Trane Company, headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, was one of the United States’ major manufacturers of centrifugal refrigeration machines, air conditioning systems, and climate control equipment for commercial and industrial applications throughout the mid-twentieth century. Trane centrifugal refrigeration equipment was installed in United States Navy aircraft carriers, command ships, and large auxiliary vessels providing shipboard air conditioning for crew habitability, electronic equipment cooling, and cargo refrigeration. Trane centrifugal chillers used Freon refrigerant and multi-stage centrifugal compressor technology to provide the large cooling capacities required for Navy shipboard air conditioning systems aboard major fleet units. According to asbestos litigation records, Trane centrifugal chiller assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials in the refrigerant compressor and chiller barrel assembly connections, and Trane chiller installations incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation on refrigerant suction lines where low-temperature surfaces required condensation prevention insulation, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who maintained Trane air conditioning plant equipment aboard naval vessels.

Trane Air Conditioning Equipment Asbestos

Trane centrifugal chiller assemblies incorporated asbestos in equipment sealing and insulation:

  • Centrifugal chiller barrel and tube sheet gaskets — Trane centrifugal chiller barrel assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the chiller barrel head and tube sheet connection flanges. Machinist’s Mates removing Trane chiller barrel heads for tube cleaning or inspection encountered and replaced the asbestos-containing barrel head gasket materials during each chiller maintenance access operation
  • Refrigerant compressor casing gaskets — Trane centrifugal refrigeration compressor casings incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at compressor casing joint faces. Machinist’s Mates removing Trane compressor casings for impeller inspection or compressor maintenance encountered asbestos-containing casing gasket materials during compressor overhaul operations
  • Refrigerant suction line pipe insulation — the refrigerant suction lines connecting Trane centrifugal chiller evaporators to the refrigerant compressor incorporated pipe insulation to prevent condensation on the cold refrigerant suction piping surfaces. Machinist’s Mates working in Trane air conditioning plant equipment rooms in proximity to the refrigerant suction line pipe insulation accumulated background asbestos exposure from any asbestos-containing suction line insulation present in the chiller plant installation

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Trane Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy air conditioning equipment maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who maintained Trane air conditioning plant installations aboard naval vessels and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.