Narcogun P-340 (Keene Corporation)
Product Description
Narcogun P-340 was an industrial product manufactured by Keene Corporation, a diversified manufacturer that produced a broad range of construction materials, insulation products, and industrial components throughout much of the twentieth century. Keene Corporation operated across multiple product categories and supplied materials to industrial facilities, commercial construction sites, and manufacturing operations across the United States.
The Narcogun P-340 product name appears across several industrial categories in litigation and product identification records, including floor tile, pipe insulation, refractory materials, spray fireproofing, and valves and steam traps. This breadth of application reflects the widespread commercial practice of the era, in which asbestos was routinely incorporated into a diverse array of industrial and construction products because of its heat resistance, durability, and binding properties. Keene Corporation’s product lines reached workers in heavy industry, power generation, chemical processing, shipbuilding, and general construction environments.
Specific production dates for the Narcogun P-340 have not been independently confirmed in publicly available regulatory or trust documentation reviewed for this article. However, Keene Corporation’s broader involvement in asbestos-containing product manufacturing is extensively documented in litigation records spanning several decades of personal injury claims.
Asbestos Content
Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged Narcogun P-340 contained asbestos as a functional component of its composition. The specific asbestos fiber types and percentage concentrations associated with this product have not been definitively confirmed in independently verified public regulatory filings reviewed for this article. However, the product categories under which Narcogun P-340 is identified are each historically associated with asbestos-containing formulations.
Spray fireproofing products of the mid-twentieth century frequently incorporated chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite asbestos fibers to achieve required fire-resistance ratings. Pipe insulation products similarly relied on asbestos for thermal stability and protection of steam and process piping systems. Refractory materials used in high-temperature industrial environments were commonly bound with asbestos to withstand extreme heat conditions. Floor tiles produced during this era often contained chrysotile asbestos as a binder and strengthening agent. Valves and steam traps in industrial facilities frequently incorporated asbestos-containing gaskets, packing materials, and insulating components.
Plaintiffs in litigation against Keene Corporation alleged that the company knew or had reason to know of the health hazards associated with asbestos fibers and failed to provide adequate warnings to workers and end users of its products.
How Workers Were Exposed
Industrial workers in a variety of occupational settings encountered Narcogun P-340 and related Keene Corporation products during the course of their employment. Because this product appears across multiple categories, exposure pathways varied depending on the specific application and work environment.
Workers involved in the installation of spray fireproofing materials faced some of the most direct and concentrated exposures documented in asbestos litigation. The spraying process released substantial quantities of airborne fibers into enclosed work areas, affecting not only the workers applying the product but also other trades working nearby. Insulators who cut, fitted, and applied pipe insulation products routinely disturbed asbestos-containing materials, releasing respirable fibers. Refractory workers who mixed, applied, or removed high-temperature materials in furnaces, boilers, and kilns encountered asbestos both during installation and during maintenance and demolition activities.
Floor tile installation and removal workers faced exposure when cutting or breaking tiles, or when sanding, buffing, or scraping adhesive materials containing asbestos. Maintenance workers, pipefitters, and steamfitters who serviced valves and steam traps encountered asbestos-containing packing and gasket materials that required periodic replacement. Each time these components were removed, cut, or disturbed, asbestos fibers could become airborne and inhaled.
Litigation records document that bystander exposures were also alleged in numerous cases. Workers in adjacent trades—electricians, carpenters, painters, and general laborers—who were present when Keene Corporation products were being installed, removed, or disturbed may have inhaled asbestos fibers without directly handling the products themselves.
Industrial facilities including oil refineries, chemical plants, steel mills, power stations, and shipyards are identified in litigation records as environments where Keene Corporation products were used. Workers at these facilities who were exposed to asbestos-containing materials over sustained periods of time were placed at risk of developing serious asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other pulmonary conditions that may not manifest until decades after initial exposure.
Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options
Keene Corporation faced substantial asbestos personal injury litigation over multiple decades. Litigation records document that a large volume of claims were brought against the company by workers and their family members who alleged injuries resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured and distributed by Keene Corporation.
Tier 2 — Litigated Product: Narcogun P-340 is classified as a Tier 2 product for purposes of this reference. There is no confirmed asbestos bankruptcy trust fund specifically established for Keene Corporation claims that has been independently verified in publicly available trust documentation reviewed for this article. Individuals seeking compensation related to exposure to Keene Corporation products, including the Narcogun P-340, should consult with a qualified asbestos litigation attorney to determine what legal avenues may be available.
Attorneys handling asbestos personal injury claims will typically investigate the full occupational history of an exposed individual to identify all potentially responsible manufacturers and suppliers. Because Keene Corporation products spanned multiple categories and were distributed broadly throughout American industry, claims may also intersect with other manufacturers, contractors, or premises owners who may bear legal responsibility.
Workers or surviving family members who believe they were exposed to Narcogun P-340 or other Keene Corporation asbestos-containing products should gather and preserve the following types of documentation:
- Employment history, including employer names, job sites, and dates of employment
- Trade union membership records, where applicable
- Medical records documenting any asbestos-related diagnosis
- Co-worker witness statements regarding product use and working conditions
- Any available product identification records from job sites
Asbestos-related diseases carry specific statutes of limitations that vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Prompt consultation with legal counsel experienced in asbestos personal injury litigation is strongly recommended for anyone who believes they may have been harmed by exposure to Narcogun P-340 or any other asbestos-containing product manufactured by Keene Corporation.
This article is provided for informational and product identification purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals with potential asbestos exposure claims should consult a licensed attorney.