NARCO / Honeywell

NARCO/Honeywell History of Asbestos Use

North American Refractories Company was founded in 1929 as a manufacturer of products specifically produced to withstand high temperatures, like glass melting and metalworking. Around the time that the company was first arriving on the scene, asbestos was beginning to reach its peak usage in America. Since the mineral was known to naturally resist fire, heat, chemical reactions and electrical damage, it was a cost-effective additive to many NARCO products, including cement and bricks.

NARCO continued to grow to become one of the top manufacturers of refractory products at the time, employing around 749 workers over the years. Their products could be found at a variety of worksites, including in boiler rooms aboard ships, factories and oil refineries.

In 1979, Honeywell, a manufacturer of a variety of asbestos products, acquired NARCO. This merger, which lasted until 1986, led to a steady growth of their asbestos product lines, as well as helped launch NARCO products into more steel mills and industrial plants.

Yet another asbestos company, ANH Refractories, acquired NARCO from Honeywell in 1986. By this time, the company no longer used asbestos in its products, but its past heavy use of the mineral in numerous products, like their cement and gun mix, led to thousands of lawsuits for wrongful exposure.

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NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust Fund

The North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was officially established on April 30, 2013 and began accepting asbestos claims on October 15, 2013. The trust was initially funded with cash contributions from Honeywell, stock in ANH Refractories Company (now known as HarbisonWalker International) and by Honeywell’s agreement to make future payments. The trust began paying claims in 2014.

The trust continues to accept and pay out claims today. Compensation values and payments to asbestos victims are determined by multiple criteria.

Most Recent Information From NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

The trust’s year-end 2025 report indicated that, as of December 31, 2025:

• 2,584 NARCO Asbestos Trust claims were paid, including 50 Pre-Established Claims and 2,534 Annual Contribution Claims.
• The NARCO Asbestos Trust paid approximately $76.18 million to asbestos victims through Pre-Established Claims and Annual Contribution Claims.
• 207 NARCO Asbestos Trust claims were reported as settled but unpaid with a total value of approximately $8.93 million.
• 41,834 NARCO asbestos claims have been paid since the inception of the trust.
• Over $775.35 million in claim settlements has been paid to asbestos victims since the trust was established.
• Approximately $1.332 billion in total assets remain in the trust.

Current NARCO Asbestos Trust Payment Percentage

The current payment percentage is 100% for the North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust. The current scheduled value payout for a NARCO Expedited Review mesothelioma claim is $75,000.

Determining Review Process When Filing a NARCO Asbestos Trust Claim

An experienced asbestos lawyer will evaluate the injured party’s case to determine the appropriate review process when submitting a North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust claim. A sample of NARCO asbestos claims filed between 2022 and 2025 indicated that approximately 80% of claims were filed through the Expedited Review (ER) process and approximately 20% of claims were filed through the Individual Review (IR) process.

• Expedited Review (ER): NARCO claims filed through the ER process will undergo a streamlined review from the trust based on the medical and exposure criteria outlined in the Trust Distribution Procedures. Approved claims will be compensated based on the standard scheduled value assigned to the disease level.
• Individual Review (IR): NARCO claims filed through the IR process will receive the current payment percentage of the gross settlement value that may be greater or less than the Scheduled Value for the disease level. The claimant’s exposure, medical and personal records are thoroughly evaluated to determine an individual liquidated value. IR is required for certain lung cancer claims, secondary exposure cases or when standard trust criteria are not satisfied.

The trust is currently accepting NARCO asbestos claims to compensate eligible victims with payments primarily determined by factors such as age, diagnosis, exposure history and the law firm’s settlement history. If you or a loved one were exposed to NARCO asbestos products and believe you are entitled to compensation, learn how a mesothelioma lawyer can help.

NARCO/Honeywell Asbestos Products

Since 1929, NARCO has engineered, manufactured and supplied a variety of heavy-duty refractory products for use in high-temperature, industrial fireproofing and insulating applications. Some types of refractory products manufactured by NARCO include cements, castables and patches.

When Honeywell acquired NARCO in 1979, the company’s reach continued to expand, especially into the steel industry. The merged companies continued to create a variety of asbestos products. Reports show the company stopped utilizing asbestos in their production sometime in the 1980s.

Did You Know? Mesothelioma victims may be eligible for compensation from more than one asbestos trust fund. Filing a claim with one trust does not impact your eligibility for compensation from another trust fund. Learn More About Accessing Trust Funds

NARCO/Honeywell and Occupational Exposure

Refractory products, including those manufactured and distributed by NARCO, were utilized in a number of industries and workplaces. While NARCO itself boasted over 700 employees before its various mergers, the impact of the company’s asbestos use went far beyond their own employee base. Workers in different plants, construction sites and other jobsites across the country were at risk of exposure to these products.

Questions About Filing a Claim Against NARCO / Honeywell? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Litigation Against NARCO/Honeywell

After decades of asbestos use, NARCO’s past began to catch up with them as old employees started to face serious illnesses from exposure, including asbestosis and mesothelioma.

One notable lawsuit was filed in 1999 by Frederick Moss, Martin Easter and their spouses against NARCO and several other asbestos manufacturers. Moss and Easter were retired engineers from Alabama and worked at various plants from the 1950s to the 1980s that contained NARCO asbestos products. As a result of their exposure on these jobsites, both men later developed mesothelioma, with Easter also suffering from asbestosis.

The jury awarded $7 million to the couples, with damages including lost income, past and future pain and suffering as a result of their diagnoses and to help cover medical expenses. NARCO appealed the verdict, stating that the damages were excessive and claimed that their products were not a substantial factor in their diagnoses. However, the court upheld the verdict and overruled all the appeals.

As a result of this case and thousands more pending lawsuits, NARCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, leading to a reorganization and the development of an asbestos trust fund to handle current and future claims.