🏗️ Hangar & Building Materials

Roof Felts, Tiles, Mastics & Fireproof Panel Asbestos Exposure

From the 1940s through the late 1980s, asbestos was widely used in military hangars, barracks, warehouses, and administrative buildings for fireproofing and insulation. Materials such as roof felts, ceiling tiles, mastics, joint compounds, and fireproof wall panels were installed in nearly every base construction project worldwide. Over time, these materials aged, cracked, and released asbestos fibers into the air — endangering soldiers, maintenance crews, and civilian contractors who worked or lived inside.

📞 If you were exposed to asbestos in hangars or base buildings, call 800.291.0963 for free veteran claim support today.

🧭 Step 1 – Asbestos in Military Construction Materials

Asbestos was prized for strength, heat resistance, and affordability. It appeared in hundreds of construction and maintenance products.

Common asbestos materials included:

• ⚙️ Roof felts, shingles, and tar paper.

• 🧱 Ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and adhesives.

• 💨 Mastics, joint compounds, and wall plasters.

• 🔩 Fireproof panels and insulation boards.

• 🪖 Pipe and duct insulation behind walls and ceilings.

Goal: Understand that nearly all mid-20th-century military construction used asbestos-based building materials.

📁 Step 2 – Where Exposure Occurred

Every branch of the U.S. military used asbestos in its facilities and support structures.

High-risk locations:

• 🏢 Aircraft hangars with asbestos roof felts and fireproof wall panels.

• 🏠 Barracks, dormitories, and housing units with asbestos ceiling and floor tiles.

• 🏭 Warehouses and maintenance shops lined with asbestos mastics and insulation boards.

• 🏥 Hospitals and kitchens with asbestos floor coverings and adhesives.

• 🧱 Administrative buildings containing asbestos ceiling plasters and duct insulation.

Goal: Identify which base facilities you worked or lived in that contained asbestos materials.

🏗️ Step 3 – Who Was Exposed

Exposure occurred among both active-duty service members and civilian personnel performing maintenance and construction.

Most-affected groups:

• 🧰 Carpenters, Painters, and Construction Crews performing renovations.

• ⚙️ Electricians and HVAC Technicians disturbing insulation and panels.

• 💨 Custodians and Building Engineers sweeping or cleaning damaged tiles.

• 🪖 Aircrew and Hangar Mechanics stationed in asbestos-lined hangars.

• 🧾 Civilian contractors repairing base infrastructure through the 1980s.

Goal: Link your occupation or MOS to buildings known to contain asbestos materials.

💼 Step 4 – How Exposure Happened

Daily activities in older buildings released asbestos dust into breathable air.

Common exposure activities:

• 🔧 Drilling or cutting into asbestos wallboard or ceiling panels.

• ⚙️ Replacing damaged floor or ceiling tiles.

• 💨 Cleaning vents, ducts, or insulation debris.

• 🧱 Scraping or sanding asbestos mastics and joint compounds.

• 🧾 Demolition or renovation of older hangar facilities.

Goal: Document specific maintenance or renovation work that disturbed asbestos materials.

🩺 Step 5 – Health Risks from Building Material Exposure

Even minimal asbestos exposure can cause disease decades later.

Common illnesses:

• 💀 Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

• 🫁 Asbestosis and chronic lung scarring.

• 💬 Pleural thickening and inflammation.

• 🩺 Lung, throat, and stomach cancers.

Goal: Obtain diagnostic confirmation from your physician or VA medical center.

⚖️ Step 6 – VA Disability Benefits for Veterans

Service members who lived or worked in asbestos-contaminated buildings qualify for VA disability benefits and trust-fund compensation.

Available benefits:

• 💰 100% tax-free VA monthly payments.

• 🏥 Specialized VA mesothelioma treatment access.

• 🕊️ DIC survivor benefits for dependents.

• ⚖️ Trust-fund eligibility from asbestos product manufacturers.

Goal: File both VA and trust-fund claims to receive comprehensive compensation.

🧱 Step 7 – Civilian & Contractor Exposure on Bases

After discharge, many veterans continued working on asbestos abatement or base maintenance projects.

Eligible claimants include:

• ⚙️ Construction, renovation, and abatement contractors.

• 💵 Civilian base maintenance staff.

• 🧾 State and federal building engineers.

• 🕊️ Family members exposed through contaminated clothing.

Goal: Include all employment and worksite records in your asbestos claim.

🧠 Step 8 – Evidence That Strengthens Building Material Claims

Key documentation:

• 🧾 Service or employment records linking you to affected bases.

• ⚙️ Facility blueprints and maintenance logs confirming asbestos use.

• 💬 Witness statements from coworkers or unit members.

• 🧱 DoD or EPA abatement reports verifying asbestos removal.

Goal: Tie your exposure history to specific building or hangar sites.

🌈 Step 9 – Asbestos Abatement & Base Renovation Programs

The U.S. military began widespread asbestos removal in the 1980s and 1990s.

Cleanup milestones:

• 🏗️ Asbestos-free materials adopted for new base construction.

• ⚙️ EPA-mandated abatement of hangars, barracks, and schools.

• 🧾 Documentation retained by the Department of Defense and contractors.

Goal: Use abatement reports to confirm that asbestos was historically present during your service period.

💬 Step 10 – Filing Your Claim

Next steps:

• 🧭 Identify base or facility names where you served.

• ⚙️ Gather medical, occupational, and exposure documentation.

• 🧾 File VA, trust-fund, and civil claims immediately.

• 📞 Call 800.291.0963 to connect with a Mesothelioma Help Center advocate.

Goal: File as soon as possible to protect your eligibility before deadlines.

🤝 Where to Get Help

Our advocates assist veterans, mechanics, and contractors exposed to asbestos in hangars, barracks, and base facilities.

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for personalized, free claim support.

🧭 Summary

From hangars to housing, asbestos building materials were standard across military installations for decades. Damaged or disturbed roof felts, tiles, and mastics released deadly fibers that still affect veterans and civilians today. Filing VA disability, trust-fund, and civil claims provides justice and financial support for those impacted by base-building asbestos exposure.

You served under those roofs — now let us help you rebuild.
800.291.0963