Identifying Asbestos in Armstrong, Kentile, and Vintage Vinyl Floor Tiles

Armstrong and Kentile tiles installed before 1983 frequently contain asbestos. The clearest visual signal is tile size: 9-inch square tiles were the industry standard during the peak asbestos era, and most 9x9 tiles in pre-1985 homes are vinyl asbestos tile (VAT). If your tiles are 9 inches square and your home predates 1985, treat them as potentially asbestos-containing until a lab test confirms otherwise.

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Why Brand and Year Matter for Asbestos Risk

Not all vintage floor tiles contain asbestos. But Armstrong and Kentile were among the largest manufacturers of vinyl asbestos tile in North America, and their products appear in millions of homes and commercial buildings built between 1950 and 1984. Both brands used chrysotile asbestos fibers to improve tile durability, flexibility, and fire resistance. Chrysotile content in VAT typically ranged from 12% to 33% by weight.

The EPA identifies vinyl asbestos tile as a known asbestos-containing material in residential buildings constructed before 1980. The CPSC tracked manufacturer phase-outs through the late 1970s and early 1980s, but voluntary removal of asbestos from floor tile was inconsistent across brands and product lines.

Brand identification has one practical use: if you find a product name on a tile or its original packaging, known product lists let you confirm risk without waiting for lab results. But visual ID alone never gives a definitive answer. A test is always required for certainty.

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Armstrong Floor Tiles: At-Risk Products and Years

Armstrong World Industries was one of the dominant flooring manufacturers in the United States for most of the twentieth century. Armstrong produced VAT across multiple product lines from the early 1950s through 1983. Common at-risk product names include:

• Excelon: Commercial and residential VAT, widely installed in schools, hospitals, and homes from the 1950s through the mid-1970s
• Standard Excelon: The residential version, available in 9x9 and 12x12 sizes
• Imperial Excelon: A premium residential line also produced with asbestos
• Cambray, Patrician, Stonetex: Additional Armstrong residential lines from the 1950s and 1960s

Armstrong began phasing asbestos out of its tile products in the late 1970s and had largely transitioned to asbestos-free formulations by 1983. However, inventory from earlier production continued to be sold and installed through the mid-1980s. An Armstrong tile installed in 1984 or 1985 may still be material manufactured earlier, before the phase-out.

The 9-inch format is the most reliable risk indicator for Armstrong products. That size was closely tied to the VAT era and is rarely found in post-1980 asbestos-free flooring.

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Kentile Floors: At-Risk Products and Years

Kentile Floors Inc. was a Brooklyn-based manufacturer founded in 1945. Kentile produced asphalt tiles and vinyl asbestos tiles for residential and commercial installations through the late 1970s. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1992 following asbestos litigation.

Kentile tiles are identified by the brand name stamped on the tile back or on original packaging. Like Armstrong, Kentile produced heavily in the 9x9 format during the VAT era. Their products appear most often in:

• Homes and apartment buildings built between 1950 and 1978
• Commercial and industrial spaces with original flooring intact
• Basements and utility rooms where the original installation was never replaced

Most Kentile flooring from before 1978 is treated as presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) in standard industrial hygiene practice. The brand had less product-line diversification than Armstrong, and its tiles were manufactured during the years of heaviest asbestos use in the industry.

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Other Vintage Brands at Similar Risk

Armstrong and Kentile are the two most commonly encountered asbestos-containing tile brands in residential inspections. Other manufacturers used asbestos in vinyl tile through the same era:

• Amtico: Produced both asbestos-containing and asbestos-free tiles; product-level documentation varies
• Congoleum: Asphalt tile and early vinyl tile with documented asbestos use through the late 1960s
• GAF: Vinyl tile and adhesive products with documented asbestos use through 1977
• Azrock: Commercial VAT installed heavily in schools and hospitals

If your tiles carry no visible brand markings, installation date and tile size remain your two primary risk indicators.

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How to Identify Tile Size and Estimate Installation Date

Tile size is the most practical tool available without a lab. Measure a single tile from edge to edge:

• 9 inches by 9 inches: High risk if the home was built or renovated before 1985. This format is almost exclusively associated with VAT production.
• 12 inches by 12 inches: Elevated risk if installed before 1983. After the VAT phase-out, 12x12 became the dominant format, and asbestos-free versions are common post-1983.
• 18 inches or larger: Typically post-1985 asbestos-free vinyl composition tile, though exceptions exist in commercial installations.

Installation date can sometimes be confirmed through building permits, original renovation invoices, or tile packaging stored in a utility room. If no records exist, build year is a reasonable proxy for initial installation.

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Intact Tiles vs. Damaged Tiles: What Changes Your Risk

Asbestos-containing tiles in good condition present minimal airborne risk. Asbestos fibers are bound within the tile matrix and do not release without mechanical disturbance.

Risk increases when tiles are chipped, cracked, lifting at the edges, or being sanded, scraped, or cut.

OSHA classifies removal of asbestos-containing floor tile as Class II asbestos work under 29 CFR 1926.1101. That classification triggers requirements for wet methods, respiratory protection, HEPA filtration, and proper disposal. In most jurisdictions, a licensed abatement contractor is required for removal of confirmed asbestos-containing tile.

The ATSDR notes that chrysotile fibers remain airborne for extended periods due to their fine diameter. Closed interior spaces with limited ventilation amplify exposure significantly. Intact tiles in a finished basement with no planned renovation work are a low-priority concern. Tiles you are about to cut, sand, or remove are not.

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How to Test Your Floor Tiles

A bulk sample submitted to an NVLAP-accredited laboratory is the only reliable way to confirm asbestos content. Mail-in test kits typically cost $30 to $50 per sample, with results in three to five business days.

For accurate results:

• Test tiles and the adhesive beneath them as separate samples. The mastic cutback adhesive and the tile itself are separate products from separate manufacturers. One can test positive while the other does not.
• If tiles in different rooms have different installation dates, test each room separately.
• Dampen the area with water before collecting the sample to suppress potential fiber release, wear an N-95 or P-100 respirator, and seal the sample in a zip-lock bag immediately.

Do not proceed with removal, sanding, or grinding until lab results confirm what you are working with.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tell if Armstrong or Kentile tiles contain asbestos just by looking at them?

No. Visual identification is not reliable. Both brands produced asbestos-containing and asbestos-free tile products, and many are visually identical. Tile size and installation date narrow the probability, but a lab test is the only way to confirm or rule out asbestos content.

Are all 9x9 floor tiles asbestos-containing?

Not all, but the probability is high for pre-1985 installations. The 9-inch square format was the dominant VAT size during the peak asbestos era. Most environmental inspectors treat any 9x9 tile in a pre-1985 home as presumed asbestos-containing material until testing confirms otherwise.

What should I do if my tiles are crumbling or broken?

Do not disturb the area further. Seal the room if possible to limit air movement, and do not vacuum debris with a standard household vacuum. Test the tiles before any cleanup. If results come back positive, contact a licensed abatement contractor. The EPA provides guidance on finding certified professionals in your area.

Is the black adhesive beneath the tiles also a concern?

Yes. The cutback mastic adhesive used beneath VAT-era tiles frequently contained asbestos independent of the tiles above it. Armstrong or Kentile tiles may test negative while the adhesive beneath them does not. Always test adhesive and tile as separate samples before any mechanical work.

How do I find out if my specific Armstrong or Kentile product is on a known asbestos list?

Product-specific identification lists for Armstrong, Kentile, and other manufacturers have been compiled from asbestos litigation discovery and industrial hygiene studies. Search by product name and manufacturer. Where no product record exists, a lab test is the definitive answer.