Unibestos

Unibestos was a brand of high-temperature pipe and block insulation manufactured primarily with amosite (brown) asbestos. It was widely used from the 1960s through the early 1970s to insulate boilers, pipes, turbines, and other hot equipment in power plants, refineries, ships, and industrial facilities. The product was known for its high asbestos content, which made it particularly hazardous to those who installed, removed, or worked near it.

Origin

The trade name combines "uni" (one or unified) with "-bestos" (from asbestos). Unibestos was originally produced by Union Asbestos and Rubber Company (UNARCO) beginning in the early 1960s, and the product line was later acquired and continued by Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, which sold it alongside its better-known Unibestos pipe covering and block insulation until production ceased around 1972.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Unibestos is one of the most frequently identified products in mesothelioma cases involving insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, Navy veterans, and powerhouse workers from the 1960s and early 1970s. Because it contained amosite, a fiber type strongly linked to mesothelioma and lung cancer, and because cutting or fitting it released large amounts of dust, courts have repeatedly recognized it as a high-exposure product. Pittsburgh Corning's manufacture and sale of Unibestos led to extensive litigation and ultimately to the company's bankruptcy and the creation of the Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust, which compensates qualifying claimants today.

Example Sentence

His Navy service records and the ship's insulation inventory both confirmed that Unibestos pipe covering was used aboard the vessel during the years he worked in the engine room.

Related Terms

Amosite, Pittsburgh Corning, UNARCO, Asbestos Trust, Pipe Insulation, Product Identification

Notes

• If you or a loved one worked with insulation between roughly 1962 and 1972, ask your legal team whether a claim can be filed with the Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust.
• Preserve any documentation that names specific insulation products (purchase orders, ship specifications, union records, co-worker statements, or photographs) because product identification is critical to compensation.
• Tell your attorney about job sites where you saw "Unibestos" printed on packaging or pipe covering; the brand name on a box or jacket is often the strongest evidence of exposure.
• Navy veterans should request their service records (DD-214, ship assignments, and Military Occupational Specialty history) early, as these are frequently used to corroborate Unibestos exposure aboard specific ships.