Document 7R0Qvbb5Ygvg26D6Q7adqw67g

Ka.y 23, 1969 Mr. E. A. bchuaun Johns-Munvillc 22 East 4Cth Street New York, New York . lculo ; cc: R. J>. Clark - Uniroyal, Inc. ' E. E. Moody - 11. h. Porter Co.' J. L. Rainey - American Asbestos Textile Co. C. T. Weiss - Garlcck, Inc. H. C. Roosevelt - Cadwalader, Vickershom & Taft H. E. Sunbury - Asbestos Textile Institute 1' ' *' ... ." s. . . Dear Ed: 1 am attaching to this letter and to copies addressed to each metier of the Coord of Governors of the A.T.l. a copy of a letter sent to E/M by Mr. J. V. Murdock, Head, Applied Physics Department from the Department of the Navy, Philadelphia. It would , seem that everyone has seen it by now but since it seems so important to all of us, 1 send it as a precautionary measure. We certainly will place this subject on the agenda of the dales. Promotion Committee for the Juno lltn meeting at deaview. At the same time, my I respectfully request that you mane the letter available to the iiiviromental Study Committee who would also be most vitally concerned. We believe that some form of action should be taken by the Institute in the fora of a protest at the earliest opportunity. Cliff Sheckicr's group could certainly advise us in this area. At the same time, Raybestos-Manhattan intends to reply independabiy at their invitation as outlined in paragraph 11. We feel it expedient to suhmit a letter prior to June 15th in order to contribute to discourag ing a development program on substitutes for asbestos in shipboard insulation. Yours very truly 0 ec C 7! Raybes Los^-Mnnhattan Incorporated 6l" V/illett Street ' Passaic, New Jersey 07055 Gentle.~.an: Re: Proposed Insulating Materials for Naval Vessels Tiie serious hesards of asbestos have recently received widespread ' publicity and have generated a high level of interest concerning its use by the U. S. Navy as an insulating material. There are many varied uses of asbestos in the Navy but the most disturbing, from a health hazard viewpoint, is that for piping and boiler' insulation and lagging. The chief hazard exists wherever there is a possibility of dust evolution during operations such as fabrication, installation and especially during rip-out. In order to minimize the hazards associated with the use of asbestos ar/J therefore reduce the possibility of deleterious effects to the woriers, a comprehensive study has been initiated by the Naval Ship Engineering ' Center, Kyattsville, I'd., to investigate the feasibility of substituting alternate materials for asbestos used as lagging, piping and boiler insula tion. High temperature insulation, as used by the Navy, must be composed mainly of inorganic materials in order to endure temperatures above 200 F for extended.periods. In addition, on acceptable insulation must exhibit the following characteristics: _ 1. Low heat conductivity. 2. Non-combustibility. ` 3. Lightweight. 4. Capability of easy molding and application. 5. Moisture ropellcncy. 6. Non-corrosive, insoluble and chemically inert, 7. Composition, structure and characteristics must remain unchanged by temperature at which it is to be used. J 8. Must be vermin proof 6764 dint 9390(FA-207) Ser 750 ' 9. The material and application costs should be economical. 10. The ideal insulation should be nontoxic and non-injurious to personnel during fabrication, installation, use, or rip-out. 11. Once installed, it should not cluster, become lumpy, disintegrate or build up in masses from vibration. . The Philadelphia Division of the Maval Shin Engineering Center has u-JCii Cl. ;signcd tasks to conduct a survey of suppliers of insulation to the Navy, to secure technical data literature, and to investigate medical research findings, safety manuals, and data on research being pursued by private industry intended to develop new or improved .materials which may be suitable for replacements for asbestos for piping, felts and lagging. The cooperation and support of industry for this study is earnestly solicited by this activity since the health of the worker is the concern of management, labor and the government. Accordingly, the Navy is desirous of obtaining information on the following: a. Are alternate non-asbestos containing materials available which;; m;...a:vy buec uusoecdu auos therimal insulation ypiiypce wcoov'e.criiniugj?. Tijhive iiin.osuuj-ola.vtiivo. n offer protection up to 750 F and be manufactured in cylindrical sect ions up to-3 feet long, and split in half lengthwise. ' b.- Are there any single layer or combination layered non-asbestos molded materials available v/hich may be used as thermal insulation pipe covering for protection from 750 to 1200 F? c. Y/hat materials may be substituted for asbestos insulating felt (plain or water repellent) for use on valves or other irregular surfaces and v/hich are suitable for a range from cold water temperature to 900 F? d. Y/hat non-asbestos containing cloth materials may be used as a lagging jacket over thermal insulation, or as a wrapping on engine exhaust pipes, or for piping or tubing, or on the inner and outer surfaces of removable covers and on flanges and valves from -5 F to 1050 F? _ e. Y/hat heat-resistant bonding materials may be substituted for asbestos insulation finishing cement over block insulation and irregular surfaces whore powdering during riu-out h is been a problem? 2 6764 ::.;A:d;nt 9390(FA-287) t Ser 750 f. V/hat safety precautions to prevent inhalation of duct are observed dui'ing the manufacturing and processing of insulation materials? ' g. V/hat safety precautions are recommended during the installation and replacement of insulating materials to prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibers and dust? h. To what extent or degree will material and installation costs be affected by the elimination or curtailment of the use of asbestos containing insulation? Due to the urgency of this undertaking, it is requested that the above information be for,varied at your earliest convenience to Dr. II. Aranuth, the project engineer of this task, at the Naval Ship Engineering Center, Philadelphia Division, 6764, Philadelphia, Pa. 19112 (telephone number (215) 755-3922). Information submitted to the Philadelphia ' Division of the Naval Ship Engineering Center will be utilized by the Naval vShip Systems Command in promulgating a directive which will eliminate the use of materials and practices which are potentially hazardous to the health of insulation workers. This activity has been directed to complete the survey of insulation suppliers by 15 June 1969 to afford time for collation and personal contacts, if deemed necessary. Please be assured that any product composition and formulae submitted in'response to this survey will be held in strict confidence and will be viewed as a voluntary contribution to this perplexing problem to the insulation industry. It is understood that submission of information solicited by 'is activity will not obligate the government or its agencies in any manner whatsoever. Very truly yours, W. I.5JRD0CK Head, Applied Physics Department 3