Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, was a major manufacturer of glass fiber and thermal insulation products for industrial, commercial, and marine applications. While Owens-Corning is primarily known as a fiberglass manufacturer, certain Owens-Corning thermal insulation product lines used in Navy applications during the WWII and Cold War era incorporated asbestos fiber as a high-temperature reinforcing component in insulation formulations rated for the elevated temperatures of Navy steam plant service. Owens-Corning products appeared in insulation specifications for Navy ship construction and shore facility applications during this period.

High-Temperature Insulation Products and Asbestos

Owens-Corning’s high-temperature insulation products used in Navy steam plant applications:

  • Mineral wool pipe insulation — mineral wool pipe insulation products in Owens-Corning’s thermal insulation line used for Navy ship steam system pipe covering in the high-temperature steam plant applications used asbestos fiber as a binder component in the early formulations. Machinist’s Mates and insulation workers applying and maintaining mineral wool pipe covering in Navy engineering spaces worked with these asbestos-containing formulations in the WWII and early postwar period
  • Board and block insulation with asbestos reinforcement — high-temperature board insulation products used for boiler casing and equipment insulation in Navy steam plant applications incorporated asbestos fiber as a structural reinforcing agent in the insulation composition
  • Insulation batting and blanket products — insulation blanket products used to wrap irregular equipment surfaces, turbine casings, and machinery in Navy engineering spaces incorporated asbestos in early product formulations before the transition to pure fiberglass batting formulations

Shore Facility and Building Insulation

Owens-Corning also supplied insulation products for Navy shore facility building construction:

  • Pipe insulation for shore facility mechanical systems — building mechanical system pipe covering at naval stations, air stations, and shipyard facilities used Owens-Corning and competitor insulation products that in some formulations incorporated asbestos reinforcement in early-era products
  • Building attic and wall insulation — WWII-era construction at naval shore facilities used whatever building insulation materials met Navy supply specifications at the time of construction, with some Navy building stock incorporating asbestos-reinforced insulation materials

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from insulation work in Navy applications. Engineering ratings and insulation workers who maintained high-temperature insulation products in Navy steam plant and shore facility applications and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.