Kaylo Pipe Covering / OCF Kaylo 20 / Kaylo Block Insulation

Manufacturer: Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation Product Categories: Pipe Insulation, Block Insulation Years Produced: 1958–1972 Asbestos Type: Chrysotile Legal Tier: Tier 1 — Trust Fund Available

Product Description

Kaylo Pipe Covering, OCF Kaylo 20, and Kaylo Block Insulation were high-temperature thermal insulation products manufactured by Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation and sold throughout the United States from 1958 through 1972. These products were designed to insulate pipes, boilers, vessels, and other industrial equipment operating at elevated temperatures, and they found widespread use across power generation plants, oil refineries, chemical processing facilities, shipyards, and heavy manufacturing environments.

The Kaylo product line was engineered to meet demanding industrial requirements, offering thermal resistance capable of withstanding the high heat conditions common to steam systems and process piping. Kaylo Pipe Covering was typically formed into curved, pre-cut sections sized to fit standard pipe diameters, allowing for relatively straightforward field installation by pipe coverers and insulators. OCF Kaylo 20 referred to a formulation within the Kaylo product family, and Kaylo Block Insulation was produced in flat sections suited for covering flat or irregular surfaces such as boiler shells, tanks, and equipment housings.

Owens Corning marketed the Kaylo line as a premium industrial insulation product throughout its production run. The materials were distributed widely through industrial supply channels and were specified in construction and maintenance contracts across multiple industries. By the time Owens Corning ceased asbestos-containing Kaylo production in 1972, the product had been installed in thousands of industrial facilities across the country. Those installations often remained in place for decades, meaning that exposure continued well beyond the manufacturing period during any maintenance, repair, or removal work.

Asbestos Content

Kaylo Pipe Covering, OCF Kaylo 20, and Kaylo Block Insulation contained chrysotile asbestos as a primary component of their composition. Chrysotile, a serpentine-form asbestos mineral, was incorporated into these insulation products because of its heat resistance, tensile strength, and binding properties, all of which contributed to the durability of thermal insulation under demanding operating conditions.

The asbestos content in Kaylo products was not incidental or trace-level. Chrysotile fibers were integrated throughout the material matrix to provide structural integrity alongside the insulating properties. This meant that any process that disturbed or degraded the material — including cutting, fitting, sanding, removing, or demolishing installed insulation — had the potential to release respirable asbestos fibers into the surrounding air.

Owens Corning’s internal documentation, as well as materials reviewed in the course of trust fund proceedings and litigation, confirm that asbestos was a deliberate and central component of Kaylo product formulations during the years of production. The company eventually phased out asbestos-containing formulations, but the existing installed base of Kaylo products remained in service in many facilities long after that transition.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers across multiple trades encountered Kaylo Pipe Covering, OCF Kaylo 20, and Kaylo Block Insulation in settings where these products were installed, maintained, or removed. Exposure pathways varied depending on a worker’s specific role and proximity to the materials, but the friable nature of aged asbestos-containing insulation meant that fiber release could occur even during routine tasks not directly involving the insulation itself.

Pipe coverers and insulators who applied Kaylo products during initial installation performed tasks that generated significant dust. Cutting sections to length, shaping material to fit irregular fittings, and mixing or applying finishing cements all disturbed the asbestos-containing matrix and released fibers into the work area. Workers typically performed these tasks in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces such as boiler rooms, pipe chases, and equipment rooms, which allowed fibers to accumulate.

Maintenance and repair workers, including pipefitters, boilermakers, and general industrial maintenance personnel, encountered Kaylo insulation whenever they needed access to insulated pipes or equipment. Removing insulation sections for valve maintenance, pipe repair, or system modifications required breaking apart or cutting through installed Kaylo materials. Aged insulation that had become brittle or damaged was particularly prone to releasing fiber-laden dust during disturbance.

Industrial workers generally — including laborers, helpers, and workers in adjacent trades — could be exposed through bystander contact. In environments where pipe insulation work was underway, airborne asbestos fibers migrated beyond the immediate work area, affecting workers in the same room or compartment who were engaged in entirely different tasks. Shipyard environments, in particular, were noted for this type of secondary exposure due to the confined nature of shipboard spaces.

The duration of the Kaylo product line’s use, combined with the widespread installation of these materials in critical industrial infrastructure, means that exposure histories for affected workers can span decades. Workers who began careers in the 1960s applying Kaylo products may have continued encountering the same installed materials during maintenance work through the 1980s and beyond.

Diseases associated with occupational asbestos exposure, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural disease, have long latency periods, often manifesting 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure. This means that individuals exposed to Kaylo products during the production era may only now be receiving diagnoses.

Owens Corning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2000, in significant part due to the volume of asbestos personal injury claims associated with its products, including the Kaylo product line. As part of the bankruptcy resolution, the Owens Corning Fiberglas Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos-containing products manufactured by Owens Corning.

Trust Name: Owens Corning Fiberglas Asbestos Personal Injury Trust

Product Eligibility: Kaylo Pipe Covering, OCF Kaylo 20, and Kaylo Block Insulation are recognized products within the trust’s claims framework. Claimants who can document occupational exposure to these specific Owens Corning products during the eligible period are generally eligible to file claims with the trust.

Typical Claim Categories: The trust accepts claims for a range of asbestos-related diseases, including:

  • Mesothelioma — malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, peritoneum, or pericardium
  • Lung Cancer — primary lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure history
  • Asbestosis — fibrotic lung disease confirmed by qualifying medical and exposure criteria
  • Other Asbestos-Related Conditions — including pleural disease and related diagnoses meeting trust eligibility standards

Filing Eligibility: Claims are evaluated based on medical documentation of an asbestos-related disease diagnosis and evidence of occupational exposure to qualifying Owens Corning products. Work history records, employment documentation, co-worker affidavits, and facility records may all support a claim. The trust operates under established claims procedures, and claimants may choose between expedited review pathways or individual review depending on their circumstances.

Individuals who believe they were exposed to Kaylo Pipe Covering, OCF Kaylo 20, or Kaylo Block Insulation and have received an asbestos-related diagnosis should consult with an asbestos attorney experienced in trust fund claims to evaluate their eligibility and document their exposure history appropriately.