Document revYX7r3X3RqMj5ayjVxEGdVJ

FILE NAME: Military Specifications (MS) DATE: 1984 Jan 23 DOC#: MS017 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Review of Military Specifications by Stephen L. Berger (All Pages) REVIEW OF MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS by Stephen L. Berger January 23, 1984 Many of the military and federal specifications for thermal insulations were specifically written for asbestos and, therefore, no substitution within these specifications is possible. Examples of these types of specifications are: MIL-I-0015091B(SHIPS) Insulation felt, thermal, asbestos fiber MIL-P-52350 Paper, asbestos SS--C--466e Cloth, thread, and tape; asbestos HH-I-561c Insulation, thermal, asbestos, block and pipe-covering (for temperatures up to ?50F) HH-M-351b Millboard, asbestos MIL-G-15342A Gaskets (metallic, asbestos, spiral wound, symbol 2410, for boilers) HH-G-76C Gaskets; asbestos metallic cloth HH-P-46c Packing; asbestos, sheet, compressed - 2- HH-P-41C Packing; asbestos, rope and wick HH-P-34b Packing; asbestos, rod, braided HH-P-31d Packing material, asbestos, metallic cloth and tape Some specifications do not specify a particular material for the insulation, only that the material meet certain tests and requirements. Por example, MIL-I-2781D (13 June 1963), the military specification entitled Insulation, Pipe, Thermal states (3*2) "The thermal pipe insulation shall be composed of heat-resisting compounds suitable for the temperature conditions and the purpose intended." Thus, it would seem that any compound meeting this requirement would, have been acceptable. MIL-STD-769A(SKIPS) (23 April 1963) entitled "Military Standard Thermal Insulation Requirements for Machinery and Piping" seems to suggest that either asbestos-containing or asbestos-free materials can be used for certain applications. On page 3, (A.2(e)) a choice is given between calcium silicate or cellular glass insulation on hot piping exposed to the weather. Also on page 3, (4-.3) the type of lagging specified is either asbestos or fibrous glass. On page 7, (Table V) insulating materials for hot surfaces of machinery and equipment up to 850? could have been asbestos felt, insulation block, -5 mineral fiber blanket, or pipe covering. On page 10, (6.1.4) boiler uptakes can be insulated with either mineral wool felt or fibrous glass sheet. On page 11, (6.4.1) there is also mention of calcium silicate or cellular glass insulation for piping exposed to the weather. The Bureau of Ships Technical Manual, Chapter 9390 Thermal Insulation (11/1/63), on page 2, (9390.11) lists the insulating materials available. These include: 2.a. preformed sectional pipe covering: thermal insulation pipe covering (MIL-I-2781) thermal cellular glass block and pipe covering (HH-I-551)* plastic foam unicellular, sheet and tubular form, elastomeric (MIL-P-15280)* insulation, pipe, thermal, fibrous glass (MIL-I-22344)* 2 Jo block: thermal insulation block (MIL-I-2819) 2.c batts, blankets, and felts: roll asbestos felt (MIL-F-20077)* asbestos insulating felt (MIL-F-15091)* fibrous glass batt insulation (MIL-I-15475)* mineral wool blanket insulation (MIL-I-2818)* * I do not have copies of these specifications, thermal glass fiber insulation felt (MIL-I-164-11)* thermal fibrous glass insulation felt (flexible) (MIL-I-16025)* thermal insulating tape (MIL-T-155^9)* plastic foam, unicellular, sheet and tubular form, elastomeric (MIL-P-15280)* insulation blanket, thermal refractory, fiber flexible (MIL-I-23128)* 2.d. plastic: high temperature insulation (MIL-C-2861) finishing cement (MIL-C-2908)* The technical manual then discusses each type of insulating material, which kind is commonly used to meet the specification, and their limitations, such as temperature range. 5. Thermal insulation pipe covering (MIL-I-2781), grade I, is usually 85^ magnesia good up to 600F. Grade II is usually bonded amosite asbestos good to 750F. 9. Molded cellular glass thermal insulation (HH-I-551) is good up to 400F but is not recommended for vibrating machinery. 11. Preformed fibrous glass pipe covering (MIL-I-2254J+) is bonded glass fibers good up to 570F and used for antisweat and hot pipe insulation. * I do not have copies of these specifications. -5- 12, Thermal insulation block (MIL-I-2819) is furnished in four classes according to the temperature range. Materials O are not specified except that for the range of 1001 F to 1500F diatomaceous earth is used. The specification MIL-I-2819^ (Interim Amendment) dated 9 January 1973 states "The insulation block shall be composed of asbestos-free and silica free heatresisting compounds suitable for the temperature conditions and the purpose intended," 15. Roll asbestos felt (MIL-I-15091) is composed of long asbestos fibers and organic sizing and is suitable for up to 900F, 16. Asbestos insulating felt (MIL-I-15901) is good up to 900F. Thermal fibrous glass insulation felt (MIL-I-16023) is incombustible and fire retardant. Thermal glass fiber insulation felt (MIL-I-16411) is good up to 1200F. 17. Fibrous glass felt insulation (MIL-I-154-75) is composed of glass fibers bonded to form a semirigid batt. It can be used to A50F without a sheet steel enclosure, or to 900F 'with an enclosure. It is suitable for insulating boiler uptakes. 18. Mineral wool blanket insulation (MIL-I-2818) consists O of felted mineral wool and is good up to 900 F, 19. Thermal insulating tape (MIL-I-153^9) is composed of a woven asbestos jacket enclosing either asbestos or glass fibers. It is suitable for up to 750 F. 6- 21. High temperature insulation cement (MIL-C-2861), as specified here, will contain asbestos. MIL-C-2861D (4 December 1967) also includes asbestos in the cement mixture. However, MIL-C-2861D (Interim Amendment-1) (20 June 1974-) prohibits the use of asbestos in the cement. The memorandum of May 1, 1981 by Lewis Clapp referred to the Hass deposition, in which Hass stated that asbestos was not a requirement in thermal insulating cements until MIL-C-2861C was issued on 17 September 1963. Lagging materials are described in the Bureau of Ships Technical Manual under 9390.12. The purposes of lagging are to protect the relatively soft insulating material from mechanical abuse, to support the insulating material which is subjected to continual vibration, and to provide a smooth finish to be painted. The following are listed in the technical manual: 2.a. cloth: asbestos cloth, thread and tape (SS-G-4-66) fibrous glass cloth, tape and thread 2.b. (MIL-C-20079)* brattice cloth (MIL--C-788)* 2.c. paper: flameproof and water-repellent sheathing paper (MIL-P-15006)* * I do not have copies of these specifications. -7- 2.d. board: asbestos millboard (HH-M-351) 2.e. plastic: asbestos insulation finishing cement (MIL-C-2908, Type II)* 2 .f. metallic: zinc coated (galvanized), sheet steel (QQ-S-775)* 3, Asbestos cloth, thread and tape (MIL-SS-C-4-66) is made of chrysotile asbestos and organic fibers. A. Brattice cloth (MIL-C-788) is a fire-resistant cotton fabric for pipe insulation where surface temperatures do not exceed 150F. 5. Fibrous glass cloth, tape, and thread (MIL-C-20079) may be used for lagging surfaces with internal temperatures o up to 1500 F. It is not recommended where lagging is exposed to mechanical injury, on removable and replaceable covers, nor where it will be in contact with hot metal surfaces. 7. Finishing and insulating cement (MIL-C-2908, Type II) is a mixture of nodulated rock or mineral wool fibers and a hydraulic binder. There does not seem to be a requirement for asbestos. In Table IV of 9390.11, it appears that there was an * I do not have copies of these specifications. 8- equivalency between glass fiber felt and refractory fiber blanket, and between asbestos felt, insulation block, mineral fiber blanket, and glass fiber felt. The General Stores Navy Stock List of September 1955 lists several asbestos-free insulations. On page 31? felted mineral wool (MIL-I-2818) was used for insulating boilers, breechings, and ovens. On page 37, insulation cloth, thermal, fibrous glass (MIL-C-20079) was used for lagging material or jacket over thermal insulation. On page 38, fibrous glass gasket (N: 32-1-2, Type A) was used as a gasket material for heat insulation. On pages AO-42, insulation pipe covering, thermal (MIL-I-2781) is described without reference to the specific materials which comprise the insulation. The report by Allen Winer, et al. entitled "Asbestos A Case Study of the U.S. Navy's Response to Upgraded Safety and Health Requirements" (March 1975) states "In general, the basic material substituted for asbestos thus far in thermal insulation systems are fibrous glass cloth and felt, refractory felt, and calcium silicate with a non-asbestos filler." (page 7). These insulations, except perhaps for the asbestos-free calcium silicate, were available commercially for quite a few years. Besides the specifications and other material you sent me, I am enclosing some additional material which might be useful. From certain minutes of the Asbestos Textile Institute: (1) General Meeting of April 7, 194-9 - on page 2, it states that the asbestos textiles used for protective clothing for firefighting purposes are being completely disregarded in preference for glass cloth, laminated with aluminum or silver foil. (2) Board of Governor's Meeting of October 6, 1971 - on page A, it states that certain Insulation Tape, Thermal specifications were being revised to delete asbestos and include glass staffer, (3) Board of Governor's Meeting (date unknown, but probably early 1971) - on page 4-, it states that the Navy leaves the use of either fiber glass fabrics or asbestos fabrics to the discretion of the shipyard. The Building Products Register of the American Institute of Architects from 1964- describes several specifications for various asbestos-free thermal insulations. A thick book entitled Specifications for Construction of a Twin Screw Passenger and Cargo Vessel, Design P2-SE2-R3, by the U.S. Maritime Commission (January 194-5), states on page 75-1 that "The insulating materials for temperatures below GOO0]? shall be 85$ magnesia, fibrous asbestos, rock wool or fibrous glass; except that for temperatures below 200F, 85$ magnesia or asbestos shall not be used." This shows the equivalency between these four types of insulations and that -10- any one of them could have been used. On page 75-2, it states that glass cloth or tape could have been used in most situations, instead of asbestos, to cover pipe insulation. The designation P2-SE2-R3 means a combination passenger and cargo vessel for American Export Lines. A similar book entitled Specifications for Construction of a Single Screw Cargo Vessel, Design CA-S-l-a, for the Maritime Administration (November 1950) states on page 75-2 and page 75-3 that the insulating materials (among others mentioned) for piping systems and machinery shall comply with the specifications for either 85'9 magnesia (HH-M-61b), amosite asbestos insulation, fibrous glass pipe insulation for use up to 600F, fibrous glass sheet insulation for use up to 1000F, calcium silicate for use up to 1200F, or diatomaceous silica for use up to 1000F. On page 75-3, the high temperature insulating cement is composed predominately of mineral wool, without mentioning asbestos. On page 75-^, fibrous glass cloth and tape are listed as choices of lagging materials. The C4-S-l-a designation is for a mariner type high speed cargo vessel. In conclusion, it is clear that asbestos insulation was not a requirement for many applications aboard ships and other applications, especially those below 600F, where fibrous glass insulation could have been used. Other effective kinds of -11- insulations, such as mineral wool types or* refractory fiber blankets, were also mentioned in specifications. Insulating cements did not seem to require asbestos. Fibrous glass cloth and tape were alternative lagging materials.