Number One Plus Cement

Product Description

Number One Plus Cement was an industrial-grade cement product manufactured by Keene Corporation, a company with a broad manufacturing portfolio that included numerous building and industrial materials throughout the mid-twentieth century. Products in this category were formulated to withstand high-temperature environments and were marketed for use across a range of demanding industrial applications.

Based on litigation records, Number One Plus Cement was applied in settings spanning floor tile installation, pipe insulation work, refractory construction, spray fireproofing operations, and valve and steam trap assemblies. Its versatility made it a common presence in industrial facilities, power plants, shipyards, refineries, and manufacturing plants during the periods when asbestos-containing construction materials were in widespread use. Workers in these environments routinely encountered the product during both initial installation and subsequent maintenance and repair activities.

Keene Corporation, headquartered in New York, operated multiple subsidiaries and acquired several companies over the decades, expanding its reach into insulation and specialty industrial products. The corporation eventually faced significant asbestos-related litigation stemming from the product lines it manufactured and distributed.

Asbestos Content

Plaintiffs in asbestos litigation have alleged that Number One Plus Cement, as manufactured by Keene Corporation, contained asbestos as a functional ingredient. In high-temperature industrial cement formulations of the era, asbestos fibers — most commonly chrysotile, and in some products amphibole varieties such as amosite — were incorporated to enhance heat resistance, structural cohesion, and durability under thermal stress.

Litigation records document that asbestos-containing cements of this type were standard across the industry during the mid-twentieth century, and that manufacturers including Keene were aware of the hazardous properties of asbestos fibers well before adequate warnings were provided to the workers handling their products. Plaintiffs have further alleged that Keene Corporation failed to disclose the health risks associated with asbestos exposure and did not provide adequate safety instructions or warnings on product labels during the years these materials were in active use.

Because specific formulation documentation for Number One Plus Cement may vary by production lot and time period, individuals with potential exposure claims should consult legal counsel experienced in asbestos litigation to evaluate available product identification records.

How Workers Were Exposed

The occupational exposure pathways associated with Number One Plus Cement were numerous and consistent with the broad range of trades and industrial settings in which the product was used. Litigation records document that workers across multiple categories came into contact with this material during the ordinary performance of their jobs.

Floor Tile Installation and Removal: Workers who applied cement-based adhesives and setting compounds in floor tile applications could generate airborne asbestos dust during mixing, spreading, cutting, and finishing operations. Demolition and renovation workers removing old floor systems faced additional exposure as dried asbestos-containing cement was disturbed.

Pipe Insulation: Industrial pipefitters, insulators, and plumbers who worked with asbestos-containing pipe insulation cements were routinely exposed when mixing powdered materials with water, applying the wet compound to pipe surfaces, and finishing or repairing cured insulation. Plaintiffs alleged that the sanding and cutting of hardened cement products released significant concentrations of respirable asbestos fibers into the work area.

Refractory Applications: Refractory workers constructing and maintaining furnaces, kilns, boilers, and other high-temperature industrial systems used asbestos-containing cements to seal joints and bond refractory brick. These tasks — particularly chipping out old refractory cement and applying new material — generated substantial airborne fiber release documented in industrial hygiene literature of the period.

Spray Fireproofing: Litigation records document that spray-applied fireproofing operations were among the highest-exposure activities associated with asbestos-containing products. Workers applying spray fireproofing material and those working in the immediate vicinity — including ironworkers, electricians, and carpenters performing concurrent work — could inhale large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers without adequate respiratory protection.

Valves and Steam Traps: Maintenance workers, pipefitters, and steamfitters who serviced industrial valve assemblies and steam trap systems used cement-based compounds for sealing and repair. Disturbing cured asbestos-containing cement during disassembly and cleaning was a recognized source of fiber release.

Beyond the primary trades, bystander exposure was a consistent theme in asbestos litigation involving industrial facilities. Workers in adjacent areas — those who shared work spaces with insulators, refractory crews, or fireproofing applicators — faced secondary exposure without directly handling the product. Family members of industrial workers also alleged secondary or take-home exposure through contaminated work clothing brought into the household.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Product identification and liability determinations require individualized legal and factual analysis.