Boilermakers who came in contact with asbestos products could then inhale the microscopic and invisible asbestos particles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAsbestos-treated parts were continually moving. Workers were constantly exposed to airborne asbestos particles no matter what they were doing.<\/p>\n
Asbestos Products Used in Boilermaking<\/h2>\n
All steam-generating equipment uses a boiler \u2014 or hot water tank \u2014 as their central energy-generation component.<\/p>\n
Steam power became mainstream in the mid-1800s. It was used to propel ships, train locomotives, electrical generators, and all forms of central heating systems.<\/p>\n
Fuel sources varied from wood, coal, oil, and gas, but one thing was common \u2014 all boilers produced huge heat volumes that needed insulating and fireproofing.<\/p>\n
Asbestos was considered the perfect fire resistance and insulation material. Asbestos does not burn nor transfer heat. From the 1920s to the 1980s, asbestos was the main fire and heat protection material used in boilermaking.<\/p>\n
These boiler applications used materials containing asbestos:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Liners on boiler tank interiors<\/li>\n
- Outer wraps on boiler tanks<\/li>\n
- Floor, ceiling, and wall protection in boiler rooms<\/li>\n
- Gaskets in joints, seams, and access openings<\/li>\n
- Insulative pipe wraps on delivery systems<\/li>\n
- Adhesives in pipe connections<\/li>\n
- Additives to bearings and rollers<\/li>\n
- Cement for base pads, supports, and acoustic control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n