Carrier Corporation, headquartered in Syracuse, New York and founded by Willis Carrier, was the world’s leading manufacturer of air conditioning, refrigeration, and HVAC equipment for commercial, industrial, and military markets. Carrier supplied the United States Navy with shipboard air conditioning systems, chilled water plants, centrifugal refrigeration compressors, condensing units, and associated HVAC equipment for installation in aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and amphibious vessels throughout the Cold War era. Carrier shipboard air conditioning and refrigeration equipment was integrated with the ship’s chilled water distribution system — chilled water piping, circulating pumps, cooling coils, and fan coil units — that provided environmental control for crew spaces, electronics equipment rooms, and combat system spaces aboard naval vessels. The chilled water distribution piping in Navy ships was insulated with asbestos-containing pipe covering throughout the distribution system. Refrigerant system connections in Carrier compressor and condensing unit assemblies used asbestos-containing gasket materials in flanged refrigerant piping joints. Machinist’s Mates maintaining Carrier HVAC and refrigeration systems in naval engineering spaces encountered asbestos-containing materials in both the chilled water distribution system piping insulation and in refrigerant system component gasket materials during equipment maintenance and overhaul operations.

Chilled Water System Pipe Insulation Asbestos

Carrier chilled water systems used asbestos-insulated distribution piping:

  • Chilled water distribution piping insulation — the chilled water distribution piping from Carrier chilled water plants to ship’s air conditioning cooling coils and electronics cooling heat exchangers throughout Navy vessels was insulated with asbestos pipe covering to prevent condensation on the cold chilled water piping surfaces. Machinist’s Mates maintaining the chilled water distribution systems in naval vessels — repairing pipe leaks, replacing valves, and servicing cooling coils — encountered and disturbed asbestos pipe covering on chilled water piping throughout the distribution system during each maintenance evolution involving the insulated chilled water piping
  • Carrier chilled water plant equipment insulation — Carrier chilled water plant equipment — centrifugal compressors, condensers, and evaporators — installed in Navy ship machinery rooms incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on cold equipment surfaces and on chilled water piping connections at the equipment. Machinist’s Mates servicing the Carrier chilled water plant equipment worked in proximity to the equipment insulation and encountered asbestos materials during equipment maintenance operations

Refrigerant System Gasket and Packing Asbestos

Carrier refrigeration system components incorporated asbestos in sealing materials:

  • Refrigerant compressor shaft seal packing — Carrier refrigeration compressors used in Navy shipboard refrigeration systems incorporated asbestos-containing packing materials in compressor shaft seal assemblies, sealing the rotating compressor shaft against refrigerant leakage. Machinist’s Mates servicing Carrier compressor shaft seals encountered and replaced asbestos-containing shaft seal packing materials during compressor maintenance operations
  • Refrigerant system flanged joint gaskets — Carrier refrigeration system piping and component connection flanges in Navy vessels used asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at flanged refrigerant line joints. Engineering ratings performing refrigerant system maintenance — separating flanged joints for component replacement or system repair — encountered asbestos flange gasket materials at refrigerant system joint faces during the maintenance work

Electronics Cooling System Asbestos

Carrier-supplied electronics cooling equipment incorporated asbestos in associated piping insulation:

  • Electronics cooling water system insulation — Carrier-supplied electronics cooling water equipment in Navy combat system spaces used chilled water supply and return piping that was insulated with asbestos pipe covering. Electronics Technicians and Machinist’s Mates working in electronics equipment spaces aboard Navy ships accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-insulated chilled water piping serving the electronics cooling systems in their working spaces

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Carrier Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy HVAC and refrigeration system maintenance. Machinist’s Mates and engineering ratings who maintained Carrier air conditioning and refrigeration equipment in naval vessel engineering spaces and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.