Kaylo Pipe Covering & Block (Owens-Illinois / Owens-Corning) — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk
What This Equipment Is
Kaylo is the most extensively litigated asbestos pipe covering and block insulation product in U.S. history. It was a hydrous calcium silicate insulation introduced commercially in 1949 by Owens-Illinois (O-I), which sold the Kaylo line for asbestos pipe-covering and block applications until 1958. Owens-Corning Fiberglas acquired the Kaylo division from Owens-Illinois in 1958 and continued manufacturing and selling Kaylo until 1972 — when, under increasing internal and external pressure over the documented health effects of asbestos, Owens-Corning began phasing out asbestos content in favor of fiberglass-based replacements.
Kaylo was supplied in three primary forms:
- Pipe covering — preformed hinged half-sections sized to standard pipe outside diameters
- Block insulation — flat rectangular slabs for boilers, vessels, ducts, and breeching
- Specialty shapes — for fittings, valves, and irregular surfaces
Service temperature range covered most industrial high-temperature applications up through ~1,200°F.
Documented Use Across Industries
The product was specified extensively in:
- U.S. Navy shipboard service (see Shipyard Pipe Covering)
- Utility and industrial power plants (see Boilers, Steam Turbines)
- Petroleum refineries (see Fired Heaters, Distillation Towers)
- Pulp and paper mills (see Digester Insulation)
- Chemical processing plants
- Steel mills and foundries
- Large commercial heating plants and hospitals
Why Kaylo Was an Especially Important Litigation Product
Kaylo is at the center of much of the foundational asbestos-litigation history because:
- It was widely distributed across virtually every heavy-industry sector during the peak asbestos-use era
- The corporate trail is well documented — Owens-Illinois pre-1958, Owens-Corning Fiberglas 1958–1972
- Internal corporate health-warning records from both manufacturers became central exhibits in early asbestos litigation
- Both successor entities established major trust funds through Chapter 11 reorganization
Trust Funds Specifically for Kaylo Exposure
- Owens-Corning / Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — the primary trust for post-1958 Kaylo claims
- Owens-Illinois claim mechanisms — pre-1958 Kaylo exposure (Owens-Illinois has historically defended through direct civil litigation rather than a trust)
A diagnosed individual with documented industrial or naval exposure during the Kaylo era should consult an experienced asbestos attorney about claim eligibility under the Owens-Corning / Fibreboard Trust.
Manufacturers in the Kaylo Lineage
- Owens-Illinois (O-I) — 1949–1958
- Owens-Corning Fiberglas — 1958–1972
- Owens-Corning successor entities — post-bankruptcy administration
Trades Most Exposed to Kaylo
Insulators (Heat & Frost Insulators) — primary applicator trade. Pipefitters, boilermakers, machinist’s mates (Navy), and laborers working alongside insulators. Demolition crews stripping legacy Kaylo from boilers, ships, and process plants decades after installation.
Jobsites in the Network Documenting Kaylo
- Most pre-1972 industrial facilities across the state-site network
- U.S. Navy ships built and overhauled 1949–1972 (see also navymesothelioma.com)
- See companion pages: Pipe Insulation, Block Insulation, Calcium Silicate Block, Magnesia Pipe Covering
Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, Owens-Corning and Owens-Illinois corporate disclosures, EPA / OSHA records, and academic asbestos-litigation historiography. 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.