About Burns & Roe and Its Asbestos Liability
Burns & Roe, Inc. (later Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc.) was a New Jersey-based engineering and construction firm that specialized in designing and building power generation facilities, oil refineries, chemical plants, and other large industrial projects. Founded in the 1930s, Burns & Roe became one of the most active industrial engineering firms in the country during the post-World War II industrial expansion, executing major construction projects across the United States and internationally.
At the industrial construction projects Burns & Roe designed and built, asbestos-containing pipe insulation, boiler insulation, fireproofing, and other materials were standard components of the construction specifications. Workers employed by Burns & Roe or by subcontractors on Burns & Roe projects — including insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, laborers, and other trades — were exposed to these asbestos materials during construction, maintenance, and modification work at these facilities.
As asbestos personal injury claims accumulated, Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2000. The Burns & Roe Enterprises Asbestos Settlement Trust was established through the reorganization to compensate victims. The trust operates at a payment percentage of 36.9%, which is substantially higher than many comparable construction contractor trusts, reflecting the trust’s funding relative to its anticipated claims pool.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Burns & Roe Enterprises Asbestos Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc. |
| Bankruptcy Filing | December 2000 |
| Payment Percentage | 36.9% |
| Type of Entity | Engineering and construction contractor |
| Primary Projects | Power plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, industrial facilities |
| Asbestos Materials Involved | Pipe insulation, boiler insulation, fireproofing, and other asbestos construction materials specified at Burns & Roe projects |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
At 36.9%, the Burns & Roe Trust is a meaningful claim for workers with qualifying project exposure. Your attorney will determine current scheduled values and calculate the expected payment for your disease category.
Who Is Eligible to File with the Burns & Roe Trust?
Eligibility requires documented work on Burns & Roe-designed or constructed projects where asbestos materials were present, combined with a qualifying diagnosis.
Eligible occupations and scenarios:
- Insulators and pipe covering mechanics employed by Burns & Roe or by insulation subcontractors on Burns & Roe projects
- Pipefitters, steamfitters, and boilermakers on Burns & Roe industrial construction projects
- Construction laborers and general workers at Burns & Roe power plant and refinery construction sites
- Burns & Roe employees who supervised or worked alongside insulation and asbestos work
- Maintenance and modification workers at facilities that Burns & Roe originally constructed
How to File a Burns & Roe Trust Claim
- Attorney consultation: Your attorney will assess whether your work history includes projects constructed or engineered by Burns & Roe where asbestos materials were used.
- Project identification: Your attorney identifies specific Burns & Roe projects from your employment history and documents the asbestos materials present at those sites.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records are compiled.
- Claim submission: The claim package is submitted to the Burns & Roe Trust administrator.
- Review and payment: The trust pays at 36.9% of the applicable scheduled value upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Workers at Burns & Roe projects encountered multiple brands of asbestos insulation and materials from different manufacturers. This creates eligibility for claims against the Manville Trust, Pittsburgh Corning Trust, Owens Corning OC Subfund, W.R. Grace Trust, and others, depending on the specific products used at each project. All applicable trust claims and lawsuits against solvent defendants can be filed simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Burns & Roe Trust currently pays at approximately 36.9% of the scheduled disease value, one of the higher percentages available from engineering contractor-related asbestos trusts. Your attorney will determine the current scheduled value to calculate the specific payment amount for your disease category.
Burns & Roe specialized in power generation facilities (coal, oil, nuclear), petroleum refineries, chemical plants, and large industrial facilities. These projects were precisely the type of heavy industrial construction where asbestos insulation was used extensively for pipe and equipment insulation in the 1940s through 1970s.
Yes. Workers employed by subcontractors on Burns & Roe projects, including insulation contractors, pipefitting contractors, and general construction contractors, may be eligible to file with the Burns & Roe Trust. The key question is whether you worked at a project where Burns & Roe was the prime contractor or engineer, and whether you were exposed to asbestos materials at that project. Your attorney will evaluate the specifics of your work history.