North American Refractories Company: Asbestos Products and Occupational Exposure History

North American Refractories Company (NARCO) was a major American manufacturer of refractory materials — engineered products designed to withstand extreme heat in industrial furnaces, kilns, boilers, and high-temperature processing equipment. According to asbestos litigation records, NARCO’s refractory product lines included materials that contained asbestos fibers during the mid-twentieth century, a period when asbestos was widely incorporated into heat-resistant industrial products. Workers in steelmaking, glassmaking, ceramite processing, and other heavy industries who installed, maintained, or demolished NARCO refractory products have been identified as potentially at risk for asbestos-related disease.

Company History

North American Refractories Company operated as a significant supplier to industries that required materials capable of lining and insulating furnaces, kilns, incinerators, and other high-heat environments. Refractory manufacturers like NARCO served as critical upstream suppliers to the American steel industry, the chemical processing sector, the aluminum industry, and the power generation sector throughout the postwar industrial boom of the 1940s through the 1970s.

During this era, asbestos was considered an ideal additive for many refractory and insulating products because of its exceptional resistance to heat, its fibrous structure that lent strength and flexibility to formed products, and its relative low cost. Court filings document that NARCO, in common with other refractory manufacturers of the period, formulated at least some product lines to include asbestos as a functional component.

NARCO is reported to have ceased the use of asbestos in its products in approximately the early 1980s, consistent with broader regulatory pressure and mounting scientific evidence linking asbestos exposure to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The company has been the subject of asbestos-related civil litigation filed by workers and their families seeking compensation for occupational exposures alleged to have occurred during the decades when asbestos-containing refractory products were in active use.

Asbestos-Containing Products

According to asbestos litigation records, NARCO manufactured refractory products that plaintiffs alleged contained asbestos during some portion of the company’s production history. Refractory materials as a product category encompass a wide range of forms, and plaintiffs in various proceedings have identified NARCO products across several of these categories.

Refractory Brick and Block Refractory brick was among the core products produced by manufacturers in NARCO’s market segment. Plaintiffs alleged that certain NARCO brick formulations incorporated chrysotile or other asbestos fiber types to improve thermal stability and mechanical strength at elevated temperatures. These bricks were used to line the interiors of open-hearth furnaces, electric arc furnaces, coke ovens, and rotary kilns.

Castable Refractories and Gunning Mixes Court filings document claims involving castable refractory materials — hydraulically setting mixtures that could be poured or pneumatically applied (“gunned”) to form furnace linings and other heat-resistant structures. Plaintiffs alleged that NARCO castable products contained asbestos fibers that became airborne during mixing, application, and subsequent demolition or repair of furnace linings.

Refractory Mortars and Cements Refractory mortars used to bond brick courses and fill joints in furnace and kiln construction were also identified in litigation. According to asbestos litigation records, workers who troweled, mixed, or otherwise handled these materials in poorly ventilated industrial spaces may have been exposed to asbestos-containing dust.

Plastic Refractories Plastic refractory materials — pre-mixed, workable formulations that could be rammed or packed into irregular furnace geometries — were a standard tool in industrial furnace construction. Plaintiffs alleged that some NARCO plastic refractory products contained asbestos and that workers who cut, shaped, or applied these materials generated respirable asbestos fiber.

Because specific product formulations varied over time and by application, workers and attorneys researching potential NARCO exposure should attempt to identify the precise product name, the industrial site and furnace type involved, and the approximate dates of exposure. This documentation is important for establishing a connection between a specific product and an individual’s work history.

Occupational Exposure

The workers most frequently identified in asbestos litigation involving refractory manufacturers like NARCO include those who worked directly with furnace construction and maintenance, as well as bystander trades who worked in proximity to these activities.

Bricklayers and Refractory Workers Skilled bricklayers and refractory specialists who installed, repaired, or demolished furnace linings were among the most directly exposed. Cutting refractory brick, mixing castable material, and demolishing old linings — called “tear-out” or “reline” work — generated substantial quantities of airborne dust. Court filings document claims from workers in this trade who allege repeated, high-level exposure to asbestos-containing NARCO products over years or decades of employment.

Steelworkers and Ironworkers Steel production facilities were among the largest consumers of refractory materials. Workers who maintained blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, and electric arc furnaces — or who worked nearby during reline operations — were potentially exposed to asbestos-containing refractory dust as a routine part of their employment.

Boilermakers Industrial boilers required refractory linings, and boilermakers who constructed, repaired, or overhauled boiler systems were frequently present during the installation and removal of refractory materials. Plaintiffs alleged exposure to NARCO products in this context across a range of industrial and power generation facilities.

Pipefitters and Insulators Trades that worked alongside refractory crews in industrial facilities — including pipefitters, insulators, and millwrights — may have been exposed to asbestos-containing refractory dust as bystanders during furnace construction and repair. Court filings document claims from workers in these trades who alleged that they were not directly handling refractory products but were exposed through proximity to ongoing refractory work.

Secondary and Household Exposure Family members of workers who handled asbestos-containing refractory materials may have experienced secondary exposure through contaminated work clothing brought into the home. This so-called “take-home” exposure pathway has been recognized in asbestos litigation as a potential source of mesothelioma risk for household contacts of industrial workers.

Industries and facilities where NARCO products were reportedly in use, based on litigation records and the typical distribution patterns of refractory manufacturers of this period, include:

  • Integrated steel mills and mini-mills
  • Aluminum smelting and processing facilities
  • Glass manufacturing plants
  • Cement kilns
  • Chemical processing plants
  • Coke-producing facilities
  • Power generation plants with industrial boilers
  • Foundries and metal casting operations

Workers who were employed at any of these types of facilities during the 1940s through the early 1980s and who worked with or near furnace lining operations should consider whether NARCO products may have been present at their worksite.

North American Refractories Company has been a named defendant in asbestos personal injury litigation. According to asbestos litigation records, plaintiffs have alleged that NARCO manufactured and sold asbestos-containing refractory products and that the company knew or should have known of the hazards associated with asbestos exposure during the period these products were in use.

No Established Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust As of the preparation of this reference article, North American Refractories Company does not appear to have established a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund of the type created by companies that reorganized under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code specifically to address asbestos liabilities. This distinguishes NARCO from manufacturers such as Owens Corning, Armstrong World Industries, or USG Corporation, which resolved their asbestos obligations through trust mechanisms.

This means that individuals seeking compensation for asbestos-related illness allegedly connected to NARCO products would typically pursue claims through the civil tort system — filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in the appropriate jurisdiction — rather than submitting a claim to a trust fund administrative process.

Statutes of Limitations Asbestos-related diseases, particularly malignant mesothelioma, have long latency periods — often 20 to 50 years between initial exposure and diagnosis. Statutes of limitations for asbestos personal injury and wrongful death claims vary by state. In most jurisdictions, the limitations period begins to run from the date of diagnosis or the date the illness was discovered, rather than from the date of exposure. Anyone considering a legal claim should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation promptly after a diagnosis is confirmed.

Summary: What Workers and Families Should Know

If you or a family member worked with or near North American Refractories Company refractory products — particularly in steel mills, foundries, glass plants, or other heavy industrial settings — and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options.

Because NARCO does not appear to have established an asbestos bankruptcy trust, compensation claims would most likely proceed through asbestos civil litigation rather than a trust claim process. An experienced asbestos attorney can evaluate your work history, identify the specific products and facilities involved, and determine whether a lawsuit is appropriate given the applicable statute of limitations in your state.

Documenting your exposure history — including the facilities where you worked, the time periods involved, the specific job tasks performed, and any coworkers who can corroborate your account — is an important step in preserving your legal options.