Haveg Industries, based in Wilmington, Delaware (later acquired by Ametek, Inc.), manufactured asbestos-reinforced chemical-resistant pipe, fittings, valves, and ductwork for industrial applications where corrosion resistance was required. Haveg products used asbestos fiber as the structural reinforcement material in a phenolic resin matrix — a composite material that provided chemical resistance combined with structural strength for handling corrosive chemicals. Haveg asbestos-reinforced pipe and fittings appeared in Navy shipboard chemical treatment systems and in shore-based chemical handling applications at naval installations.

Asbestos-Reinforced Chemical-Resistant Products

Haveg manufactured asbestos-reinforced composites used in chemical-resistant applications:

  • Asbestos-reinforced phenolic pipe — Haveg chemical-resistant pipe used asbestos fiber as the reinforcement in a phenolic resin matrix to create pipe with resistance to corrosive chemicals that would rapidly corrode standard metal pipe. The asbestos fiber was distributed throughout the pipe wall in the composite construction
  • Chemical feed system piping — Navy ships and shore facilities using chemical treatment systems — boiler feedwater chemical treatment, potable water chemical treatment, cooling water biocide systems — used Haveg and similar asbestos-reinforced chemical-resistant pipe in the chemical feed piping runs where corrosive chemical solutions would rapidly corrode standard steel or copper piping
  • Vent and exhaust ductwork — asbestos-reinforced chemical-resistant ductwork from Haveg was used in chemical storage areas and chemical processing spaces where corrosive vapors would attack standard metal ductwork

Maintenance and Installation Asbestos Exposure

Engineering personnel working with Haveg asbestos-reinforced pipe encountered asbestos during maintenance:

  • Pipe cutting and fitting — cutting Haveg asbestos-reinforced pipe to length for installation or replacement generated asbestos dust from the cut face of the composite material. The sawing or abrasive cutting of the pipe released the asbestos fiber reinforcement into the air at the cut location
  • Damaged pipe repair — repairing damaged Haveg pipe or dismantling Haveg pipe systems for equipment modifications disturbed the asbestos-reinforced composite structure, releasing asbestos fiber from the composite material

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Ametek/Haveg Industries Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from asbestos-reinforced pipe maintenance in Navy service. Engineering ratings who performed maintenance on Haveg and other asbestos-reinforced chemical-resistant pipe systems and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.