--- title: "What Year Did They Stop Using Asbestos in Homes? No Single Year" description: "No one year ends asbestos in homes. Key dates run from 1973 to 2024, and some houses from the 1980s still carry it. See the timeline and what to test." url: https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/what-year-did-they-stop-using-asbestos-in-homes publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://www.aes-stl.com/contact --- Practical: 5 min read, published June 3, 2026 # What Year Did They Stop Using Asbestos in Homes? No Single Year AES says asbestos was widely used in building materials up until the mid-1980s, and no single year clears a house. Bans came in pieces: spray-applied surfacing in 1973, pipe insulation in 1975, patching compounds in 1978, a broad rule in 1989 that a court overturned in 1991, and chrysotile in 2024. Libby vermiculite sold until 1990. [Request a Quote](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![AES abatement workers in white protective suits and respirators scraping a building wall from scaffolding](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/099.DIly0KOe_QvKKD.webp) ![Building wrapped in white containment sheeting with an AES storage container in front](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/AESI-083.BQiJ3BQs_Z1FKjAJ.webp) ![AES worker in a respirator and protective suit scraping wall coating from a scaffold inside plastic containment](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/100.Beg0SK9K_Z2cMAXv.webp) ## What year did they stop using asbestos in homes? No single year. AES says asbestos “was widely used up until the mid-1980’s in the manufacture of many building materials including ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials, and even in car brakes.” Federal bans arrived in steps, and each covered only some products. A house from the early 1980s can still hold asbestos, so the safe move is to test the material, not trust the year. The EPA’s own dates support that. It lists Libby, Montana vermiculite as sold through 1990, and its broad 1989 ban was overturned in 1991. The only reliable answer comes from a lab report on the exact material you plan to disturb. ## What are the key dates? Federal actions came one product class at a time. Read the table as a guide to when products were pulled from the market, not as the date your house became safe. Date What happened Who says Up to the mid-1980s Asbestos widely used in ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials and other building materials AES, on its asbestos testing page 1973 Spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing material banned for fireproofing and insulating purposes EPA 1975 Installation banned for asbestos pipe insulation and block insulation on facility components such as boilers and hot water tanks, if pre-formed (molded) and friable, or wet-applied and friable after drying EPA After January 16, 1978, and all of them after June 11, 1978 Consumer patching compounds with intentionally added, respirable free-form asbestos are banned hazardous products CPSC, 16 CFR Part 1304 1978 Spray-applied surfacing materials banned for purposes not already banned EPA July 12, 1989, overturned in 1991 EPA banned most asbestos-containing products; the Fifth Circuit overturned the rule; only a few products remain banned EPA 1990 End of the period (1919 to 1990) when a Libby, Montana mine supplied over 70 percent of US vermiculite EPA March 28, 2024 EPA finalized a rule prohibiting manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, commercial use and disposal of chrysotile asbestos EPA The CPSC found that “about half the patching compounds sold in 1977” for consumers were made with asbestos. Compound bought before the ban can sit in a garage and go on a wall years later. A ban date tells you when sales stopped, not when the last bucket was used. ## Why does a single ban date not settle it? Because each rule named a narrow class of products. The 1973 and 1978 EPA actions covered spray-applied surfacing. The 1975 action covered pipe and block insulation, and only the pre-formed friable or wet-applied friable kinds. The 1978 CPSC rule covered consumer patching compounds. None of them said that floor tile, sheet flooring, furnace insulation, roofing or siding were free of asbestos afterward. The EPA still lists “Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives” among places asbestos may be found in homes. The EPA’s 1989 rule would have banned most asbestos-containing products. A court overturned it in 1991. The EPA’s own page says “only a few asbestos-containing products remain banned.” After 1991 no broad federal ban stood on most products. That is one reason a house from the 1980s can still contain asbestos. ## Does the 2024 chrysotile rule change what is in my walls? No. The rule governs manufacture, distribution and use of chrysotile going forward. It does not test or remove what is already in a house. The EPA describes a prohibition on “manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in commerce, and commercial use and disposal of chrysotile asbestos.” Your 1960s floor tile is not a product in commerce. It is a building material that you may or may not disturb. For homeowners, the rules that matter day to day are the work-practice rules. In Missouri those are the Department of Natural Resources inspection, notice and abatement rules for regulated projects. Our [Missouri asbestos rules guide](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/missouri-demolition-and-renovation-asbestos-rules) explains