Owens Corning Asbestos Exposure, Trust Fund & Compensation

Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation (OC) was a leading manufacturer of glass fiber, insulation products, and other building materials, many of which contained asbestos. After facing several Owens Corning asbestos lawsuits, the company filed for bankruptcy and formed the Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to compensate victims exposed to Owens Corning asbestos products.

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If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma or another asbestos disease after exposure to OC products, an ELSM asbestos lawyer can determine your eligibility and help you file an Owens Corning asbestos trust claim.

Owens Corning Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust has paid approximately $3.11 billion to asbestos victims with funds remaining.
• To file an Owens Corning asbestos trust claim, the victim must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos illness and prove OC is responsible for the exposure.
• Owens Corning asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of insulation and other building products on the job.
• ELSM Law asbestos attorneys can determine your eligibility, collect the required documents, and file your OC asbestos claim.

Understanding the Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Fund

In October 2000, Owens Corning and its subsidiary, Fibreboard Corporation, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to several asbestos lawsuits. To address these liabilities, they established an asbestos trust fund in 2006. The Owens Corning/Fibreboard Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Trust includes a dedicated Owens Corning sub-fund specifically created to compensate victims who were exposed to OC asbestos products. On August 27, 2007, the Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust sub-fund began accepting and processing claims.

The Delaware Claims Processing Facility, LLC continues to handle these OC asbestos claims today. The trust has paid over 448,300 claims since it was established.

In 2024, the Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust:

• Paid over 22,300 claims.
• Received over 26,600 unliquidated claims.
• Paid approximately $57 million to asbestos victims.
• Reported over $3.073 million in settled but unpaid claims.
• Reported approximately $484.65 million in total assets.

Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Payment Percentage

The Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust will compensate asbestos victims based on the payment percentage system that is designed to preserve money for future claims. The current payment percentage is 4.7% for the Owens Corning Asbestos Trust. At a payment percentage of 4.7%, an Owens Corning mesothelioma claim filed under the expedited review process can be expected to receive the minimum standard scheduled value payment of $10,105.

Determining Review Process for Owens Corning Claims

When filing an Owens Corning asbestos trust claim, an experienced asbestos lawyer will evaluate the victim’s exposure history, medical records, and personal information to determine the best filing process to help maximize compensation.

Two claim review options are:

• Expedited Review: When filed through the Expedited Review process, the trust evaluates the claim to determine if it meets the Trust Distribution Procedures and qualifies for the standard value payment percentage.
• Individual Review: When filed through the Individual Review process, the trust will evaluate the claimant’s exposure, medical records, and other personal information to determine the individual liquidated value of the claim. Certain medical and exposure factors require IR filing.

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will assess the claimant’s information to file a mesothelioma claim accurately. Compensation depends on factors such as age, diagnosis, exposure, and the firm’s settlement history.

Owens Corning’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

In the 1930s, Owens-Illinois partnered with Corning Glass Works in a joint venture to manufacture fiberglass insulation and established the Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation. The company focused on producing fiberglass insulation products used for commercial and residential construction, marketed under the Fiberglas trademark.

The company failed to sufficiently warn workers and consumers about the health dangers associated with asbestos exposure. Although Owens Corning eventually discontinued using asbestos in its products, previously manufactured materials remained in use and continued to pose a risk to individuals.

Key events in Owens Corning’s asbestos history include:

• 1938: The Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation was officially formed and became an innovator for glass fiber and fiberglass insulation.
• 1939: The U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships designated Owens Corning insulation as the standard material for insulating newly constructed warships.
• 1953: OC began distributing asbestos-containing insulation products, including the Kaylo brand of thermal pipe and block insulation.
• 1958: Owens Corning officially acquired full rights to the asbestos-containing Kaylo insulation product line from Owens-Illinois and continued to manufacture these asbestos products into the 1970s.
• 1972: OC stopped using asbestos in insulation products.
• 1978: Owens Corning faced its first asbestos lawsuit when two shipyard workers diagnosed with asbestosis filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and 14 other asbestos manufacturers on behalf of 5,000 workers. This lawsuit alleged exposure to asbestos materials, including OC pipe insulation.
• 1997: Owens Corning acquired the Fibreboard Corporation (FB), assuming responsibility for FB’s asbestos exposure claims.
• 1997: In Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Ballard, a Florida Jury ruled that OC was liable for the hidden asbestos dangers after Mr. Ballard developed mesothelioma from exposure to OC asbestos products. The jury awarded $31 million in punitive damages and $1.8 million in compensation to the victim.
• 2000: The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after facing over 200,000 Owens Corning asbestos lawsuits between the late 1970s through the 1990s.
• 2006: The Owens Corning/Fibreboard Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was created. It included the Owens Corning Asbestos Personal Injury Trust sub-fund organized to handle all current and future OC asbestos claims.

