Super 505 Hot Gun C (1964–1977)

Manufacturer: NARCO (North American Refractories Company) Product Category: Refractory Years Produced: 1964–1977 Legal Tier: Tier 1 — Trust Fund Available

Product Description

The Super 505 Hot Gun C was a castable refractory product manufactured by North American Refractories Company, commonly known as NARCO, and produced between 1964 and 1977. Refractory materials of this type were engineered to withstand extreme temperatures and were used extensively in industrial environments where conventional construction materials would fail under thermal stress. The “Hot Gun” designation in the product name refers to the gunning application method — a pneumatic or mechanical spray process used to apply refractory material to furnace linings, kilns, boilers, and other high-heat industrial structures.

NARCO was one of the largest refractory manufacturers in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. The company supplied refractory products to a wide range of heavy industries, including steel production, aluminum smelting, glass manufacturing, cement production, petrochemical refining, and power generation. The Super 505 Hot Gun C was among the refractory formulations NARCO offered during a period when asbestos was widely incorporated into such products for its thermal insulation properties, tensile strength, and resistance to fire and chemical degradation.

Like many refractory products of its era, the Super 505 Hot Gun C was designed for demanding industrial applications where reliable thermal performance was essential to continuous plant operations. Its use was concentrated in facilities that maintained large-scale furnaces, kilns, or other heat-intensive processing equipment.

Asbestos Content

The Super 505 Hot Gun C contained asbestos as a component of its refractory formulation. Asbestos was a common additive in castable and gunning-grade refractories produced during the 1960s and 1970s. Its fiber structure made it a practical binding and reinforcing agent in materials that were expected to perform under conditions of extreme heat, mechanical stress, and rapid thermal cycling.

In gunnable refractory products such as the Super 505 Hot Gun C, asbestos fibers were typically blended with other refractory aggregates and binding agents. When the product was mixed, applied, or disturbed during maintenance or demolition work, asbestos fibers could be released into the surrounding air. Because refractory gunning was performed in enclosed or semi-enclosed industrial spaces — furnace interiors, boiler rooms, and kiln chambers — released fibers had limited opportunity to dissipate, creating conditions for elevated airborne fiber concentrations.

The presence of asbestos in NARCO refractory products, including the Super 505 Hot Gun C, is documented through product records, company documentation, and asbestos litigation and trust fund records associated with North American Refractories Company.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers who handled, applied, maintained, or worked in proximity to the Super 505 Hot Gun C faced potential asbestos exposure across a range of job tasks and work scenarios.

Mixing and Preparation: Gunning-grade refractory products were typically supplied as dry or semi-dry mixes that required preparation before application. Workers who opened product bags, measured materials, and mixed batches were directly exposed to airborne asbestos dust generated during the mixing process. This preparation phase often produced visible dust clouds in work areas that were not always well-ventilated.

Application by Gunning: The Hot Gun C was applied using pneumatic gunning equipment that projected the refractory material at high velocity onto furnace walls, boiler linings, kiln surfaces, or other industrial substrates. Workers operating gunning equipment — and co-workers and bystanders present in the same work area — were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers propelled into the surrounding air during application. Enclosed furnace interiors and boiler spaces amplified fiber concentrations during gunning operations.

Refractory Repair and Relining: Industrial furnaces, kilns, and boilers required periodic repair and relining throughout their service lives. Workers tasked with removing old refractory material before applying new product encountered friable, degraded refractory containing asbestos. Chipping, grinding, and demolishing deteriorated refractory linings released significant quantities of asbestos fibers. These tasks were often performed in confined spaces with limited airflow.

Maintenance and Inspection Work: Workers who entered furnaces, boilers, or kilns for routine inspection, maintenance, or repair — even when not directly handling refractory materials — could be exposed to asbestos fibers shed by aging or heat-damaged refractory linings containing asbestos.

Bystander and Nearby Worker Exposure: Industrial worksites where gunning operations were underway exposed not only the workers directly applying the material but also nearby tradespeople — pipefitters, boilermakers, welders, electricians, and general laborers — who were working in adjacent areas when asbestos-laden dust traveled through the workspace.

NARCO refractory products including the Super 505 Hot Gun C were used in steel mills, foundries, glass plants, refineries, power plants, and other industrial facilities where large numbers of workers were employed. Industrial workers generally — across a broad range of job classifications — may have encountered this product during its years of production and during the subsequent decades when installed refractory remained in service.

Documented Trust Fund / Legal Options

North American Refractories Company filed for bankruptcy protection, in part as a result of substantial asbestos liability arising from its refractory products. As part of the bankruptcy resolution process, the North American Refractories Company Asbestos PI Trust was established to compensate individuals harmed by exposure to NARCO asbestos-containing products.

The Super 505 Hot Gun C, manufactured by NARCO between 1964 and 1977, is a product directly associated with this trust. Individuals who were exposed to this product and subsequently diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a claim with the North American Refractories Company Asbestos PI Trust.

Eligible Diagnoses Typically Include:

  • Mesothelioma (malignant, pleural or peritoneal)
  • Lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure history
  • Asbestosis
  • Other asbestos-related pleural diseases and conditions, as defined by trust claim criteria

Filing Eligibility Considerations:

Claimants generally must demonstrate a qualifying diagnosis, a documented history of occupational or other exposure to NARCO asbestos-containing products such as the Super 505 Hot Gun C, and compliance with the trust’s medical and exposure criteria. Claims may be filed by injured workers directly or, in cases of death, by surviving family members or legal representatives of the decedent’s estate.

Steps to Pursue a Claim:

Individuals who believe they were exposed to the Super 505 Hot Gun C or other NARCO refractory products should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos trust fund claims. Legal counsel can assist with gathering exposure documentation, medical records, and employment history necessary to support a trust fund claim. Statute of limitations rules vary by state, and timely filing is essential to preserving legal rights.

The North American Refractories Company Asbestos PI Trust represents an established legal remedy for workers harmed by NARCO products. Exposure to the Super 505 Hot Gun C during its production years or during subsequent maintenance and repair work involving installed product may form the basis of a compensable claim.