Zurn Heat Recovery Equipment

Product Description

Zurn Industries was a diversified industrial manufacturer with operations spanning plumbing products, mechanical systems, and energy equipment. Among its product lines, Zurn produced heat recovery equipment designed for industrial and commercial facilities, including boilers and steam traps that formed the backbone of thermal energy systems in factories, power plants, refineries, and large institutional buildings throughout the twentieth century.

Heat recovery equipment served a critical function in industrial energy management. Boilers generated steam that powered machinery, heated facilities, and drove industrial processes. Steam traps, a complementary component, regulated the flow of condensate and prevented live steam from escaping the system while allowing condensed water to drain away — a continuous mechanical function that kept thermal systems operating efficiently. Together, these products were installed in enormous quantities across American industry, from manufacturing plants and chemical facilities to hospitals, universities, and military installations.

Zurn Industries grew through acquisition and organic expansion, building a reputation as a supplier of mechanical systems components relied upon by engineers, contractors, and plant operators. The boilers and steam traps produced under the Zurn name were installed in both new construction and retrofit projects, meaning the equipment had a long service life and a wide geographic footprint across the United States.

Because heat recovery equipment was designed to operate under sustained high temperatures and significant pressure, material selection was critical. Manufacturers throughout the industry routinely incorporated asbestos-containing materials into these systems during the mid-twentieth century, a period when asbestos was widely regarded as the insulating material of choice for high-heat applications.

Asbestos Content

Zurn heat recovery equipment, including boilers and steam traps, incorporated asbestos-containing materials in forms consistent with standard industrial manufacturing practices of the era. Asbestos was valued for its exceptional resistance to heat, its durability under pressure cycling, and its ability to prevent heat loss — all properties directly relevant to steam and thermal systems.

In boiler construction, asbestos appeared in multiple forms: as insulation applied to exterior surfaces to retain heat and protect workers from burns, as gaskets and sealing materials used at flanges, joints, and access points, and as packing materials used around valves and pipe connections. Refractory materials lining combustion chambers also frequently incorporated asbestos fibers to withstand extreme temperatures generated during operation.

Steam traps presented similar material profiles. These mechanical devices required sealing components that could withstand repeated temperature fluctuations and exposure to pressurized steam. Gaskets and packing within steam trap assemblies were commonly manufactured from compressed asbestos fiber or asbestos-reinforced composites. In some configurations, asbestos insulation was also applied to trap housings and associated piping to prevent heat loss and condensate problems in the surrounding system.

The Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust, established to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by Zurn Industries, recognizes heat recovery equipment — including boilers and steam traps — among the product categories associated with the company’s asbestos liability.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers encountered Zurn heat recovery equipment at multiple points across the equipment lifecycle, and the Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust’s documentation reflects the broad range of occupational settings where exposure occurred.

Installation workers faced exposure during the initial fitting of boilers and steam systems. Cutting insulation blankets to fit boiler surfaces, trimming gasket materials to match flange dimensions, and handling bulk asbestos packing for valve and trap assemblies all generated respirable asbestos dust. Workers in boiler rooms and mechanical spaces often labored in confined, poorly ventilated areas where airborne fiber concentrations could accumulate without adequate dispersal.

Pipefitters and steamfitters worked directly with steam trap assemblies and associated piping components, routinely handling asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials. Replacing worn or failed gaskets required scraping existing material from flange faces, a task that generated significant fiber release. Steam traps required periodic inspection and maintenance, meaning these workers encountered asbestos-containing internal components on a recurring basis throughout the service life of the equipment.

Boilermakers were among the trades most directly exposed. Repairing, rebricking, or relining boiler combustion chambers brought workers into close contact with refractory and insulating materials. Removing deteriorated insulation from boiler exteriors to access components for repair generated substantial airborne dust. Boilermakers often worked alongside insulators, creating a shared exposure environment.

Insulation workers applied and removed lagging and blanket insulation from boiler surfaces and associated steam system components. As insulation aged and became friable, removal work — particularly in older industrial facilities — produced heavy fiber concentrations.

Maintenance and plant operations personnel employed in facilities using Zurn heat recovery equipment faced ongoing, lower-level exposure over extended careers. Routine inspections, minor repairs, and incidental contact with deteriorating insulation on boilers and steam traps contributed to cumulative fiber burden over years or decades of employment. Facilities managers, plant engineers, and general industrial workers in proximity to boiler rooms and steam systems also fell within the exposure population documented in trust fund and litigation records.

OSHA’s regulatory history regarding asbestos in industrial settings, including the AHERA framework addressing asbestos-containing materials, reflects the recognized hazard that products like boilers and steam traps presented in occupational environments where these systems were installed, maintained, and eventually removed.

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.

Corporate context: Erie City operated until 1978 when it became covered by Zurn Industries. The company manufactured large industrial boilers.

Brand identification: Keystone Package Boiler brand name

Industries served: Industrial.

Documented product lines:

• Keystone Package Boiler. Large, industrial-sized boilers

Erie City was acquired by Zurn in 1978; products were primarily large industrial-sized boilers sold under the Keystone Package Boiler brand.