Industrial Air & Gas Compressors — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk
What This Equipment Is
Industrial compressors raise the pressure of air, gas, or vapor. They run on continuous duty in:
- Power plants — instrument-air, service-air, ash-conveying air
- Refineries — process-gas (recycle hydrogen, natural gas, refinery gas), instrument-air
- Chemical plants — process-gas, reaction-gas
- Steel mills — combustion-air, blast-furnace air (turbo-blowers)
- Industrial facilities generally — plant air for pneumatic tools and instrumentation
Common types include reciprocating piston compressors, rotary screw compressors, multi-stage centrifugal compressors, and large axial compressors (in turbo-blower service). Most large industrial compressors are intercooled between stages — the gas is cooled by water-side heat exchangers between compression stages to improve efficiency.
For ammonia compressors in refrigeration service, see Ammonia Compressors — a separate page.
Asbestos Products Historically Used Around Industrial Compressors
| Product Category | Where on the Compressor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder gaskets | Cylinder heads, valve covers, intercooler inlet/outlet | Asbestos sheet and spiral-wound |
| Shaft packing | Rod stuffing boxes, gland seals | Braided asbestos rope packing |
| Block insulation | Intercoolers, aftercoolers, discharge lines | Calcium silicate, magnesia |
| Pipe covering | Hot discharge piping | Magnesia, calcium silicate |
| Removable insulation blankets | Compressor casings on outdoor installations | Asbestos cloth and batting |
| Gaskets | All flanged piping connections | Asbestos sheet gasket material |
Why Compressor Maintenance Was a High-Exposure Activity
Industrial compressors are rebuilt on a recurring cycle — bearings, rings, valves, and seals wear under continuous high-pressure duty. Each rebuild involves the same sequence as pump and valve work: strip insulation, break gaskets, remove old packing, install new components, reassemble, re-insulate. The intercooler and aftercooler sections, with their tube bundles and head flanges, follow the same pattern as other Heat Exchangers.
Compressor halls in power plants and refineries — multiple large machines running in close quarters — were among the louder, hotter, and dustier sustained work environments in heavy industry.
Manufacturers Named in Litigation Involving Compressor-Related Asbestos Products
- Ingersoll-Rand — compressor OEM named in installation/maintenance claims
- Worthington Pump & Machinery — compressor OEM named in claims
- Dresser-Rand / Dresser Industries — compressor OEM
- Atlas Copco — compressor OEM
- Crane Co. — valves and ancillary equipment
- Garlock Sealing Technologies — sheet gaskets, spiral-wound gaskets
- A.W. Chesterton — braided asbestos rope packing
- John Crane — mechanical seals and packing
- Johns-Manville — pipe covering and block insulation
- Owens-Corning / Fibreboard — pipe covering and block insulation
Documented Product References
Images sourced from publicly available product-identification reference materials. Inclusion does not constitute a finding of liability against any company.
Trust Funds That May Apply
- Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust
- Owens-Corning / Fibreboard Asbestos PI Trust
- Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC Asbestos PI Trust
- Armstrong World Industries Asbestos PI Settlement Trust
Trades Most Exposed at Compressor Work
Compressor mechanics, pipefitters, millwrights, maintenance mechanics, insulators (Heat & Frost), plant operators handling routine valve and packing work, refinery turnaround crews.
Jobsites in the Network Documenting Industrial Compressors
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis, Missouri — plant-air and process-air compressors
- Every Missouri power plant, refinery, and chemical plant in the network
- See companion pages: Ammonia Compressors, Pumps, Heat Exchangers
Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, EPA / state-DNR records, and industry-publication histories. Product and company references reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed litigation. This page does not constitute a finding of liability against any company. Not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.