Johns Manville Partners with Manson Insulation Inc. to Increase Duct Liner Capacity

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2006--Johns Manville (JM) announced today that it has signed an agreement to significantly increase availability of Linacoustic RC(TM) fiber glass duct liner. Manson Insulation Inc., based in Quebec, Canada, will manufacture Linacoustic RC(TM) in strict accordance with Johns Manville's quality specifications, beginning later this year. With contractor preferred product performance, the demand for Linacoustic RC(TM) duct liner continues to increase, making it the most widely used liner in North America.

According to Tom Ryan, vice president and general manager for Johns Manville's Performance Materials division: "Manson Insulation had already licensed Johns Manville's patented flame-attenuated fiber glass manufacturing process, and could meet our tight manufacturing specifications for the product. After extensive testing and shop evaluations, it was determined they are able to deliver a finished product that mirrors the performance of Linacoustic RC manufactured in our own Cleburne, Texas, facility. Being able to supply Linacoustic RC(TM) duct liner from two locations will improve product availability throughout North America."

In results of side-by-side comparisons of fiber glass duct liner products conducted by FMI, a leading consultant to the construction industry, Linacoustic RC duct liner received the highest Overall Rating among the nine leading duct liner products evaluated by two independent panels of contractors. For the highly important criteria of puncture and abuse resistance of the surface material and adhesion to sheet metal surfaces, the Linacoustic RC product was a market leader.

More information on Johns Manville Air Handling products can be found at www.jmairhandling.com, or by contacting the Johns Manville Product Information Center at pic@jm.com.

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has sales in excess of $2.5 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs about 8,500 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.