Is Asbestos a Good Conductor of Electricity?

The use of asbestos in electrical wiring

Since commercial electricity began, asbestos has been used in a variety of ways to manufacture electrical panels and their components. 

An electrical panel (or distribution box) receives and then distributes the electrical supply for a building. Electrical currents produce heat, which can arc and cause an electrocution injury or a fire if not properly grounded. As commercial electricity became mainstream, manufacturers needed to find materials that could improve the safety of electrical supply. 

Asbestos Insulation on Electrical Wire is Still In Many Old Homes and Buildings

With its heat-resistant properties, affordability, and ease of use, asbestos became the obvious choice. The fibrous nature of the mineral made it easy for manufacturers to work with, mixing it into many other materials such as cement, plastic, millboard, paper, and cloth. 

The most common uses of asbestos in electrical products include:

• Asbestos panels – ‘Ebonized asbestos lumber’ was the name given to an asbestos-containing cement used as a fire-resistant alternative to the traditional wood boards. It was also further treated to make it water-resistant.

• Asbestos cement bases – asbestos cement was often shaped to shield specific electrical components.

• Electrical shielding – asbestos sheets were used between electrical components to shield them. They were also sometimes shaped into arc chutes to fully enclose electrical switch equipment.

• Cable wrap – thick electrical cables were wrapped in asbestos cloth or paper, and molded asbestos plastics were also often used to manufacture other electrical components.

• Wire insulation – asbestos was commonly used to insulate individual wires and provide a fireproof layer of protection. As they age and fray, this asbestos wiring releases dangerous fibers.

• Electrical paper – sheets of insulation paper made with asbestos (flash guards) were used as electrical box linings. Paper products are more easily prone to wear and tear, so any that contain asbestos pose a significant risk to anyone near or working with it. 

Gross negligence and conspiracy to protect profits

Many asbestos company executives were grossly negligent in their duty of care to their workers and consumers by concealing the harmful effects of asbestos exposure. Shockingly, some executives had been aware of the link between lung diseases and mesothelioma (an aggressive, malignant cancer) and asbestos exposure since the 1930s, but it was not made public until the late 1970s. 

Many lawsuits have since proved negligence, conspiracy to protect profits, and liability for causing human illness and death, with many billions of dollars being subsequently paid out by multiple companies. It was not only company executives that were found to be complicit either. In some cases, lawyers, employees, and even doctors conspired to keep the dangers of asbestos under wraps to protect profits. 

One notable case was that of Howard Plum, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2000. Plum previously worked as an electrician and had been exposed to asbestos during the 1940s via asbestos-containing electrical cables manufactured by General Electric. The company was found guilty, and Plum was awarded $1.5 million. Unfortunately, this is sadly an all too common example of how delayed the symptoms and diagnosis of mesothelioma can be after exposure to asbestos.