About Armstrong World Industries and Its Asbestos Products
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (formerly Armstrong Cork Company) was founded in 1860 and grew to become one of the largest flooring, ceiling, and insulation product manufacturers in the United States. Headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Armstrong produced an enormous range of construction materials that were installed in virtually every type of building constructed from the 1920s through the 1970s.
Armstrong’s asbestos-containing products included:
- Vinyl-asbestos floor tile (VAT): Among the most widely used floor covering products in the country. Armstrong VAT was installed in schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, and homes. Cutting, sanding, or removing Armstrong floor tile released asbestos fibers.
- Floor adhesive (mastic): Armstrong floor tile adhesives also contained asbestos. Scraping up old mastic during floor tile removal is a major exposure scenario for renovation workers.
- Acoustic ceiling tile: Armstrong acoustic ceiling tiles used in schools, offices, and other institutional buildings contained asbestos. Workers cutting, removing, or repairing these tiles were exposed.
- Insulation products: Armstrong manufactured pipe and block insulation products for industrial applications.
- Gaskets and packing: Industrial sealing materials manufactured by Armstrong.
Armstrong World Industries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2000, citing asbestos personal injury liability it could no longer manage through ongoing litigation. The Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established as part of the bankruptcy reorganization to compensate all current and future victims.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Armstrong World Industries, Inc. |
| Bankruptcy Filing | December 2000 |
| Payment Percentage | 10.8% |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | ~$200,000 (actual payment ~$21,600 at 10.8%) |
| Key Products | Vinyl-asbestos floor tile, floor adhesive/mastic, acoustic ceiling tile, insulation, gaskets |
| Primary Exposure Trades | Floor tile installers, ceiling contractors, insulation workers |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
At 10.8%, the Armstrong Trust pays a moderate percentage. For a mesothelioma claimant with a $200,000 scheduled value, the payment is approximately $21,600. This trust is particularly important for floor tile installers and ceiling contractors whose primary asbestos exposure came from Armstrong products.
Who Is Eligible to File with the Armstrong Trust?
Eligibility requires exposure to Armstrong asbestos-containing products and a qualifying asbestos disease diagnosis.
Eligible occupations:
- Floor tile installers and resilient flooring contractors who installed or removed Armstrong VAT
- Floor covering mechanics who worked with Armstrong floor adhesives
- Ceiling contractors who installed or removed Armstrong acoustic ceiling tile
- Insulators who worked with Armstrong insulation products
- Pipefitters and maintenance workers who used Armstrong gaskets and packing
- Renovation and demolition workers who disturbed Armstrong flooring or ceiling systems
- School and hospital maintenance workers who repaired or replaced Armstrong ceiling tile
- Construction laborers and supervisors present during Armstrong product installation
Exposure period: Armstrong asbestos-containing products were manufactured through approximately the mid-1970s. Installed products remained in buildings for decades and continued to be disturbed during renovation and maintenance work well into the 1990s and beyond.
Qualifying diagnoses: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques with functional impairment, and diffuse pleural thickening.
How to File an Armstrong Trust Claim
- Attorney consultation: A mesothelioma attorney will review your work history to identify Armstrong floor tile, ceiling tile, insulation, or other Armstrong product exposure.
- Document product exposure: Your attorney will establish which Armstrong products were present at your job sites and during which time periods. This may involve facility records, contractor records, and product identification resources.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records establishing your qualifying disease are compiled.
- Claim submission: Your attorney submits the completed claim package to the Armstrong Trust administrator.
- Review and payment: The trust reviews your claim and pays at 10.8% of the applicable scheduled value upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Floor tile installers and construction workers who worked with Armstrong products typically also encountered products from other manufacturers, including National Gypsum, USG, Celotex, and Flintkote. All applicable trust claims can be filed simultaneously. Workers at industrial facilities may also have claims against insulation-related trusts like Manville and Pittsburgh Corning if they worked near pipe insulation in addition to floor or ceiling tile installation.
Lawsuits against solvent asbestos defendants can proceed simultaneously with trust claims. Your attorney will manage all aspects of your case to maximize total recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Armstrong World Industries Trust currently pays at approximately 10.8% of the scheduled disease value. Applied to a mesothelioma scheduled value of $200,000, the actual payment is about $21,600 before attorney fees. This amount is typically combined with payments from other applicable trusts and lawsuit recoveries.
Armstrong manufactured vinyl-asbestos floor tile (VAT), floor tile adhesive (mastic), acoustic ceiling tile, pipe insulation, and industrial gaskets containing asbestos. The floor tile and ceiling tile products were used in schools, hospitals, offices, and homes. The most hazardous exposure scenarios involved cutting or sanding floor tile, removing old mastic, and cutting or removing ceiling tile — all of which released asbestos fibers into the air.
Yes. Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Workers exposed to Armstrong floor tile in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are only now developing mesothelioma. The trust does not penalize claimants for the natural latency of the disease. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma and worked with Armstrong floor tile decades ago, you may have a valid trust claim.
Yes. Armstrong acoustic ceiling tiles manufactured before the mid-1970s contained asbestos. Ceiling contractors who installed, cut, or removed Armstrong acoustic ceiling tiles were exposed to asbestos fibers. This is a recognized exposure pathway supported by the trust, and ceiling contractors are a covered occupational category.