Keasbey & Mattison Company, based in Ambler, Pennsylvania, was one of the pioneer American asbestos products manufacturers — founded in the 1870s — and a major producer of asbestos-containing pipe covering, asbestos magnesia insulation, asbestos cement, and asbestos-containing building materials through the mid-20th century. Keasbey & Mattison pipe covering and magnesia insulation products appeared throughout US Navy ships and shore installations as the primary pipe insulation material on steam system piping, hot water piping, and chilled water piping from the early 20th century through the period when the asbestos phase-down in Navy specifications began.

Keasbey & Mattison Products in Navy Applications

Keasbey & Mattison produced several asbestos-containing products used in Navy applications:

  • Asbestos magnesia pipe covering — Keasbey & Mattison 85% magnesia pipe covering, using asbestos as the fibrous binder in the magnesia insulation block, was a standard pipe covering material for steam piping insulation. The magnesia block sections applied to steam lines in Navy engineering spaces used asbestos as the fibrous reinforcement throughout the pipe covering material
  • Sectional pipe covering — Keasbey & Mattison sectional pipe insulation — asbestos-containing pre-formed pipe sections applied to straight pipe runs — was used on hot and cold water piping and steam distribution piping in Navy ship plumbing and engineering systems
  • Asbestos cement and pipe joint compounds — Keasbey & Mattison asbestos cement products used as pipe joint filler and pipe covering finishing material contained asbestos fiber that was released during mixing, application, and removal of the cement compound

Application and Maintenance Asbestos Exposure

Navy engineering ratings working with Keasbey & Mattison pipe covering products accumulated asbestos exposure during installation and maintenance:

  • Pipe covering removal — MM and BT ratings removing deteriorated or damaged Keasbey & Mattison pipe covering sections from steam piping to access the pipe for maintenance or repair broke the pipe covering into dust-generating fragments that released airborne asbestos fiber in the engineering space during the removal operation
  • Pipe covering reinstallation — reinstalling Keasbey & Mattison magnesia block sections on steam lines after pipe maintenance required cutting the block sections to fit, generating asbestos dust from the cut faces of the magnesia block material
  • Insulation removal for valve maintenance — steam line valve maintenance required removing the pipe covering at the valve location to access the valve body, with Keasbey & Mattison and other brand pipe covering removed and disturbed at each valve maintenance interval

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from pipe covering maintenance in Navy engineering service. Engineering ratings who worked with Keasbey & Mattison and other brands of asbestos pipe covering and insulation materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.