York Corporation, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, was a major manufacturer of refrigeration compressors, centrifugal chillers, air conditioning systems, and industrial cooling equipment throughout the twentieth century. York refrigeration and air conditioning equipment was installed in United States Navy aircraft carriers, destroyer tenders, ammunition ships, and other large naval vessels providing shipboard air conditioning for crew habitability and provision refrigeration for food storage. York centrifugal chillers and large reciprocating refrigeration compressors provided the refrigeration capacity required for both crew air conditioning and provision cold storage aboard major fleet units. According to asbestos litigation records, York refrigeration compressor assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing cylinder head gasket materials and valve plate gasket materials in reciprocating compressor construction, and York centrifugal chiller assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials at chiller barrel head connections, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who maintained York refrigeration equipment in naval vessel machinery spaces.

York Refrigeration Equipment Asbestos

York refrigeration assemblies incorporated asbestos in compressor and chiller sealing:

  • Reciprocating refrigeration compressor cylinder head gaskets — York reciprocating refrigeration compressors installed in Navy provision refrigeration plants incorporated asbestos-containing cylinder head gasket materials at the compressor cylinder head-to-block joint faces. Machinist’s Mates performing compressor cylinder head maintenance during refrigeration compressor overhaul handled the asbestos-containing cylinder head gasket materials during each cylinder head maintenance operation
  • Refrigeration compressor valve plate gaskets — York reciprocating compressor valve plate assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials at valve plate seating faces. Machinist’s Mates accessing and servicing York compressor valve plate assemblies during compressor maintenance encountered asbestos-containing valve plate gasket materials during valve maintenance
  • Centrifugal chiller barrel head gaskets — York centrifugal chiller barrel assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the chiller barrel head flanges. Machinist’s Mates removing York chiller barrel heads for tube cleaning or inspection encountered and replaced the asbestos-containing barrel head gasket materials during each chiller tube maintenance access

York Air Conditioning System Asbestos

York air conditioning system installations incorporated asbestos in cold surface insulation:

  • Refrigerant suction line pipe insulation — the refrigerant suction lines and chilled water distribution piping in York air conditioning system installations aboard naval vessels incorporated pipe insulation on cold surfaces to prevent condensation. Machinist’s Mates working in York chiller plant equipment rooms in proximity to the cold surface insulation accumulated background asbestos exposure from any asbestos-containing pipe insulation in the air conditioning system installation

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to York Products

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