Owens Corning Asbestos Products

Owens Corning manufactured a variety of construction and building materials that contained asbestos. The well-known Owens-Corning Fiberglas asbestos products included the Kaylo pipe and block insulation. These thermal pipe and block insulation products were frequently used in the construction of commercial buildings, power plants, and industrial facilities. Additionally, they were vital during World War II when used in aircraft, ships, and military barracks.

Owens Corning manufactured and sold a variety of asbestos products, including:

• Adhesives: Used to bond pipe insulation to surfaces.
• Asbestos Cement: Commonly used in various construction and insulation applications for weather and heat protection.
• Kaylo Block Insulation: Rigid insulation blocks applied to boilers, furnaces, and other industrial equipment to withstand high temperatures.
• Ceiling Board: Used in commercial and residential buildings for sound absorption, fire resistance, and insulation.
• Kaylo Pipe Insulation: Wrapped around piping to retain heat and fire resistance.
• Mastics: Used to seal joints in ductwork or around insulation.
• Roofing Felt: Asbestos-containing asphalt coated fibrous paper that was installed under shingles, tiles, or other roofing materials for weather and fire resistance.
• Roofing Shingles: Often applied in overlapping rows on residential homes for weather protection, fire resistance, and durability.

The following Owens Corning asbestos products were commonly used:

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

In addition to Owens Corning employees, various tradesmen, military servicemen, and home renovators were frequently exposed to OC asbestos products. Family members of individuals who used these products were also at risk of indirect or secondary exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Insulators and other workers in industrial, commercial, and residential construction were regularly exposed to Owens Corning asbestos-containing building materials. Despite growing evidence of the health risks, tradesmen were not properly warned or provided adequate protection.

Occupations at greater risk of Owens Corning asbestos exposure include:

Home Renovation Exposure

Homeowners and other construction laborers often used or were exposed to Owens Corning products while completing repairs to residential homes. Installing, applying, or removing materials including roofing shingles, roofing felt, and Kaylo insulation products during home repairs released asbestos fibers that renovators inhaled. Individuals that were bystanders during this work were also at risk of asbestos exposure.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Workers unknowingly put family members at risk of secondary asbestos exposure when they carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, and hair. This typically occurred through close contact or while handling and washing contaminated work clothes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and lived with someone who worked with or around Owens Corning asbestos products, you may be eligible to file a claim with the OC asbestos trust.

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Filing a mesothelioma claim with the Owens Corning asbestos trust requires documentation that complies with the Trust Distribution Procedures and filing deadlines. A mesothelioma law firm like ELSM can guide you through the process.

An asbestos lawyer at ELSM will:

• Review your medical records to assess your OC asbestos claim eligibility.
• Collect your employment history to identify asbestos exposure sites.
• Connect your exposure sites to known OC product use or obtain written testimony confirming OC product exposure.
• File your OC claim correctly with the required documentation.
• Monitor claim status and contact the trust to ensure timely progress.

With decades of experience handling asbestos trust claims, ELSM Law knows how to navigate the process and help victims secure the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Owens Corning insulation contain asbestos?

Owens Corning insulation products were commonly manufactured with asbestos between the 1950s and the 1970s. Mesothelioma victims who used these asbestos-containing OC insulation products may be eligible to file a claim through the Owens Corning Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.

Can a family member file an Owens Corning Asbestos claim?

Yes, family members can file mesothelioma claims after death on behalf of a loved one. Family members who have experienced secondary asbestos exposure and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer may qualify to file an Owens Corning claim.

How much compensation can I receive through the Owens Corning Asbestos Trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case to determine the appropriate review process to select when filing an Owens Corning asbestos claim. A mesothelioma claim could receive a payout between $10,105 and $30,550 based on the current OC asbestos trust payment percentage.

How long do I have to file a claim with the Owens Corning Asbestos Trust?

The deadline to file an Owens Corning asbestos claim varies by state, but generally requires submission within 3 years of the diagnosis or within 3 years from the initial OC claim filing date. An asbestos lawyer will determine the statute of limitations to file your claim on time.