Nooter Corporation, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, was a major manufacturer of industrial pressure vessels, heat exchangers, condensers, and steam plant auxiliary equipment supplying chemical process, petroleum refining, and military customers throughout the mid-twentieth century. Nooter supplied the US Navy with pressure vessels and heat exchange equipment for shipboard steam plant auxiliary systems — including steam condensers, feed heaters, distilling plants, and auxiliary heat exchangers — used in the steam propulsion systems of Navy surface ships and in naval nuclear propulsion plant auxiliary systems. Nooter pressure vessels used asbestos-containing gasket materials in the flange connections of these pressure vessels, and asbestos insulation was applied to the exterior surfaces of Nooter heat exchange equipment in Navy engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mates performing heat exchanger inspection, tube bundle removal, and pressure vessel flange maintenance aboard ships with Nooter equipment accumulated asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing gasket and insulation materials in Nooter products.

Asbestos in Nooter Naval Products

Nooter’s pressure vessel and heat exchange products incorporated asbestos:

  • Heat exchanger flange gaskets — the flanged connections at the inlet and outlet nozzles of Nooter heat exchangers and condensers used asbestos-containing compressed fiber gaskets for sealing the high-pressure and high-temperature connections. Machinist’s Mates removing heat exchanger covers and nozzle flanges during tube bundle inspections and replacements encountered asbestos fiber from the deteriorated or intact asbestos flange gaskets at each maintenance evolution
  • Pressure vessel manhole and handhole gaskets — the manhole and handhole access openings in Nooter pressure vessels and heat exchangers used asbestos-containing spiral wound or compressed fiber gaskets for the access cover seals. Navy engineering ratings opening these access covers during internal inspections of Nooter equipment encountered asbestos gasket materials at each access cover opening
  • Exterior equipment insulation — asbestos pipe covering and asbestos block insulation was applied to the exterior surfaces of Nooter heat exchange equipment, condensers, and pressure vessels located in Navy ship engineering spaces to minimize heat loss. Machinist’s Mates working in the engineering spaces were in proximity to this asbestos insulation on Nooter and other manufacturer’s equipment throughout their shipboard duty

Nooter equipment appeared in Navy ship steam plant systems:

  • Steam condensers and feed heaters — the main condensers and feedwater heaters in Navy steam-powered warships’ thermodynamic cycles used heat exchange equipment from Nooter and other manufacturers, with Navy Machinist’s Mates maintaining these essential steam plant components throughout the fleet

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Nooter Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from machinery maintenance in Navy engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mates who performed heat exchanger overhauls and pressure vessel maintenance using Nooter equipment with asbestos gasket materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.