when they apply. ## How old are St. Louis houses compared with these dates? Most local homes fall in the ranges where asbestos can appear. The 2024 American Community Survey (1-year) counts 174,694 housing units in the city of St. Louis. Of those, 4,693 were built from 1980 to 1989. In St. Louis County, 57,129 of 447,542 units were built from 1980 to 1989. Build year What to assume Next step Before 1978 Common materials may contain asbestos Test before any work that touches floor, ceiling, siding, pipe or furnace materials 1978 to the mid-1980s Possible. AES puts wide use of asbestos in building materials up to the mid-1980s. Test suspect materials before demolition or remodeling Mid-1980s to 1990 Less likely, but EPA’s vermiculite window runs to 1990 Check attic insulation and any older stock materials; test if in doubt After 1990 Least likely. No source in this post names a “safe” year. Check plans or product labels; test if a material looks old or came from salvage Any year, with a remodel The remodel year matters more than the house year Ask for remodel dates and materials used Notice the last row. A house built in 1990 can have a 1950s door salvaged into it. A house built in 1925 can have a 1972 furnace. The materials have their own birthdays. ## What should I do to find out what my house has? Follow these steps, in order. 1. Write down the build year and all remodel years you can learn from the seller, previous owners or records. 2. List the jobs you plan to do. Remodeling, demolition and repair are the usual ways fibers get released, according to the EPA. 3. Leave material alone if it is intact and you will not disturb it. The EPA says there is no need to test it. 4. If you will disturb a material, or it is damaged, hire a certified inspector to sample it. The EPA says “Taking samples yourself is not recommended.” 5. Read the lab report for the material, not the house. Ask what the result means for your planned work. 6. Match the result to a choice: leave it, [encapsulate](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/encapsulation) it, or have it removed by a registered contractor. Our [asbestos testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-testing) page explains what AES inspectors look at. The [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-survey) page explains the survey types. For a step-by-step look at one home, read the [testing guide for older St. Louis homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/testing-an-older-st-louis-home). ## Where does asbestos from this era show up most? Floor tile, floor glue, furnace and pipe wrap, ceiling texture, siding and shingles. Our [asbestos in older St. Louis homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/asbestos-in-older-st-louis-homes) guide gives the full room-by-room list. For floors, see [asbestos floor tile](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-floor-tile). Learn the terms [friable asbestos](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/friable-asbestos) and [asbestos-containing material](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-containing-material-acm) so you can read a lab report with confidence. ## Next step If your house is from the mid-1980s or earlier and you plan work, test first. Call Advanced Environmental Services at (314) 865-2662 or use our [contact page](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact) to talk about [asbestos abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-abatement) or testing. We will tell you plainly what the lab results mean for your project. ## Frequently asked questions ### What year did they stop using asbestos in homes? No one year applies. AES says asbestos was widely used up until the mid-1980s. The CPSC banned asbestos patching compounds after June 11, 1978. EPA's 1989 ban was overturned in 1991, and EPA finalized a chrysotile rule on March 28, 2024. Test the material, not the year. ### Is a house built in 1985 safe from asbestos? Not guaranteed. AES says asbestos was widely used up until the mid-1980s, and the EPA says Libby vermiculite was sold until 1990. A 1985 house is less likely to have it than a 1965 house, but only a lab test of the specific material gives a real answer. ### Was asbestos banned in 1978? Only for consumer patching compounds. The CPSC rule banned those containing intentionally added, respirable free-form asbestos, if made or introduced after January 16, 1978, and all of them after June 11, 1978. Other products, such as floor tile and furnace insulation, were not covered by that rule. ### Is asbestos fully banned in the United States now? Not fully. EPA says its 1989 rule banning most asbestos-containing products was overturned in 1991, and only a few products remain banned. EPA finalized a rule on March 28, 2024 to prohibit chrysotile asbestos manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, commercial use and disposal. ### How do I find out if my house has asbestos? Have the specific materials sampled by a trained and accredited professional, and have a lab analyze them. The EPA says you generally cannot tell by looking and that taking samples yourself is not recommended. Test before remodeling or when materials are damaged. ## Terms on this page - [Asbestos-containing material (ACM)](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-containing-material-acm) - [Friable