Babcock & Wilcox (B&W)

Babcock & Wilcox History of Asbestos Use

B&W was founded in 1867 and began developing boilers. Like many similar companies, it added asbestos insulation to its products. Asbestos was popular for its heat resistance but posed serious health risks, like causing mesothelioma to develop. Despite this, B&W did not stop using asbestos until the 1970s.

Starting in the 1880s, the company expanded internationally with facilities in Scotland. It later opened factories in South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This led to increased asbestos exposure risks globally.

B&W asbestos boilers were distributed to many industries across the United States. Examples include sugar refineries, electric companies and transportation systems.

Its boilers were also used aboard U.S. Navy vessels and in high-profile projects, including:

• The Hoover Dam
• New York City subways
• Thomas Edison’s laboratories

During World Wars I and II, B&W boilers were common. More than 4,000 military vessels were built for World War II with these boilers. This may have been one factor in widespread veteran asbestos exposure.

For decades, B&W asbestos boilers have exposed workers, veterans and their families. B&W settled its first asbestos lawsuit in 1982. Over the next two decades, it faced hundreds of thousands of legal actions from people affected by its asbestos use. In 2000, the company filed for bankruptcy because of legal costs. The trust fund is still active and accepting claims.

Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Trust Fund

As part of Babcock & Wilcox’s bankruptcy reorganization plan, the Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in February 2006. The asbestos trust fund was initially funded with approximately $1.85 billion to resolve asbestos claims. The trust pays eligible claims based on a set payment percentage to help preserve funds for current and future claimants.

Most Recent Information From the Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos PI Trust

According to the Trust’s year-end 2025 report, as of December 31, 2025:

• Approximately 18,555 Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos PI Trust claims were paid.
• The trust paid approximately $19.89 million in Babcock & Wilcox asbestos claims.
• Approximately $719,800 was reported in settled but unpaid claims.
• The trust has approximately $296.125 million in total assets.
• The trust has paid approximately 421,500 Babcock & Wilcox asbestos claims since it was established.
• The trust paid approximately $1.965 billion to asbestos victims since it was established.

Current Babcock & Wilcox Company Asbestos PI Trust Payment Percentage

The current payment percentage is 4.3% for the Babcock & Wilcox Company Asbestos PI Trust. At a payment percentage of 4.3%, the current payout on a Babcock & Wilcox Expedited Review claim for mesothelioma is $3,870.

Determining Review Process When Filing a Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos PI Trust Claim

An experienced asbestos lawyer will review the injured party’s exposure information, medical records and personal information to determine the appropriate review process when filing a Babcock & Wilcox asbestos trust claim. A sample of Babcock & Wilcox claims filed between 2023 and 2025 indicated that approximately 79% of claims were filed under the Expedited Review (ER) process. Approximately 21% of Babcock & Wilcox claims were filed using the Individual Review (IR) process.

• Expedited Review Process: Babcock & Wilcox claims meeting all the medical and exposure requirements outlined in the Trust Distribution Procedures can be filed under the ER process for a quicker and more seamless review process. Approved B&W claims will receive the standard scheduled value based on the diagnosed disease level.
• Individual Review Process: Babcock & Wilcox claims filed under the IR process will go through a thorough evaluation of the claimant’s exposure history, medical records and other personal information to determine an individual liquidated value. A B&W claim may be filed under Individual Review for certain lung cancer diagnoses, certain secondary-exposure claims or claims that do not meet the presumptive medical and/or exposure criteria.

The trust is still accepting B&W claims today to compensate asbestos victims. Payments may vary and depend on the injured party’s diagnosis, age, exposure history and the law firm’s settlement history. If you or a loved one believe you are entitled to compensation, learn how a mesothelioma lawyer can help.

Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Products

Like many other companies, B&W used asbestos fibers in its products as a cheap insulator. Adding asbestos fibers to materials increased durability and heat resistance.

B&W used asbestos in its groundbreaking boilers until the early 1970s. The boilers commonly featured asbestos-containing insulation, block, heat seals, gaskets and gauges.

Products manufactured by B&W known to have contained asbestos include:

• Babcock & Wilcox FJ Furnace Boilers
• Babcock & Wilcox Gauges
• Babcock & Wilcox Insulating Firebricks
• Babcock & Wilcox Integral-Furnace Boilers
• Babcock & Wilcox Marine Boilers
• Babcock & Wilcox Steam-Generating Boiler Products
• Babcock & Wilcox Stirling Boilers
• Babcock & Wilcox Type E Pulverizers

The above is not a complete list of B&W asbestos products. Mesothelioma lawyers are skilled in tracking down products that may have caused clients’ asbestos exposure. Victims can consult them to learn more about potential exposure sources.

Babcock & Wilcox and Occupational Exposure

Anyone who worked for B&W or with its products may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure. The company stopped making asbestos products in the 1970s, but some are still in use today.

Exposure may have occurred at many jobsites, including B&W factories. B&W asbestos boilers were used globally in refineries, foundries, power plants, nuclear facilities and ships.

Those who installed or serviced B&W boilers may also have experienced occupational exposure. Any person working with or near B&W asbestos products may face risks of developing asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Babcock & Wilcox

The first asbestos lawsuit against B&W was filed in 1982. At that time, the company was settling claims by compensating victims outside of court. For more than a decade, B&W continued using this method to deal with its mounting asbestos litigation problems.

By the end of 1999, the company had settled about 340,000 claims. These asbestos settlements cost the company and its insurer more than $1.6 billion.

In February 2000, B&W filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It claimed the legal consequences of its asbestos use were overwhelming. The bankruptcy process lasted until 2006. During this time, more than 200,000 additional victims filed asbestos lawsuits.