Chimney Flue Lining (Asbestos-Cement) — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk

What This Equipment Is

Chimney flue lining is the pipe inside a masonry chimney that carries combustion gases from the appliance (furnace, boiler, water heater) to the chimney cap. From the 1940s through the 1980s, much of the residential and small-commercial chimney-lining market was served by asbestos-cement chimney flue pipe — typically branded “Transite” (Johns-Manville) or sold under generic names from various asbestos-cement-pipe manufacturers.

The product was popular because it offered:

  • Light weight compared to clay tile lining
  • Easy field cutting and joining
  • Good heat resistance for typical oil- and gas-furnace flue temperatures
  • Low cost compared to stainless-steel alternatives

Asbestos-cement flue pipe is found in millions of residential chimneys, attic-mounted appliance flue connectors, and exterior-mount appliance vents installed during the postwar housing boom and through the 1980s.

Why Chimney-Flue-Lining Work Was an Asbestos Exposure Pathway

Same exposure pathways as other Transite Pipe applications: cutting with a power saw during installation, drilling for fastener and instrumentation holes, demolition when removing the chimney during renovation, and breaking when sections crack from thermal stress or impact.

Modern chimney-lining replacements often encounter legacy asbestos-cement flue pipe in homes built or re-furnaced 1940s–1980s. Homeowners, chimney sweeps, and HVAC contractors performing flue-liner work disturb the asbestos-cement matrix at close range.

Failed-flue diagnosis and repair is an ongoing exposure source. When carbon-monoxide-detection or backdrafting investigations identify a cracked or collapsed flue liner, the repair / replacement work involves direct disturbance of the asbestos product.

Manufacturers Named in Asbestos-Cement Flue Lining Litigation

  • Johns-Manville — Transite chimney flue lining
  • CertainTeed — asbestos-cement flue products
  • National Gypsum — asbestos-cement products
  • Eternit — asbestos-cement products
  • Atlas Asbestos Company — asbestos-cement products
  • Capco / Capco Pipe — asbestos-cement pipe

Documented Product References

Images sourced from publicly available product-identification reference materials. Inclusion does not constitute a finding of liability against any company.

Trust Funds That May Apply

  • Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust
  • National Gypsum / NGC Bodily Injury Trust
  • Various smaller asbestos-cement-pipe related trusts

Categories Most Exposed to Chimney Flue Lining

Trades: chimney sweeps, HVAC and heating contractors, masons, building renovation contractors, home inspectors.

Homeowners performing DIY chimney inspections and repairs.

Cross-References

Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, CPSC records on residential combustion-appliance safety, and industry-publication histories. Product and company references reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed litigation. This page does not constitute a finding of liability against any company. Not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.