Zurn Erie City Boilers (Utility and Industrial Steam Generators)

Manufacturer: Zurn Industries
Product Categories: Boilers, Steam Traps
Legal Tier: Trust Fund Available — Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust

Product Description

Erie City boilers were a well-established line of utility and industrial steam generators produced under the Zurn Industries brand. Erie City Iron Works had a long manufacturing history in Erie, Pennsylvania, producing steam-generating equipment for industrial plants, power facilities, institutional buildings, and other heavy-use environments before the product line came under the Zurn Industries corporate umbrella. Zurn Industries, a diversified industrial manufacturer, continued production and distribution of these boilers, marketing them to industries that required large-scale steam generation for heating, processing, and power applications.

These boilers were engineered for high-demand environments. They were installed across a wide range of facilities, including manufacturing plants, refineries, chemical processing facilities, hospitals, universities, and municipal utility operations. The scale of Erie City boilers ranged from mid-sized industrial units to large utility-grade steam generators capable of supplying entire facilities with process steam and heat. Because of their widespread industrial use and long operational lifespans, these boilers were present in American workplaces for decades — and in many cases remained in service well into the period when asbestos hazards were becoming publicly known.

Asbestos Content

Asbestos was a standard component in the construction and installation of industrial boilers for much of the twentieth century. Its heat resistance, insulating properties, and durability made it a material of choice for boiler manufacturers and installers alike. In boilers of the type manufactured and distributed by Zurn Industries under the Erie City name, asbestos-containing materials appeared in several forms and locations.

Asbestos insulation was applied extensively to the exterior surfaces of boiler shells and fireboxes to retain heat and protect workers and surrounding structures from high surface temperatures. Asbestos rope packing and gasket materials were used throughout boiler systems to seal joints, flanges, and access doors — any point where steam or heat could escape required reliable high-temperature sealing. Refractory materials containing asbestos were used to line fireboxes and combustion chambers, providing thermal protection to the structural components of the boiler. Insulating block and blanket materials made with asbestos were applied to steam lines, headers, and associated piping that connected boilers to the distribution systems they served.

Steam traps — devices used in conjunction with boiler systems to remove condensate and non-condensable gases from steam lines — were also components in which asbestos-containing gaskets and packing were routinely used. Because steam traps are maintenance-intensive devices requiring periodic disassembly and rebuilding, workers who serviced them were regularly exposed to asbestos-containing internal components.

Trust fund documentation and litigation records confirm that Erie City boilers and associated Zurn Industries products were manufactured and sold with asbestos-containing components during the decades when asbestos use in industrial equipment was standard practice.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers who installed, operated, maintained, repaired, or worked near Zurn Erie City boilers faced potential asbestos exposure throughout the lifecycle of this equipment. Because these boilers were installed in industrial and utility environments over a span of many years, exposure opportunities were broad and recurring.

Boilermakers and boiler technicians who assembled, installed, and commissioned these units worked directly with asbestos insulation, rope packing, and gasket materials. Cutting insulation to fit boiler surfaces, fitting rope gaskets around access doors and inspection ports, and applying refractory materials to fireboxes all generated asbestos dust in concentrated amounts.

Maintenance and repair workers faced ongoing exposure across the operational life of the equipment. Boiler maintenance involves regular inspections, rebricking of combustion chambers, replacement of door gaskets and rope seals, and repair of insulated surfaces. Each of these tasks — particularly the removal of old, deteriorating asbestos-containing materials — could release significant quantities of asbestos fibers into the breathing zone of workers performing the work.

Pipefitters and insulators working on the steam distribution systems connected to these boilers were exposed to asbestos insulation on steam lines and headers. Removing and replacing pipe insulation during repairs or system modifications disturbed asbestos-containing materials in ways that produced airborne fiber concentrations.

Steam trap mechanics and utility workers who regularly serviced the steam trap components associated with boiler systems encountered asbestos gaskets and packing during routine maintenance procedures. The repetitive nature of steam trap servicing — these components require maintenance at regular intervals — meant that exposure was not a single event but a recurring occupational reality.

Workers in adjacent trades who performed other tasks in boiler rooms and mechanical spaces while boiler work was underway were also subject to bystander exposure. In industrial facilities where multiple trades worked simultaneously, asbestos fibers released during insulation or gasket work could remain airborne and affect anyone present in the work area.

OSHA standards established permissible exposure limits for asbestos, and AHERA established regulatory frameworks for asbestos identification and management in buildings — both frameworks acknowledge the documented hazard associated with asbestos-containing insulation and mechanical components of the type used in industrial boiler systems.

Individuals who developed asbestos-related diseases — including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related conditions — following occupational exposure to Zurn Erie City boilers or other asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by Zurn Industries may be eligible to file a claim with the Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust.

The Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust was established to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos-containing products manufactured, distributed, or sold by Zurn Industries. Trust fund claims processes are administered according to the Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP) governing the fund, which define eligible disease categories, documentation requirements, and claim valuation criteria.

Typical eligible claim categories include:

  • Mesothelioma — the asbestos-specific cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, and the highest-priority disease category recognized by asbestos trusts
  • Lung cancer — with documented asbestos exposure history and, in many cases, evidence of underlying asbestosis or other asbestos-related markers
  • Asbestosis — the progressive scarring of lung tissue caused by prolonged asbestos fiber inhalation
  • Other asbestos-related diseases — as defined under the applicable TDP

To file a claim, claimants or their legal representatives typically must document the nature of occupational exposure, identify Zurn Erie City boilers or other covered Zurn products as a source of that exposure, and provide medical documentation confirming diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease.

Product identification is a key step in the claims process. Workers who can establish that they installed, maintained, or regularly worked near Zurn Erie City boilers — or who worked in facilities where this equipment was present — may be able to meet the exposure requirements for trust fund eligibility. Coworker affidavits and employment records are commonly used to support product identification where direct documentation is unavailable.

Individuals and families affected by asbestos-related disease linked to Zurn Industries products are encouraged to consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos trust fund claims to evaluate eligibility and pursue compensation through the Zurn Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust.