NIBCO Inc., headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, is a manufacturer of flow control products — valves, fittings, pipe, and accessories — serving plumbing, industrial, and HVAC markets. NIBCO bronze valves and pipe fittings were used throughout US Navy ship service systems — freshwater distribution, low-pressure steam, and auxiliary service applications — as supply items for the Navy’s valve and fitting inventory aboard surface ships and at shore installations. NIBCO products in Navy ship service applications used asbestos-containing stem packing and gaskets consistent with the valve and fitting manufacturing standards of the WWII and Cold War eras.

Asbestos in NIBCO Valve and Fitting Components

NIBCO valves and fittings used asbestos packing and gaskets:

  • Bronze gate and globe valve stem packing — NIBCO bronze gate and globe valves in ship service steam and water applications used braided asbestos packing in the valve stuffing box for stem sealing. The large number of NIBCO valves in ship service applications throughout surface ships meant that valve packing replacement — performed by Machinist’s Mates and Damage Controlmen — was a frequently repeated maintenance task involving NIBCO and other manufacturers’ asbestos-packed valves
  • Fitting gaskets — NIBCO bronze union fittings and flanged fittings used asbestos-containing gaskets at the fitting joint faces, disturbed during fitting removal and replacement during piping system maintenance
  • Check valve construction — NIBCO swing check valves used asbestos-containing body gaskets at the check valve cover, disturbed during check valve inspection and disc replacement

Ship Service Plumbing and Low-Pressure Systems

NIBCO fittings and valves appeared extensively in ship’s service plumbing and low-pressure systems:

  • Freshwater distribution — NIBCO bronze valves and fittings in the ship’s potable water distribution system from the freshwater tank to crew habitability spaces throughout the ship
  • Low-pressure steam for galley and heating — ship service steam distribution for galley equipment and cabin heating used NIBCO valves in the secondary steam piping throughout the ship’s habitability spaces
  • Sanitary system — NIBCO valves in the ship’s sanitary and drainage system piping

Shore Installation Plumbing Applications

NIBCO fittings and valves were also used in naval shore installation plumbing and piping systems at naval stations, naval air stations, and other facilities — with plumbing maintenance by Navy Utilitiesmen (UTs) and civilian maintenance personnel involving NIBCO products with asbestos-containing packing and gaskets.

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from valve and fitting maintenance in Navy service. Engineering and damage control ratings who performed valve and fitting maintenance involving NIBCO and other manufacturers’ products with asbestos-containing packing and gaskets and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.