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85 Magnesia (Johns-Manville)

85 Magnesia was Johns-Manville's high-temperature insulation of magnesia and asbestos, sold as pipe covering, block and cement.1,2 In sworn answers in two lawsuits, given in 1969 and 1970, J-M listed "Magnesia, 85%" as "H.T. Pipe & Block Insulation & Cement," "Composed of 15% asbestos fiber and approximately 85% basic carbonate of magnesia."1,3 The same answers say it had been made by J-M "since the early 1900's."1,3

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When it was made and what it contained

A 1990 EPA notice that published what Manville reported says the pipe covering and block were produced from 1902 to 1970, and describes them as white.4 It gives them 12 to 18% asbestos fibers, with 2 to 5% ground clay and 85 to 90% basic magnesia carbonate.4 The cement appears in the same notice only within a group of "Asbestos-Binder" cements, alongside Superex and 678, for which it gives a single range for the whole group: 10 to 100% asbestos.4

An insurance company's 1981 list of asbestos products, compiled from other companies' answers in lawsuits, has two entries: one gives 85 Magnesia pipe insulation as made from 1902 to 1970.2 The other, for pipe covering, block and cement, gives 15 in the column read as percent asbestos and marks the name a generic term, used by several makers.2

The Navy's qualified products list carried "JM (85% Magnesia)" in Grade I, Class b, in its 1958 and 1969 editions; the 1958 edition prints the Waukegan, Illinois, plant on its line.5

J-M swore that on or about December 15, 1964, it began putting a precautionary label on 85% Magnesia cement and on Magnesia pipe insulation and block.1,3,6 The label began "CAUTION THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBER."3,6

Related: Superex.

Asbestos claims

If you or a family member worked with or around 85 Magnesia (Johns-Manville) and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, a claim may be paid by the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust. Free case review.

What each document says

Every statement about 85 Magnesia (Johns-Manville) in the documents, in each document's own words.

The Potter v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Answers to plaintiff's interrogatories with exhibits

  • Made from: “have been manufactured by it since the early 1900's”, p. 21
  • Warning label: “precautionary label from on or about December 15, 1964 (85% MAGNESIA CEMENT; MAGNESIA & SUPEREX P/I; MAGNESIA & SUPEREX BLOCK)”, p. 31
  • Asbestos content: “15% asbestos fiber”, p. 261
  • Ingredient: “approximately 85% basic carbonate of magnesia”, p. 261
  • Form: “(H.T. Pipe & Block Insulation & Cement)”, p. 261

The Travelers Insurance Company's Product Information Booklet for Its Asbestos Seminar (1980–1981)

  • Made from: “02”, p. 102
  • Description: “GENERIC TERM”, p. 102
  • Asbestos content: “15”, p. 102
  • Made until: “70”, p. 102
  • Form: “PIPECOVER,BLOCK,CEMENT”, p. 102
  • Form: “PIPE”, p. 102

The Borel v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Answers to interrogatories with exhibits

  • Made from: “manufactured by it since the early 1900's”, p. 23
  • Warning label: “CAUTION THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBER.”, p. 33
  • Asbestos content: “Composed of 15% asbestos fiber”, p. 263
  • Description: “(H.T. Pipe & Block Insulation & Cement) Composed of 15% asbestos fiber and approximately 85% basic carbonate of magnesia.”, p. 263

Asbestos; Publication of Identifying Information (1990)

  • Made from: “produced 1902 to 1970”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Made until: “produced 1902 to 1970”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Asbestos content: “asbestos, 10 to 100%”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Description: “white pipe covering and block form”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Form: “Asbestos-Binder cements ... 85% Magnesia”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Ingredient: “ground clay, 2 to 5%; basic magnesia carbonate, 85 to 90%”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144
  • Asbestos content: “asbestos fibers, 12 to 18%”, said by Manville Corporation, as recorded by U.S. EPA, Federal Register 55 FR (Feb. 13, 1990), p. 144

Military Qualified Products List (1951–1995)

  • Made at: “Plants: Waukegan, Ill.” (as of 1958-08-20) (the plant: Waukegan, Illinois), p. 445
  • Description: “qualified under QPL-2781 as JM (85% Magnesia), Grade I, Class b (QPL-2781-15)” (as of 1958-08-20), p. 445
  • Description: “qualified under QPL-2781 as JM (85% Magnesia), Grade I, Class b (QPL-2781-36)” (as of 1969-05-27), p. 1055

