If you’re building a Michigan asbestos case, one of the fastest ways to cut through “no proof” arguments is the paper trail that facilities used to keep operations running. Michigan asbestos material lists—sometimes called material takeoffs, bill of materials (BOM), insulation schedules, equipment specs, or maintenance materials lists—can show exactly what was installed, where it was installed, and what trades typically handled it.
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These lists matter because exposure is often repetitive and routine. It’s not one dramatic moment. It’s the same gaskets, packing, insulation, refractory, and lagging getting disturbed during outages, rebuilds, and daily maintenance.
What “material lists” usually include
Depending on the jobsite and era, lists can contain:
- Insulation type and thickness (pipe, boiler, turbine, duct)
- Gasket and packing specifications by equipment ID
- Refractory products for furnaces, kilns, boilers, and vessels
- Part numbers tied to vendors or manufacturer spec sheets
- Locations: unit numbers, lines, elevations, rooms, or areas
- Work packages tied to shutdown/outage planning
When a defense claims “you can’t name the product,” a material list can do that for you—without relying on memory from 30–50 years ago.
Where Michigan asbestos material lists are commonly found
You’ll often see these records connected to:
- Auto and heavy manufacturing facilities
- Power generation and utility plants
- Chemical processing and refineries
- Steel, foundry, and fabrication operations
- Universities, hospitals, and large campuses with central plants
- Commercial boiler rooms and industrial HVAC systems
Material lists are especially valuable in older Michigan industrial settings where “standard materials” were purchased and used for years.
How these records strengthen your exposure proof
Material lists help in three ways:
- They identify products (or at least product categories) tied to known asbestos uses.
- They connect products to locations—so your work history isn’t generic.
- They corroborate trades and tasks (pipe work, valve rebuilds, outage work, insulation disturbance).
That’s the core of causation proof: product + place + work activity + time period.
Read more about Michigan exposure records
How to find them
Depending on the facility, you may locate material lists through:
- Maintenance departments and archived engineering files
- Plant engineering drawings/spec packages
- Contractors and mechanical firms that bid the work
- Union records, job logs, and “as-built” binders
- Prior abatement, renovation, or demolition files
- Environmental/industrial hygiene consultants
If you don’t have them, that doesn’t end the case. It just means the search becomes part of the strategy.
What to do next
If you worked industrial jobs in Michigan and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the smartest move is to preserve your work history and start identifying records that can lock in exposure proof early.
Call (412) 781-0525 to talk through where you worked, what you did, and what records are most likely to exist for that site.
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FAQs
What is an asbestos material list?
It’s a list or schedule showing what materials were installed or specified at a facility—often including insulation, gaskets, packing, and refractory products historically associated with asbestos.
What if I can’t name a brand?
That’s common. Material lists, specs, and work packages can identify products and locations even when a worker can’t recall a brand decades later.
Are material lists useful if my work was “maintenance” not construction?
Yes. Maintenance tasks often create the most consistent exposure, and material lists can show what components were routinely handled.
Do I need records to have a case?
Not always, but records can significantly strengthen the case and speed up the proof process—especially when companies deny product identification.
Learn More: Michigan Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma/Asbestos Legal Help – WV, MI & PA
Speak directly with attorney Lee W. Davis. No call centers. Free, confidential review.