asbestos](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/friable-asbestos) - [Asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey) - [Encapsulation](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/encapsulation) ## Sources 1. [Advanced Environmental Services: Asbestos Testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-testing/) 2. [US EPA: EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos (1973)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos) 3. [US EPA: EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos (1975)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos) 4. [US EPA: EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos (1978)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos) 5. [US EPA: EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos (1991 result)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos) 6. [US EPA: Asbestos Laws and Regulations (1989 rule)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-laws-and-regulations) 7. [US EPA: Asbestos Laws and Regulations (products still banned)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-laws-and-regulations) 8. [US EPA: Asbestos Laws and Regulations (2024 chrysotile rule)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-laws-and-regulations) 9. [CPSC via eCFR: 16 CFR Part 1304 (ban dates)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-II/subchapter-B/part-1304) 10. [CPSC via eCFR: 16 CFR Part 1304 (1977 sales)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-II/subchapter-B/part-1304) 11. [US EPA: Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-asbestos-contaminated-vermiculite-insulation) 12. [US EPA: Learn About Asbestos](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos) 13. [US EPA: Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos) 14. [US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 1-year, table B25034 Year Structure Built, St. Louis city (via Census Reporter)](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=05000US29510,05000US29189) 15. [US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 1-year, table B25034 Year Structure Built, St. Louis County (via Census Reporter)](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=05000US29510,05000US29189) Written by Advanced Environmental Services and checked against the sources above on June 3, 2026. Rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Testing an older St. Louis home: which test applies when you buy, sell or renovateWhich test applies depends on what you are doing. Selling or buying a pre-1978 home triggers federal lead disclosure. Renovating or demolishing a regulated building triggers an asbestos inspection and notice. The City of St. Louis requires an occupancy inspection on sales. No federal standard sets a mold limit, so a mold test is your choice.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/testing-an-older-st-louis-home) - [Asbestos in older St. Louis homes: where it hides and what to doAsbestos can hide in floor tile, floor adhesive, siding, roof shingles, textured walls, pipe wrap, furnace parts and attic insulation. About 87% of St. Louis city housing units and 68% of St. Louis County units were built before 1980. The only way to know is a lab test from a certified inspector.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/asbestos-in-older-st-louis-homes) - [Missouri asbestos rules for demolition and renovation: who you notify and whenIn Missouri, a regulated demolition or renovation needs an inspection by a certified asbestos inspector and a notice at least 10 working days before work starts. Thresholds of 160 square feet, 260 linear feet or 35 cubic feet trigger removal by a registered contractor. Most single-family homes are exempt.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/missouri-demolition-and-renovation-asbestos-rules) - [Where Is Asbestos in Old St. Louis Houses? A Job-by-Job CheckAsbestos in an old house usually sits in floor tile and glue, pipe and furnace wrap, textured ceilings and patching compound, siding and roofing shingles, and pour-in vermiculite insulation. About 87% of St. Louis city housing units were built before 1980. You cannot spot it by sight, so match each planned job to the material it would disturb, then test.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/where-is-asbestos-in-old-st-louis-houses) - [City of St. Louis demolition permits and asbestos notices: who files, what it costsIn the City of St. Louis, two offices work side by side. The Building Division issues the demolition permit. Air Pollution Control takes the asbestos notices. An owner may pull a permit only for a small building. Larger jobs need a City-certified demolition contractor. The City's asbestos trigger is 10 square feet, lower than the state's.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/st-louis-city-asbestos-and-demolition-permits) - [Who Pays for an Asbestos Survey: Buyer or Seller?Your sale contract decides. The Missouri DNR fact sheet covers demolition and renovation projects, not who pays in a home sale. A buyer who wants a survey before closing usually orders it, and the seller must answer the disclosure form honestly. Regulated buildings need a certified inspector before demolition or renovation.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/who-pays-for-an-asbestos-survey-buyer-or-seller) ## Request your custom environmental remediation estimate Contact us for a free environmental remediation or restoration estimate and a personalized solution to your problems. [Or call (314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662)