Chemetron Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, was a diversified industrial company with a firefighting systems division manufacturing CO2 and dry chemical fire suppression equipment, carbon dioxide gas generation systems, and related fire protection equipment. Chemetron CO2 fire suppression systems were used aboard US Navy vessels to provide total-flooding and local-application fire suppression in machinery spaces, fuel oil pump rooms, and cargo areas — locations where carbon dioxide flooding could extinguish fires without the water damage caused by sprinkler systems.

Asbestos in Chemetron Firefighting Equipment

Chemetron CO2 and firefighting system equipment used asbestos-containing materials in their installation and components:

  • CO2 distribution piping gaskets — the carbon dioxide distribution piping running from CO2 storage cylinders through the ship to flooding nozzles in machinery spaces used asbestos-containing flange gaskets at all flanged pipe connections in the CO2 system piping. Damage Controlmen and Hull Technicians performing CO2 system maintenance disturbed these asbestos gaskets during system inspection and pipe section replacement
  • CO2 system valve packing — the system shut-off and zone isolation valves in Chemetron CO2 systems used asbestos stem packing in the valve stuffing boxes consistent with valve construction practice of the era
  • Piping insulation — some Chemetron CO2 system piping configurations used asbestos insulation on piping running through hot areas or near heat sources to prevent premature CO2 discharge from heat-induced pressure increases
  • Refrigerant and compressed gas equipment insulation — Chemetron gas generation and refrigeration equipment used asbestos-containing insulation on refrigerant piping and vessel surfaces in some configurations

CO2 fire suppression systems were part of the ship’s damage control equipment maintained by Damage Controlmen (DC) and Hull Technicians (HT):

  • Periodic testing and inspection — Navy damage control procedures required regular testing and inspection of CO2 system components, including inspection of valve packing, piping integrity, and cylinder pressure. Each inspection could involve disturbance of asbestos valve packing during valve cycling or inspection
  • System maintenance during availabilities — major CO2 system maintenance during shipyard or tender maintenance availabilities involved more extensive work on Chemetron system components with asbestos gaskets and packing

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from damage control equipment maintenance in Navy service. Damage Controlmen and Hull Technicians who performed CO2 firefighting system maintenance involving Chemetron and other manufacturers’ equipment with asbestos-containing gaskets and packing and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.