Celotex
Celotex was an American insulation and construction-materials manufacturer whose historical corporate operations ended after asbestos litigation, bankruptcy, and the sale of its business divisions.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Celotex was an American manufacturer of insulation and related construction materials. The company was established in Chicago in 1920 as a subsidiary of Philip Carey Corporation to manufacture Celotex insulation board, a fiberboard made primarily from bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugar-cane juice is extracted. Production began at a facility in Marrero, Louisiana, near New Orleans. The material became associated with the Celotex name and helped establish the company in the building-products market. In 1932, Celotex was separated from Philip Carey and became an independent corporation. Its business expanded beyond the original bagasse-based board into a broader portfolio of construction products, including wallboard, roofing materials, fiberboard, and later rigid foam insulation. Jim Walter Corporation, a homebuilding company, acquired Celotex in 1961. The headquarters moved to Tampa, Florida, in 1965, reflecting the company’s integration into Jim Walter’s wider building-products and housing interests. The company’s later history was dominated by asbestos-related litigation. Products associated with Celotex and Philip Carey exposed workers, former employees, family members, and other people to asbestos, with some claimants developing serious illnesses including mesothelioma. Litigation in the 1980s and afterward alleged that the companies had known about asbestos hazards but had not adequately warned workers or the public. Celotex entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990. It emerged from bankruptcy in 1996, and a settlement trust was established in 1998 to resolve asbestos claims associated with Celotex and Philip Carey. The trust was reported as having a value of approximately $1.2 billion; this figure relates to the settlement arrangement rather than operating revenue or company valuation. After restructuring, Celotex’s businesses were separated and sold. The wallboard business was sold to BPB plc, the roofing-products business was sold to CertainTeed in 2000, the fiberboard-products division and the Celotex name were sold to Knight Industries LLC in 2001, and the rigid-foam-insulation division was sold to Dow Chemical Company in 2001. The company’s headquarters moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida, in 2001. These transactions effectively ended Celotex Corporation as an integrated operating manufacturer, although the name continued in parts of the insulation industry. Celotex also became associated with the United Kingdom through later manufacturing and brand ownership. Saint-Gobain acquired the British manufacturing interests of Celotex in 2012 and was identified as the owner of the Celotex brand by 2020. Products sold under the name included insulation boards and insulated plasterboards. The brand’s public profile was sharply affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, because Celotex insulation products were used in the tower’s refurbishment. Subsequent investigations and litigation examined product fire performance, testing, marketing, and the conduct of companies involved in the refurbishment. As a result, Celotex is both a historical American construction-materials corporation and a continuing insulation brand associated with Saint-Gobain’s British operations.
History
Celotex began in 1920 in Chicago as a subsidiary of Philip Carey Corporation. Its original purpose was to manufacture insulation board made from bagasse, the fibrous waste remaining after sugar-cane juice extraction. The first production facility was located in Marrero, Louisiana, outside New Orleans. The product’s commercial identity became closely connected with the Celotex name, which was subsequently used for the corporation and a wider family of building products. In 1932, the company was spun off from Philip Carey and operated as an independent corporation. During the following decades, it developed a broader construction-materials business that included fiberboard, wallboard, roofing products, and insulation. Jim Walter Corporation acquired Celotex in 1961. The corporate headquarters moved from Chicago to Tampa, Florida, in 1965 as Celotex became part of Jim Walter’s building-products interests. Asbestos liabilities became the defining issue in Celotex’s later corporate history. Products manufactured by Celotex and its predecessor or related businesses contained asbestos, and exposure claims were brought by workers, former employees, family members, and other affected people. The claims included serious diseases such as mesothelioma. Litigation alleged that the companies had knowledge of asbestos-related risks but had not provided sufficient warnings. The resulting legal and financial pressure led Celotex to seek Chapter 11 protection in 1990. Celotex emerged from bankruptcy in 1996. In 1998, a settlement trust was created to process and pay asbestos claims connected with Celotex and Philip Carey. The trust was reported at approximately $1.2 billion. The trust arrangement was intended to centralize the resolution of legacy personal-injury claims and should not be interpreted as a measure of Celotex’s ordinary sales or market capitalization. Following the bankruptcy process, Celotex’s operating businesses were progressively divided. BPB plc acquired the wallboard business. CertainTeed acquired the roofing-products business in 2000. In 2001, Knight Industries LLC acquired the fiberboard-products division and the Celotex brand, while Dow Chemical Company acquired the rigid foam insulation division. Celotex moved its headquarters to Saint Petersburg, Florida, in 2001. These disposals removed the historical corporation’s principal businesses from a single corporate structure. The Celotex name continued in insulation, particularly in the United Kingdom. Saint-Gobain acquired the British manufacturing interests of Celotex in 2012 and was identified as the brand owner by 2020. The continuing product range included insulation boards and insulated plasterboards. This later brand history is separate from the original U.S. corporation’s integrated operations, although it retains the Celotex trade name and association with building insulation. In 2017, the Grenfell Tower fire in London brought significant scrutiny to materials used in the tower’s refurbishment, including Celotex insulation products manufactured under Saint-Gobain ownership. Investigations considered the products’ fire behavior, testing and certification, marketing representations, and the actions of manufacturers and contractors. The episode generated extensive public, regulatory, and legal consequences for the construction-products sector and became the most prominent modern controversy associated with the Celotex name.
