About the Duro Dyne Trust
Duro Dyne Corporation was a Long Island, New York-based manufacturer of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) accessories and ductwork products throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century. Among its best-known product lines were duct sealant mastics — thick, paste-like compounds applied by brush, roller, or spray to seal the joints and seams of metal ductwork systems in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. These mastics served as airtight sealants that prevented conditioned air from leaking out of ductwork and helped maintain system efficiency. From the 1940s through the 1970s, many of Duro Dyne's mastic formulations contained chrysotile asbestos as a reinforcing ingredient that provided the compound with heat resistance, improved adhesion, and durability under the thermal cycling conditions of HVAC systems.
Sheet metal workers and HVAC installers who applied Duro Dyne mastic to ductwork joints were directly and repeatedly exposed to asbestos fibers during the application process. Applying mastic by brush or roller released fibers from the wet compound; when mastic dried and was sanded or trimmed, additional fiber release occurred. Workers who removed old Duro Dyne mastic from ductwork during renovation, repair, or system upgrades faced even greater exposure as dried, friable mastic was disturbed. In addition to direct applicators, workers who performed other tasks nearby — carpenters, electricians, plumbers, other trades present during HVAC installation — were bystander-exposed to fibers released by sheet metal workers handling Duro Dyne products in the same work areas.
Duro Dyne Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018, facing substantial and growing asbestos personal injury liabilities from mesothelioma claims brought by HVAC workers and their families. The company's bankruptcy followed a pattern common to many asbestos product manufacturers — decades of litigation finally culminating in a bankruptcy filing to create an orderly, trust-based system for compensating all present and future claimants. The Duro Dyne National Corp. Asbestos PI Trust is being established following the bankruptcy proceedings to handle all claims. With a 20% payment rate, the Duro Dyne trust offers a relatively higher payment percentage compared to many other asbestos trusts, reflecting the trust's asset-to-liability ratio at establishment.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Duro Dyne National Corp. Asbestos PI Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Duro Dyne Corporation / Duro Dyne National Corp. |
| Bankruptcy Filing Year | 2018 (Chapter 11) |
| Year Trust Established | Being established (post-2018) |
| Payment Percentage | 20% |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | ~$200,000 |
| Mesothelioma Actual Payment | ~$40,000 (20% of scheduled value) |
| Claims Processor | Duro Dyne Asbestos PI Trust (contact through your attorney) |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Asbestosis, Other Asbestos Disease |
| Primary Products | HVAC duct sealant mastic compounds, ductwork accessories |
| Key Industries | HVAC installation and maintenance, sheet metal trades, commercial construction |
The Duro Dyne Trust's 20% payment percentage is higher than many asbestos trusts, meaning a larger fraction of the scheduled value is paid to each claimant. Combined with claims against other trusts, Duro Dyne claimants can often build a meaningful total recovery.
Who Is Eligible to File a Duro Dyne Trust Claim
The Duro Dyne Trust compensates individuals who were exposed to asbestos from Duro Dyne duct sealants or mastic compounds and who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another qualifying asbestos disease. The HVAC and sheet metal trades are the primary at-risk occupational groups, though bystander exposure is also covered.
Occupations With High Duro Dyne Exposure Risk
- Sheet metal workers who applied Duro Dyne mastic to HVAC ductwork joints and seams
- HVAC installers and technicians who worked with Duro Dyne sealant compounds
- Pipefitters and plumbers who worked in areas where Duro Dyne mastic was applied
- Insulators who insulated ductwork systems after sheet metal workers applied mastic
- Building engineers and HVAC maintenance technicians who repaired and replaced ductwork
- Renovation contractors who removed or disturbed old ductwork sealed with Duro Dyne compounds
- Demolition workers who disturbed existing HVAC systems in older buildings
- Electricians, carpenters, and other trades who worked in proximity to HVAC installation work
- Commercial building maintenance workers who performed ductwork repairs
- Boilermakers and industrial workers who encountered ductwork sealants in industrial HVAC applications
- Construction workers on commercial and industrial building projects where Duro Dyne products were standard
Typical Worksites
- Commercial office buildings and retail construction
- Schools, hospitals, and institutional facilities
- Industrial plants and manufacturing facilities
- Government and military buildings
- Multi-family residential construction (apartments, condominiums)
- Hotels and hospitality facilities
- Power plants and utilities
- Renovation and retrofit projects in buildings constructed before 1980
Exposure Timeframe
Duro Dyne's asbestos-containing mastic products were manufactured and sold primarily from the 1940s through the 1970s, with use of some formulations continuing into the early 1980s. Workers who applied, repaired, or removed Duro Dyne products during this period — or who performed renovation work disturbing pre-existing Duro Dyne mastic in later years — are at risk. Given mesothelioma's 20- to 50-year latency period, workers from earlier decades of Duro Dyne product use are commonly being diagnosed today.
