Narcogun CR-346 NN — Asbestos Product Reference

Product Description

The Narcogun CR-346 NN was an industrial product manufactured by Keene Corporation, a company with a broad manufacturing portfolio that included construction materials, insulation products, and industrial components across several product categories. Based on litigation records and available product documentation, the Narcogun CR-346 NN was associated with multiple industrial applications, encompassing floor tile, pipe insulation, refractory materials, spray-applied fireproofing, and valves and steam traps.

Keene Corporation operated across a significant portion of the twentieth century and became one of the major defendants in asbestos litigation due to the wide range of asbestos-containing products it produced or distributed under various brand names. The Narcogun CR-346 NN designation appears within the broader catalog of Keene-associated products identified in litigation and product identification databases. Because of the product’s application across multiple industrial settings, it was encountered by workers in heavy industry, manufacturing facilities, shipyards, power plants, and commercial construction environments.

The specific production years for the Narcogun CR-346 NN have not been independently confirmed in publicly available regulatory records. However, products of this type manufactured by Keene were generally produced during the mid-to-late twentieth century, consistent with the broader industrial period during which asbestos was routinely incorporated into construction and insulation materials before regulatory restrictions began taking effect in the 1970s and 1980s.

Asbestos Content

The specific asbestos fiber type and percentage composition for the Narcogun CR-346 NN are not confirmed in independently available public documentation. However, litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged Keene Corporation products across the floor tile, pipe insulation, refractory, spray fireproofing, and valve and steam trap categories contained asbestos as a functional component. Asbestos was commonly used in each of these product categories for its heat resistance, tensile strength, chemical stability, and fire-retardant properties.

In floor tile products of this era, chrysotile asbestos was the most frequently used fiber type, typically bound within vinyl or asphalt matrices. Pipe insulation products frequently incorporated chrysotile or amosite asbestos to achieve thermal resistance across a range of operating temperatures. Refractory materials and spray-applied fireproofing products were known to contain significant proportions of asbestos fiber, which helped the material adhere to structural surfaces and resist extreme heat. Valves and steam traps used in industrial piping systems often contained asbestos in gaskets, packing materials, and internal insulation components designed to withstand high-pressure steam environments.

Plaintiffs alleged that Keene Corporation was aware of the hazards associated with asbestos content in its products and that this information was not adequately communicated to the workers who handled, installed, or maintained those products. These allegations are documented in litigation records filed across multiple jurisdictions throughout the latter decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers generally represent the primary exposed population associated with the Narcogun CR-346 NN. The product’s presence across five distinct industrial categories means that exposure pathways were varied and depended heavily on the specific application context in which the product was encountered.

Workers involved in the installation of floor tiles could be exposed during the cutting, sanding, scraping, or removal of tile materials, all of which are activities known to generate respirable dust containing asbestos fibers. Removal of existing floor tiles — particularly during renovation or demolition operations — is documented by OSHA and EPA records as a high-exposure activity, as aged asbestos-containing tile can become friable over time.

Pipe insulation work exposed insulators, pipefitters, plumbers, and maintenance personnel to asbestos fibers during the application, cutting, and removal of insulation materials. Sawing or breaking pipe insulation releases fine asbestos fibers into the surrounding air, and workers in confined spaces such as ship engine rooms, boiler rooms, and industrial plant interiors faced elevated exposure risks due to limited ventilation.

Spray-applied fireproofing was among the most hazardous application methods documented in occupational health literature. Workers applying spray fireproofing, as well as bystanders and tradespeople working nearby, could inhale significant quantities of airborne asbestos fibers generated during the spraying process. OSHA regulations that took effect in the early 1970s eventually restricted and then effectively ended the use of spray-applied asbestos fireproofing in most applications, but many workers had already accumulated substantial exposures before those protections were in place.

Refractory work exposed furnace installers, boilermakers, and industrial maintenance workers to asbestos-containing refractory cements, boards, and castable materials used in high-temperature equipment. Asbestos fibers in these materials became airborne during mixing, application, and especially during the demolition or repair of existing refractory linings.

Workers servicing valves and steam traps — including maintenance mechanics, pipefitters, and millwrights — faced exposure when removing and replacing asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials. Cutting, trimming, or abrading these components released asbestos fibers in quantities sufficient to constitute a health hazard under standards later established by OSHA and NIOSH.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

The Narcogun CR-346 NN is classified as a Tier 2 — Litigated Product. There is no dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund associated with Keene Corporation that is currently active and accepting claims in the manner of major asbestos trusts established under Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. As a result, legal remedies for individuals harmed by exposure to this product are pursued through the civil tort litigation system rather than through a structured trust fund claims process.

Litigation records document that Keene Corporation faced substantial asbestos-related litigation. Plaintiffs alleged that the company manufactured and distributed asbestos-containing products, including products used in the categories associated with the Narcogun CR-346 NN, without adequate warning to end users about the health risks of asbestos exposure. These lawsuits were filed on behalf of workers and, in some cases, their family members who alleged secondary exposure through contaminated work clothing.

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-attributable diseases who have a documented history of occupational exposure to Keene products may have legal standing to pursue civil claims. An experienced asbestos attorney can evaluate exposure history, medical records, and product identification evidence to determine whether litigation is appropriate and which defendants may bear liability.

Workers or surviving family members seeking legal remedies should gather employment records, co-worker testimony, union records, and any product identification documentation that connects their work history to the Narcogun CR-346 NN or other Keene Corporation products. Statutes of limitations vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure, but prompt consultation with qualified legal counsel is strongly recommended.

This reference article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals seeking legal remedies should consult a licensed asbestos attorney.