FXY, Inc. (Local Distributor of Narco Products) — Asbestos Product Reference

Product Description

FXY, Inc. operated as a local distributor of products manufactured by Narco Products, a brand associated with the Flintkote Company. In this capacity, FXY, Inc. functioned as a regional intermediary in the supply chain, sourcing and delivering Flintkote-manufactured building and industrial materials to contractors, construction sites, and industrial facilities within its distribution territory.

The Flintkote Company was one of the larger manufacturers of asbestos-containing construction materials in the United States during the mid-to-late twentieth century. Its product lines spanned multiple construction and industrial categories, and regional distributors such as FXY, Inc. played a central role in getting those materials into the hands of tradespeople and workers at job sites. Distribution arrangements of this kind were common in the building materials industry and meant that locally purchased products often originated from large national manufacturers with established asbestos-containing formulations.

The product categories associated with FXY, Inc.’s distribution of Narco-branded Flintkote goods include ceiling tile, cement pipe, floor tile, joint compound, pipe insulation, and roofing products. These categories collectively represent a broad range of construction and industrial applications, meaning workers across many trades and industries may have encountered these materials in the ordinary course of their work.

Asbestos Content

Flintkote’s manufacturing operations across the product categories distributed by FXY, Inc. were documented as including asbestos-containing formulations during the periods in which these materials were actively produced and sold. Asbestos was incorporated into these product types for a range of functional reasons that were well understood by manufacturers at the time.

In ceiling tiles and floor tiles, asbestos fibers were added to reinforce the structural matrix and provide fire resistance. In cement pipe, asbestos was used to improve tensile strength and durability under pressure. Joint compound formulations incorporated asbestos to improve workability, adhesion, and resistance to cracking after application. Pipe insulation products relied on asbestos for its thermal insulating properties, particularly in high-temperature industrial environments. Roofing products used asbestos to improve weather resistance, fire retardancy, and longevity.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged Flintkote products distributed through regional channels like FXY, Inc. contained asbestos in concentrations sufficient to release respirable fibers during normal use, cutting, installation, and disturbance. Plaintiffs further alleged that the asbestos content in these products was not adequately disclosed to the workers who handled them and that appropriate warnings were absent from product labeling and documentation during critical decades of use.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers generally represent the primary exposure population identified in connection with FXY, Inc.’s distribution of Narco-branded Flintkote products. Given the breadth of product categories involved, exposure scenarios varied considerably depending on the specific material being handled.

Workers installing or removing ceiling tiles could disturb asbestos-containing material through cutting, scoring, breaking, or demolition, releasing fine fibers into the breathing zone. Floor tile installers working with asbestos-containing vinyl or composition tiles experienced similar exposure risks during cutting, grinding, and adhesive application, as well as during sanding or scraping of old adhesive backings. Demolition and renovation workers removing previously installed floor or ceiling tiles faced potentially higher fiber concentrations as aged and brittle asbestos-containing materials were disturbed.

Workers handling cement pipe in construction, plumbing, or industrial settings were exposed through cutting, drilling, grinding, and fitting operations that generated airborne asbestos dust. Pipe insulation workers — including those in industrial facilities, power plants, and shipyards — encountered exposure risks during both installation of new insulation and removal or repair of existing insulation, which could be friable and readily release fibers when handled. Joint compound applicators, including drywall finishers and plasterers, were exposed through mixing of dry compound powder, sanding of dried surfaces, and cleanup of joint compound dust in enclosed spaces with limited ventilation.

Workers applying or removing roofing products containing asbestos faced exposure when cutting shingles or built-up roofing materials, breaking down deteriorated roofing assemblies, or working in proximity to others performing such tasks. Bystander exposure — affecting workers in adjacent trades sharing the same work areas — is also recognized in the litigation and occupational health literature as a meaningful exposure pathway for all of these product categories.

Because FXY, Inc. operated as a distributor rather than a manufacturer, workers may not have been aware that the locally sourced products they were using originated with a national manufacturer’s asbestos-containing formulations. This lack of product origin transparency was a recurring theme in litigation involving regional distributors of asbestos-containing materials.

This article is provided for informational and reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Individuals with potential asbestos exposure claims should consult a licensed attorney.

Documented Product Identification

The following details are drawn from public asbestos litigation records, manufacturer catalog pages, technical manuals, and corporate history materials. Each item reflects the product as documented in those sources.

Documented asbestos-use period: 1940-1982

Corporate context: Flintkote Company was a manufacturer of building materials, roofing products, coatings, and industrial cements. The company produced asbestos-containing products and also purchased and resold asbestos products from other manufacturers.

Brand identification: Products branded under names including Fibrex, Thermalkote, Rexalt, Decoralt, Decocolor, Decobase, Decoturf, Van Packer, Unimastic, Spraykote, Nu-static, Steadfast, Viskalt, Weldon, Skykote, Super Stakool, Flintdek

Documented asbestos components: cement, coating, mastic, felt, board, pipe, siding, shingles, floor tile, chimney components, deadener, sealer, adhesive, putty.

Industries served: Railroad, Roofing, Construction, Automotive, Flooring, Tennis court surfacing, Residential building, Commercial building.

Documented product lines:

  • R.R. Car Cement (1940s-pre 1968). Railroad car cements and sealants produced for various railroad companies including NYC R.R., IC, L&N, Missouri-Pacific, Southern Railway, and Pullman — asbestos components: cement.
  • Plastic Cement (Early 1940s-1982). Roofing plastic cement also known as Viskalt Flashing Cement — asbestos components: cement.
  • Fiber Roof Coating (FRC) (1945-1982). Fibrated roof coating for roofing applications — asbestos components: coating.
  • Fibrex Cement (Early 1940s-1982). Fibrated cement product also known as Fibrex I — asbestos components: cement.
  • GP-8 Tile Cement (Early 1940s-1982). Tile adhesive cement also known as R-14-C — asbestos components: cement.
  • Thermalkote (Late 1940s-1982). Insulating coating product also known as Filler Coat Binder — asbestos components: coating.
  • Asbestos Cement Board (1950-1970). Building board material containing asbestos fibers — asbestos components: board.
  • Asbestos Cement Pipe (1962-1977). Pipe products made with asbestos cement — asbestos components: pipe.

Flintkote manufactured numerous asbestos-containing cements, coatings, and mastics with asbestos content ranging from 1% to 65%. The company also purchased and resold asbestos products from other manufacturers including joint treatment compound, spray texture paint, and ceiling tile.