Calcrete 30

Manufacturer: Combustion Engineering, Inc. Product Category: Refractory Materials Years Produced: 1964–1969 Asbestos Type: Chrysotile asbestos

Product Description

Calcrete 30 was a refractory product manufactured by Combustion Engineering, Inc. during the mid-to-late 1960s. Refractory materials serve a critical function in high-temperature industrial settings: they line furnaces, kilns, boilers, incinerators, and other thermal processing equipment to withstand extreme heat while protecting the underlying structure. Without refractory linings, industrial equipment operating at elevated temperatures would deteriorate rapidly, making these products indispensable across a wide range of heavy industries.

Combustion Engineering, Inc. was a major industrial conglomerate with deep roots in power generation and thermal processing equipment. The company supplied refractory and heat-resistant products to industries including steel manufacturing, chemical processing, petroleum refining, and electric power generation. Calcrete 30 was part of this broader portfolio of high-temperature industrial materials, formulated to meet the demanding thermal and structural requirements of heavy industrial applications during an era when asbestos was widely incorporated into refractory compounds for its heat-resistant properties.

The product was manufactured and sold during a period when the use of asbestos in industrial materials was standard practice and largely unregulated. Occupational health standards governing asbestos exposure were minimal or nonexistent during much of Calcrete 30’s production window. Regulatory frameworks such as OSHA’s asbestos standards, first introduced in 1971, had not yet been established when this product was actively used in the field.

Asbestos Content

Calcrete 30 contained chrysotile asbestos, the most commonly used form of asbestos in industrial and commercial products throughout the twentieth century. Chrysotile, sometimes referred to as white asbestos, belongs to the serpentine mineral group. Its fine, curly fibers made it especially suitable for incorporation into refractory and insulating compounds, where its resistance to heat, chemical degradation, and mechanical stress was commercially valuable.

In refractory applications, asbestos fibers were typically mixed with calcium silicate, cement, or other binding agents to create castable, gunnable, or trowelable compounds. The asbestos content reinforced the structural integrity of the refractory material at high temperatures and helped prevent cracking during thermal cycling—the repeated expansion and contraction that refractory linings undergo during normal industrial operation.

Although chrysotile is sometimes described as less hazardous than amphibole asbestos varieties such as crocidolite or amosite, the scientific and regulatory consensus, as reflected in OSHA standards and the framework established under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), holds that no form of asbestos can be considered safe at occupational exposure levels. Chrysotile fibers, when inhaled, are capable of causing mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers who handled, installed, maintained, or removed Calcrete 30 and similar refractory products were subject to significant asbestos fiber release at multiple stages of the product’s lifecycle.

Mixing and Application: When Calcrete 30 was prepared for application—whether as a castable mix or an applied compound—dry mixing and handling activities generated airborne asbestos dust. Workers involved in preparing refractory materials at job sites or in industrial facilities could inhale fibers released during this process.

Cutting, Shaping, and Fitting: Refractory materials frequently required cutting, grinding, or shaping to fit the specific contours of furnaces, boilers, and kilns. These mechanical operations on asbestos-containing refractory products are known to release high concentrations of respirable fibers.

Thermal Cycling and Deterioration: Over time, refractory linings subjected to repeated heating and cooling cycles develop cracks and surface degradation. As Calcrete 30 aged and deteriorated within operating equipment, asbestos fibers could become dislodged and airborne during normal industrial operations, affecting maintenance workers and others working in proximity to lined equipment.

Demolition and Repair: Workers tasked with removing old or failed refractory linings—a process common during furnace rebuilds, equipment upgrades, or scheduled maintenance shutdowns—faced particularly intense fiber exposure. Breaking out and disposing of spent refractory material is a highly dust-generating activity that, without modern respiratory protection and containment procedures, would have resulted in significant inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Bystander Exposure: In plant environments where refractory work was ongoing, workers in adjacent areas—operators, supervisors, laborers, and others—could be exposed to asbestos fibers that drifted through open industrial spaces. This bystander exposure was common in the era when Calcrete 30 was produced and used.

Industrial workers generally represent the primary exposed population documented in connection with this product, spanning facilities such as steel mills, power plants, refineries, and manufacturing plants where refractory installation and maintenance were routine activities.

Calcrete 30 is a Tier 2 product, meaning claims related to this product are pursued through the civil litigation system rather than through an established asbestos bankruptcy trust fund. Combustion Engineering, Inc. does have a related trust—the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust—established following the company’s bankruptcy proceedings; however, eligibility for that trust is specific to the products and exposure circumstances covered under the trust’s governing documents. Individuals with Calcrete 30 exposure claims should consult with a qualified asbestos attorney to determine whether trust fund eligibility applies to their specific circumstances or whether civil litigation is the appropriate avenue.

Litigation History: Litigation records document claims filed by industrial workers alleging asbestos-related illness following occupational exposure to Calcrete 30 and other Combustion Engineering refractory products. Plaintiffs alleged that Combustion Engineering knew or should have known about the hazards of asbestos in its refractory product line and failed to provide adequate warnings to workers who handled these materials.

Compensable Diagnoses: Plaintiffs in asbestos litigation related to refractory products have sought compensation for diagnoses including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The latency period for asbestos-related illness is typically 20 to 50 years, meaning workers exposed to Calcrete 30 during its production window of 1964–1969 may be receiving diagnoses today.

Steps for Affected Workers:

  • Gather employment records, union documentation, or other records establishing work history at facilities where Calcrete 30 was used
  • Document any medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease through qualified medical providers
  • Consult a licensed asbestos litigation attorney to evaluate civil litigation options and applicable statutes of limitations, which vary by state
  • Explore whether exposure to other asbestos-containing products at the same worksites may support additional trust fund claims

Workers and families affected by diseases linked to Calcrete 30 exposure are encouraged to seek legal counsel promptly, as statutes of limitations in asbestos cases are time-sensitive and begin running from the date of diagnosis or discovery of illness.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance on individual claims.