The Potter v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Additional answer to third set of interrogatories

  • Warning label: “CAUTION THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBER. INHALATION OF ASBESTOS IN EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME MAY BE HARMFUL. IF DUST IS CREATED WHEN THIS PRODUCT IS HANDLED, AVOID BREATHING THE DUST. IF ADEQUATE VENTILATION CONTROL IS NOT POSSIBLE, WEAR RESPIRATORS APPROVED BY THE U. S. BUREAU OF MINES FOR PNEUMOCONIOSIS PRODUCING DUSTS.” (as of 1970), p. 26
  • Form: “cement”, p. 26

Manville Fund's Answers to Interrogatories in Gunn v. Celotex (1989)

  • Made from: “Date Manufactured: 1902”, p. 917
  • Warning label: “Date Labeled: 1964”, p. 917
  • Warning label: “Date Labeled: 1965”, p. 917
  • Description: “A high temperature insulation, composed of carbonate of magnesia and asbestos fiber”, p. 707
  • Asbestos content: “7.3 - 15.0 % fiber by weight”, p. 917
  • Asbestos content: “asbestos containing”, p. 627
  • Temperature limit: “temperature limit 600 degrees F”, p. 827
  • Form: “Cement”, p. 917
  • Temperature limit: “for service up to 600 degrees F”, p. 707
  • Description: “Composed of the same material as 85% Magnesia sectional and block insulation, it is essentially an insulating and not a finishing cement”, p. 827
  • Asbestos fiber: “Chrysotile and/or Amosite”, p. 917
  • Made at: “Manville Plant, Manville, New Jersey (1913 through 1985): 85% Magnesia Block; 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering” (at Manville) (the plant: Manville, New Jersey), p. 627
  • Asbestos fiber: “Chrysotile and/or Amosite”, p. 917
  • Made until: “Date Discontinued: 1970”, p. 917
  • Form: “Block, Pipe Insulation”, p. 917

Union Carbide Chemicals Company: Thermal Insulation and Accessories Manual (1962)

  • Form: “Block and Pipe Covering”, p. 808
  • Temperature limit: “Atmos to 600”, p. 808
  • Description: “Composed of not less than 85% by volume of hydrated magnesium carbonate and the balance of asbestos fibers. Relatively soft. Absorbant, will soften when wet. Rigid.”, p. 808
  • Asbestos content: “Magnesium Carbonate and Asbestos”, p. 808

Celanese Memo Forwarding NIOSH's List of Trade-Name Products Containing Regulated Carcinogens (1977)

  • Asbestos content: “85% Magnesium Insulation | Asbestos | 15 | 0462685” (as of 1972-74), said by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as recorded by Celanese Chemical Company (C. D. Barrett memo CDB-70-77), p. 119
  • Description: “block & pipe covering” (as of 1902-1970), p. 12810

Manville Fund's Responses to Plaintiffs' Interrogatories in Moore v. H.K. Porter (1990)

  • Made at: “Manville Plant (1913 to 1985): 85% Magnesia Block; 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering” (at Manville) (the plant: Manville, New Jersey), p. 2111
  • Made at: “Waukegan Plant (1922 to 1985): 85% Magnesia Block; 85% Magnesia Cement; 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering” (at Waukegan) (the plant: Waukegan, Illinois), p. 2711
  • Made at: “Redwood City Plant (1932 to 1955): 85% Magnesia Block; 85% Magnesia Cement; 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering; 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering for Copper Tubing; Rough 85% Magnesia Sectional Pipe Covering, Segments and Block” (at Redwood City) (the plant: Redwood City, California), p. 2611
  • Asbestos content: “asbestos containing”, p. 2111

Johns-Manville Material Safety Data Sheet for 85% Magnesia

  • Asbestos content: “10”, p. 112

Kind of product

We list 85 Magnesia (Johns-Manville) with pipe covering and block insulation, insulating cement and coatings and asbestos-cement pipe, board and sheet, from how the documents describe its form. Those pages explain how such products exposed workers.

Trades that worked with products like it: Insulators and Insulation Workers, Pipefitters and Plumbers, Boilermakers, Carpenters and Construction Workers.

