National Gypsum / Gold Bond
National Gypsum, known for its Gold Bond brand, was a major producer of asbestos-containing plaster, spackling, joint compound, ceiling tiles, and wallboard products used across the United States and Canada.
* The end date of asbestos use varies by country depending on when it was banned. See the ban year next to each country below.
Description
National Gypsum Company, founded in 1925, grew to become one of the largest gypsum product manufacturers in the United States. Operating primarily under the Gold Bond brand name, the company produced a broad range of building products that incorporated asbestos fibers, including plaster, spackling compound, joint compound, ceiling tiles, and wallboard. Gold Bond products were among the most widely used interior finishing materials in American construction from the 1940s through the late 1970s.
The company's asbestos-containing product line was extensive and well-documented. Gold Bond Fire-Shield plaster, produced from approximately 1958 to 1970, contained asbestos to enhance fire resistance. Gold Bond Macoustic plaster, manufactured from 1942 to 1947, was an acoustical plaster with asbestos content. Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte ceiling tiles, produced from 1955 to 1972, incorporated asbestos for thermal insulation and fire resistance. Additional confirmed asbestos-containing products include Gold Bond Patching Plaster, Spackling Plaster, Wood-Fibered Plaster, Humiguard ceiling tiles, and various joint compound formulations.
The friable nature of many National Gypsum products makes them particularly hazardous. Unlike non-friable asbestos-cement products where fibers are tightly bound in a cement matrix, plasters, joint compounds, and acoustical products can be easily crumbled by hand pressure, readily releasing asbestos fibers into the air. This makes Gold Bond asbestos products among the highest-risk materials encountered during building renovation and demolition. Workers who mixed, applied, sanded, and finished these products experienced intense asbestos exposure.
National Gypsum filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1990, driven in significant part by asbestos personal injury litigation. The NGC Asbestos Trust (also known as the National Gypsum Asbestos Trust) was established to process and pay claims from individuals who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases from exposure to National Gypsum and Gold Bond products.
National Gypsum continues to operate today as a building products manufacturer, having eliminated asbestos from all products. However, Gold Bond asbestos-containing plasters, joint compounds, and ceiling tiles remain present in millions of buildings constructed or renovated between the 1940s and 1970s, representing a significant ongoing hazard whenever these buildings undergo renovation or demolition.
Countries where commonly found
Commercial brands
How to identify
Look for the Gold Bond brand name on product containers, bags, and boxes. Plaster products may retain original bag markings in storage areas or mechanical rooms. Gold Bond ceiling tiles may carry the Gold Bond name on the backing, along with product names like Fire-Shield, Macoustic, Perfo-Lyte, or Humiguard. Joint compound containers are typically labeled with the Gold Bond or National Gypsum name. The products themselves appear as white or off-white powders (when unmixed) or as applied finishes on walls and ceilings. Acoustical plaster has a rough, textured surface. Gold Bond plaster with asbestos is visually indistinguishable from non-asbestos plaster, so laboratory testing is essential. Any Gold Bond or National Gypsum plaster, joint compound, or ceiling tile installed before 1978 should be presumed to contain asbestos.
Health risk & friability
This material has a risk level of 3 out of 5.
It is classified as friable, meaning asbestos fibers can be released into the air with minimal disturbance. This makes it one of the more dangerous asbestos-containing materials. Any work on or near this material should only be carried out by licensed professionals with appropriate containment measures.
What to do if you find this material
Gold Bond asbestos products are predominantly friable, meaning they can be easily crumbled and release fibers. Do not sand, scrape, drill into, or demolish any wall, ceiling, or surface that may contain Gold Bond asbestos plaster, joint compound, or acoustical products. Even minor disturbance such as hanging a picture or running cables can release fibers from friable materials. If these products are intact and in good condition, they can remain in place with regular monitoring, but an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) plan should be developed. Before any renovation or demolition, a licensed asbestos inspector must sample and test all suspect materials. Removal must be performed under full containment by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor following OSHA, EPA, and state regulations. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease from Gold Bond product exposure, file a claim with the NGC Asbestos Trust.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gold Bond products contain asbestos?
Is Gold Bond joint compound asbestos?
Why are Gold Bond asbestos products especially dangerous?
Is there a National Gypsum asbestos trust fund?
How do I test Gold Bond plaster for asbestos?
Related materials
Other asbestos-containing materials you might encounter.
Asbestos Plaster
Wall and ceiling plasters containing asbestos fibres for fire resistance and improved workability.
Asbestos Drywall Joint Compound
Joint compound, spackling, and taping compound containing chrysotile asbestos, used to finish drywall seams in millions of buildings.
Asbestos Ceiling Tile
Ceiling tiles containing asbestos, used in suspended grid systems and glue-up applications in commercial buildings.
Asbestos Acoustical Plaster
Lightweight trowel-applied plaster containing asbestos or asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, used on ceilings for sound absorption.
Need professional help?
Browse verified asbestos professionals near you. Testing, surveys, removal, direct contact, no middleman.
Browse the directory