do-it-yourselfers, who also appreciated it for the insulation properties it brought to wall and ceiling applications. Cork board was also used widely as a substrate in the installation of many types of flooring, adding a softer, springier feel underfoot.
Cork board and asbestos
Like so many other construction materials used until the mid-1970s, cork board eventually was “improved” with the addition of asbestos fibers. By improving the fire retardant properties of cork board, manufacturers hoped to increase its popularity as a standard building material, both as a wall and floor covering, and as a substrate for other materials. Because asbestos itself is a fiber, incorporating it into the manufacture of cork board made the resultant material stronger but no less flexible.
In addition to the hazards posed by the asbestos fibers embedded within the cork board itself, most cork board applications required the material to be applied using an adhesive which also usually contained asbestos fibers, doubling the risk of eventual exposure.
Of course, anyone involved in the manufacture of these adhesives, or in the manufacture of cork board that contained asbestos, risked extensive exposure to the fibers. But beyond that, anyone who has lived, worked, or spent any time in a building that used asbestos-embedded cork board has also experienced a level of risk. When asbestos fibers age, they begin to degrade and break down, becoming extremely brittle. Any disruption of the fibers, whether through renovation or simply due to the effects of wear, can result in the release of tiny particles, which can be inhaled and lodged in the lungs, causing a myriad of health problems, including mesothelioma and other cancers. Because it was used as a substrate and may not be immediately apparent to the eye, even drilling a hole through a wall or floor where cork was used beneath another wall covering could potentially release these fibers into the surrounding air, posing a health risk to anyone who comes in contact with them.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