Other pipe covering and block insulation by Johns-Manville (60)

Thermobestos · Superex · Asbestocel · Thermobestos pipe covering · Firetard · Thermo Fire Felt · Thermowrap · Train Pipe Covering · Vitribestos · Vitro Fire Felt · White Surface Asbestos Jacket · Zerogloss · Air-Cell · Anti-sweat · Asbesto-metallic · Asbesto-sponge · Asbestos "Navy Brand" Fire Felt · Asbestos "Navy Brand" Fire Felt Covering · Asbestos Air Chamber Covering · Asbestos and Hair Felt Removable Covering · and 40 more on the company's page

Pipe covering and block insulation by other makers (216)

Careytemp (Philip Carey) · Kaylo (Owens-Corning) · Unibestos (Union Asbestos & Rubber Co.) · Kaylo (Owens-Illinois) · Unibestos (Pittsburg Corning) · 19 (Combustion Engineering) · 19 Hitemp (Philip Carey) · 66 (Eagle-Picher) · 7M (Crown Cork & Seal) · 85 Magnesia (Crown Cork & Seal) · 85 Magnesia (Fibreboard) · 85 Magnesia (Gaf/Ruberoid) · 85 Magnesia (Keasbey & Mattison) · 85 Magnesia (Philip Carey) · 85% Magnesia (Armstrong Cork) · 85% Magnesia (Eagle-Picher) · 85% Magnesia (Pabco Products) · Acoa (Asbestos Corp. of America) · Air Cell (GAF) · Air Cell (Mundet Cork) · and 196 more: all pipe covering and block insulation

Other insulating cement and coatings by Johns-Manville (51)

Thermobestos · Superex · Asbestile · 302 · 352 · 400 Cement · 450 · 450 Cement · 500 · 500 Cement · 678 Semi-refractory · 678 Semi-Refractory Cement · 85% Magnesia Cement · Asbestoment · Asbestos Fire Felt · Fibrofil · Fibrous Adhesive · Fil-insul · Fireite · Firetite Furnace Cement · and 31 more on the company's page

Insulating cement and coatings by other makers (273)

Prasco (Fibreboard) · Calsilite (GAF) · Caltemp (Fibreboard) · Sal-mo (Nicolet) · Super 66 (Eagle-Picher) · 7M Short (Nicolet) · 7M Short Fiber (Mundet Cork) · 7M-90 (Celotex) · 81-27 and 81-93 (Benjamin Foster) · 85 Magnesia (Crown Cork & Seal) · 85 Magnesia (Fibreboard) · 85 Magnesia (Gaf/Ruberoid) · 85 Magnesia (Keasbey & Mattison) · 85 Magnesia (Philip Carey) · 85% Magnesia Cement (Fibreboard) · 90-07 H.I. Mastic (Benjamin Foster) · 99 (Eagle-Picher) · 99 Finishing Cement (Eagle-Picher) · A-1 (Philip Carey) · A-1199 (Combustion Engineering) · and 253 more: all insulating cement and coatings

See also

References

  1. The Potter v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Answers to plaintiff's interrogatories with exhibits (December 29, 1969), pp. 2–3, 26.
  2. The Travelers Insurance Company's Product Information Booklet for Its Asbestos Seminar (1980–1981) (April 30, 1981), p. 10.
  3. The Borel v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Answers to interrogatories with exhibits (March 27, 1970), pp. 2–3, 26.
  4. Asbestos; Publication of Identifying Information (February 13, 1990), p. 14.
  5. Military Qualified Products List (1951–1995) (August 20, 1958), pp. 44, 105.
  6. The Potter v. Fibreboard Case File (1969-1972), Additional answer to third set of interrogatories (March 13, 1970), p. 2.
  7. Manville Fund's Answers to Interrogatories in Gunn v. Celotex (December 7, 1989), p. 91.
  8. Union Carbide Chemicals Company: Thermal Insulation and Accessories Manual (October 1, 1962), p. 80.
  9. Celanese Memo Forwarding NIOSH's List of Trade-Name Products Containing Regulated Carcinogens (August 26, 1977), p. 11.
  10. Sourcebook on Asbestos Diseases: Medical, Legal, and Engineering Aspects, Volume Two (1986), p. 128. Not yet published in our library.
  11. Manville Fund's Responses to Plaintiffs' Interrogatories in Moore v. H.K. Porter (February 15, 1990), p. 21.
  12. Johns-Manville Material Safety Data Sheet for 85% Magnesia, p. 1.

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