Armstrong World Industries

Armstrong World Industries History of Asbestos Use

In 1860, Thomas M. Armstrong and John D. Glass founded Armstrong World Industries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company began as a small cork bottle stopper manufacturer. By the 1890s, Armstrong World Industries was the largest producer of cork in the world.

The company expanded to produce insulation, flooring and ceiling materials. Around this time, asbestos was also starting to grow in popularity and was an easy and inexpensive additive to its new line of products.

In 1907, the company built a linoleum factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This factory was followed by further expansion into South Gate, California; Kankakee, Illinois; and Jackson, Mississippi.

Armstrong World Industries survived World War I and the Great Depression and contributed to the war effort during World War II. WWII occurred near the beginning of the asbestos boom. The mineral was used heavily in the war efforts by many different industrial companies. Asbestos was also used in all branches of the military.

During this time, Armstrong World Industries continued to expand and acquired other companies, some of which may also have used asbestos in their products. The use of asbestos within Armstrong World Industries products ended by the mid-1980s.

Armstrong faced increasing asbestos-related litigation during the 1990s and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2000. By 2004, it had accrued at least $413 million in asbestos liabilities.

The company has continued operating after emerging from bankruptcy restructuring in 2006. Armstrong later reorganized portions of its business by spinning off certain divisions into separate companies while continuing to acquire other businesses. Asbestos victims also continue to file claims against the company’s asbestos trust fund.

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Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust Fund

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000, the Armstrong World Industries Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2006 to settle asbestos-related claims. The asbestos trust fund began accepting claims on May 14, 2007, and was initially funded with $2.06 billion in assets.

The Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust applies a payment percentage system that may change over time to help preserve enough funds for all current and future claims. A variety of factors may influence the final value of a claim. The trust remains active and continues to pay asbestos claims today.

Most Recent Information From Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

The trust’s year-end 2025 report indicated that, as of December 31, 2025:

• Approximately 19,930 Armstrong Asbestos Trust claims were paid.
• The Armstrong Asbestos Trust paid approximately $69.4 million to asbestos victims.
• Approximately $1.62 million was reported in settled but unpaid claims.
• More than 417,500 Armstrong asbestos claims have been paid since the inception of the trust.
• More than $3.136 billion in claim settlements has been paid to asbestos victims since the trust was established.
• Approximately $662.05 million in total assets remain in the trust.

Current Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust Payment Percentage

The current payment percentage is 10.8% for the Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust. The scheduled value for an Armstrong World Industries Expedited Review mesothelioma claim is $110,000. At a payment percentage of 10.8%, the current payout on an Armstrong World Industries mesothelioma claim filed under the Expedited Review is $11,880.

Determining Review Process When Filing an Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust Claim

An experienced asbestos lawyer will evaluate the injured party’s case to determine the appropriate review process when submitting an Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust claim. A sample of Armstrong asbestos trust claims filed between 2022 and 2025 indicated that approximately 55% of claims were filed through the Expedited Review (ER) process and approximately 45% of claims were filed through the Individual Review (IR) process.

• Expedited Review: Armstrong asbestos trust claims filed through the ER process are evaluated by the trust using the medical and exposure criteria set forth in the Trust Distribution Procedures. Compensation for approved claims is determined by the standard scheduled value established for the applicable disease level.
• Individual Review: Armstrong asbestos trust claims filed through the IR process receive a thorough evaluation of the exposure, medical and personal records to determine an individual liquidated value that may be higher or less than the standard Scheduled Value. IR submission may be required for certain lung cancer claims, secondary exposure cases or when standard trust criteria are not met.

The trust is currently accepting Armstrong asbestos claims to compensate eligible victims with payments primarily determined by factors such as age, diagnosis, exposure history and the law firm’s settlement history. If you or a loved one were exposed to Armstrong World Industries asbestos products and believe you are entitled to compensation, learn how a mesothelioma lawyer can help.

Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Products

Armstrong World Industries’ first product, cork stoppers for bottles, was asbestos-free. However, the company soon expanded to produce asbestos products. Records indicate the company used asbestos fibers in some products from 1909 until the mid-1980s.

Asbestos-containing products produced by Armstrong World Industries included floor tile, ceiling products, lining felt and backing for sheet vinyl and acoustic cement. Asbestos was added to these building materials to improve resistance to chemicals, fire and heat.

Company records show Armstrong World Industries’ asbestos products have been used in nearly all 50 states and several territories.

Did You Know? Mesothelioma victims may be eligible for compensation from more than one asbestos trust fund. Filing a claim with one trust does not impact your eligibility for compensation from another trust fund. Learn More About Accessing Trust Funds

Armstrong World Industries and Occupational Exposure

Armstrong World Industries has grown steadily since its founding. By 1890, Armstrong employed more than 750 people. As of 2023, the company had about 3,000 employees.

Any employee who worked under Armstrong World Industries between 1909 and the mid-1980s may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure. Records show exposure occurred in the company’s production plants. Workers involved in the production of asbestos products, contractors who handled and installed these products, and anyone who spent time at the factories were at high risk of exposure.

People not employed by Armstrong World Industries may also have faced exposure from its products. The company’s products were sold and distributed widely, allowing contact with a variety of professionals. Many homeowners also used, repaired or otherwise handled Armstrong World Industries building products. Anyone who used or worked around Armstrong World Industries products may have been exposed to asbestos.

Questions About Filing a Claim Against Armstrong World Industries? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Litigation Against Armstrong World Industries

By the 1990s, Armstrong World Industries began to be named in asbestos lawsuits. Initially, the company paid the lawsuits using insurance funds.

In a 1991 precedent-setting case, an insulator was diagnosed with pleural thickening before being diagnosed with asbestosis. On appeal, the worker won their case, which set a precedent under Colorado law regarding the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit for a second asbestos-related illness.

By 1994, Armstrong World Industries had nearly $200 million in asbestos litigation costs. At the time, it was estimated the company would also be liable for almost $250 million in future legal payouts.

Because of these expenses, Armstrong World Industries filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December of 2000. When the company filed, it faced more than 175,000 personal injury lawsuits from people who claimed to have developed asbestos-related diseases as a result of the company’s asbestos use.

Two years after filing for bankruptcy, Armstrong World Industries was recognized as one of the top 100 polluters in the United States for 2002. Following its numerous legal and image issues, the company began working to rebrand itself and underwent a six-year plan to reconfigure the organization.