- 2017
Grenfell Tower fire scrutiny
[1]The Grenfell Tower fire prompted investigations into Celotex insulation products used in the building’s refurbishment.
- 2012
Saint-Gobain acquires British interests
[1]Saint-Gobain acquired the British manufacturing interests associated with Celotex.
- 2001
Major asset disposals completed
[1]Knight Industries acquired the fiberboard division and brand, while Dow acquired the rigid foam insulation division; the headquarters moved to Saint Petersburg.
- 2000
Roofing business sold to CertainTeed
[1]CertainTeed acquired Celotex’s roofing-products business.
- 1998
Asbestos settlement trust created
[1]A settlement trust was established for asbestos claims involving Celotex and Philip Carey.
- 1996
Exited Chapter 11
[1]Celotex emerged from Chapter 11 after restructuring its liabilities and operations.
- 1990
Chapter 11 filing
[1]The company sought bankruptcy protection during major asbestos-related litigation.
- 1965
Headquarters moved to Tampa
[1]Celotex moved its headquarters to Tampa, Florida.
- 1961
Acquired by Jim Walter Corporation
[1]Jim Walter Corporation acquired Celotex as part of its homebuilding and building-products activities.
- 1932
Spun off as an independent company
[1]Celotex became independent from Philip Carey Corporation.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a building-products manufacturer centered on insulation and fiberboard materials. In its later British incarnation, Celotex was positioned as a specialist insulation brand serving construction, thermal-efficiency, and building-envelope applications.
Insulation board · 1920
Celotex insulation board
The original product associated with the company was an insulation board made from bagasse, the fibrous residue of sugar-cane processing. It established the Celotex name in the building-materials market and formed the basis for the company’s early manufacturing identity.
Fiberboard construction materials
Celotex fiberboard products
Fiberboard products extended the original insulation-board business into construction panels and related building applications. The fiberboard division and the Celotex brand were sold to Knight Industries LLC in 2001.
Rigid foam insulation
Celotex rigid foam insulation
Rigid foam insulation became part of Celotex’s later building-products portfolio. The rigid foam division was sold to Dow Chemical Company in 2001, separating it from the fiberboard business and from the historical integrated Celotex corporation.
Thermal insulation
Celotex insulation boards
Under later British ownership, the Celotex name continued to be used for insulation boards designed for construction and building-envelope applications. The British business became part of Saint-Gobain’s building-materials operations.
Insulated plasterboard
Celotex insulated plasterboards
Insulated plasterboards were among the products associated with the later Celotex brand. They combine a plasterboard lining with an insulation layer for interior construction and thermal-performance applications.
Controversies
2017
Grenfell Tower fire and product-safety scrutiny
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, Celotex insulation used in the refurbishment became the subject of investigations and legal proceedings concerning fire performance, product testing, certification, marketing, and the responsibilities of companies involved in the project.
1980
Asbestos exposure litigation
Celotex and Philip Carey faced extensive litigation over asbestos-containing products and alleged exposure of workers, former employees, relatives, and other people. Claims involved severe illnesses including mesothelioma, and proceedings alleged that the companies had known about asbestos risks without adequately warning workers and the public.
Brand decisions
2012
Transfer British manufacturing interests to Saint-GobainM&ABackground
Celotex continued as a British insulation business after the breakup of the historical U.S. corporation.
Action taken
Saint-Gobain acquired the British manufacturing interests associated with Celotex.
Aftermath
The Celotex name continued within Saint-Gobain’s building-materials portfolio.
2001
Separate the remaining operating divisionsM&ABackground
After bankruptcy and restructuring, Celotex’s businesses were no longer maintained as one integrated operating group.
Action taken
The fiberboard division and brand were sold to Knight Industries, while the rigid foam insulation division was sold to Dow Chemical Company.
Aftermath
The historical Celotex corporation’s principal activities were divided among different owners, while the name continued in selected insulation markets.
1998
Create asbestos settlement trustOtherBackground
The company required a mechanism to resolve a large volume of asbestos-related personal-injury claims involving Celotex and Philip Carey products.
Action taken
A settlement trust reported at approximately $1.2 billion was established.
Aftermath
The trust became the principal structure for processing and settling eligible asbestos claims.
Reported settlement trust value. $1.2 billion (1998)
1990
File for Chapter 11 protectionOtherBackground
Asbestos-related claims and associated liabilities placed substantial financial and legal pressure on Celotex.
Action taken
Celotex entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Aftermath
The company later emerged from Chapter 11 in 1996, followed by the creation of an asbestos settlement trust.
Recent events
- 2012
Saint-Gobain acquires British Celotex manufacturing interests[1]
M&A
Saint-Gobain acquired the British manufacturing interests associated with Celotex, bringing the brand into its building-materials portfolio.
- 2001
Celotex business divisions sold to new owners[1]
M&A
The fiberboard division and brand were sold to Knight Industries, while the rigid foam insulation division was sold to Dow Chemical Company. Earlier, the wallboard and roofing businesses had also been divested.
- 1996
Celotex emerges from Chapter 11[1]
Bankruptcy · Lawsuit
The company completed its Chapter 11 process and returned from bankruptcy proceedings after restructuring its asbestos liabilities and business operations.
Sources1 sources
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