Ehret Asbestos Block & Pipe Covering
The Ehret Magnesia Manufacturing Corporation, located in the industrial village of Port Kennedy (now called Valley Forge), Pennsylvania, produced many asbestos-containing insulation products from the mid-1890s until the 1970s.
The company produced Ehret block insulation and Ehret pipe covering to be used in the following situations where pipe insulation was needed:
- Steam pipes
- Boilers
- Furnaces
- Hot water heaters
- Factories
- Steam rooms
- Ships
- Power plants
- Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
Prior to and during World War I, Ehret block insulation and pipe covering were widely used by the U.S. Navy to help conserve fuel and reduce costs on military vessels. Block and pipe covering helped to reduce fuel consumption by preventing the unwanted transfer of heat and steam from pipes, as well as providing reinforcement to prevent pipes from cracking under high temperatures.
Asbestos in Ehret Block and Ehret Pipe Covering
To minimize heat loss from steam pipes and reduce unwanted heat transfer in boilers, evaporators and turbines, Ehret developed insulating products made of asbestos and magnesia that could be molded to fit around hot pipes. Ehret products were often referred to as "85% Magnesia," as the products contained 85 percent magnesia, a product derived from magnesium carbonate and calcium. Magnesia was known for its superior heat insulation properties and ability to withstand high temperatures and prevent fires, and long-fibered asbestos was added as a binder material to the compounds to add structural reinforcement.
Ehret Block
Ehret 85% Magnesia was often supplied as preformed blocks of insulation, which could be used to support and insulate pipes. The Ehret block insulation was typically made of at least 10 to 15 percent asbestos and magnesia and was sold under various brand names such as "Thermalite Block Insulation" until the 1960s.
Preformed, or molded, asbestos block insulation used on boilers and hot water heaters was banned in 1975 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on regulations set forth by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and the Clean Air Act.
Ehret Pipe Covering
Ehret pipe covering was similar to Ehret block and was sold under various brand names, including "Thermalite Pipe Covering," until the 1970s. Pipe covering made with asbestos may appear white or chalky and is typically wrapped with a thin canvas material. The Ehret pipe covering can be found around steam pipes and is known to be very lightweight. It is thought that Ehret pipe coverings were manufactured at the Pennsylvania factory until the 1990s.
Dangers Associated with Ehret Block and Ehret Pipe Covering
Ehret block insulation and Ehret pipe covering are known to contain asbestos fibers, which can pose a serious health hazard if inhaled or ingested. If asbestos-containing block insulation or pipe covering is damaged, sanded, sawed or otherwise disturbed, the microscopic asbestos fibers can become airborne, where they can be easily inhaled or ingested. Insulation or pipe covering that appears dry, crumbling, pulverized, flaking or powdered should not be touched.
Individuals who may have been exposed to asbestos fibers found in Ehret block and Ehret pipe covering include:
- Ehret factory workers
- Insulation workers or installers
- Renovators or demolition workers
- Pipe fitters
- Plumbers
- Shipbuilders
The 85% Magnesia Ehret block and pipe covering are particularly dangerous because the products often required sanding or sawing in order for the insulation to be fitted to pipe shapes.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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