Qualifying Diagnoses
- Mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial)
- Lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure history
- Asbestosis confirmed by appropriate clinical evaluation
- Other asbestos-related diseases as defined by the trust distribution procedures
How to File a Claim With the Duro Dyne Trust
Asbestos trust fund claims require careful documentation of both medical diagnosis and product-specific exposure. An experienced mesothelioma attorney manages this process on your behalf at no upfront cost. Here is how the process works:
- Retain a mesothelioma attorney immediately. Duro Dyne trust claims have specific procedural requirements and are governed by state statutes of limitations. All asbestos attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless you recover. An attorney will also identify all other trusts and civil lawsuit options available to you.
- Document your work history and Duro Dyne product exposure. Your attorney will need the specific worksites where you applied or worked near Duro Dyne mastic, the years involved, your job title and duties, and if possible the names of co-workers who can confirm the products used. Union dispatch records and employer records can be invaluable.
- Obtain your complete medical records and diagnosis documentation. A pathology report confirming your mesothelioma or asbestos disease diagnosis is required. Your attorney will gather all relevant diagnostic records and may arrange for independent review by an asbestos disease specialist.
- Prepare affidavits and supporting evidence. Your attorney will prepare a detailed work history affidavit and may obtain co-worker declarations or other supporting evidence to establish the nature and extent of your Duro Dyne product exposure.
- Your attorney submits the complete claim package. All required forms, medical documentation, and exposure evidence are compiled and filed with the Duro Dyne Asbestos PI Trust on your behalf. Your attorney tracks the claim's progress.
- The trust reviews and evaluates your claim. The trust applies its Trust Distribution Procedures to verify the diagnosis and exposure criteria, assign the disease category, and calculate the payment offer at 20% of the scheduled value. Terminal patients may qualify for expedited processing.
- Review and accept the payment. You and your attorney review the payment offer. For mesothelioma at the current 20% rate and $200,000 scheduled value, the expected payment is approximately $40,000. Individual review may be available for enhanced recovery in appropriate cases.
Can You File Other Claims in Addition to a Duro Dyne Claim?
Yes — and for HVAC workers and sheet metal workers, the full range of additional claims is typically substantial. Workers in the HVAC trades spent their careers in buildings where asbestos was used extensively throughout the structure. Beyond Duro Dyne mastic, they encountered asbestos pipe insulation, asbestos duct wrap, asbestos-containing ceiling tiles, asbestos floor tiles, and asbestos in many other building components. Each manufacturer of these products may have its own asbestos trust.
Sheet metal workers who were union members often have records through their local union halls that can help identify not just Duro Dyne exposure but also exposure to dozens of other asbestos-containing products over the course of a career. An experienced asbestos attorney will use union records, employer records, and occupational knowledge to build claims against every applicable trust — not just Duro Dyne. It is common for HVAC and sheet metal workers to file with ten or more trusts based on a single career's worth of asbestos exposure history.
Civil lawsuits against solvent manufacturers and distributors of asbestos products remain available alongside trust fund claims. Where solvent defendants contributed to your asbestos exposure, litigation can yield significantly higher recoveries than trust payments and can be pursued at the same time as your trust fund filings. An attorney will identify whether civil litigation makes sense for your specific situation and pursue it on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Duro Dyne National Corp. Asbestos PI Trust is the asbestos bankruptcy trust being established after Duro Dyne Corporation's 2018 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The trust is designed to compensate individuals who were exposed to asbestos from Duro Dyne HVAC duct sealant mastics and mastic compounds and who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another qualifying asbestos disease. The trust applies a 20% payment rate to the scheduled value for each disease category.
Duro Dyne Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 to address its mounting asbestos personal injury liabilities. Decades of claims from HVAC workers and sheet metal workers who had developed mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases after working with Duro Dyne mastic products had created a liability burden the company could no longer manage outside of bankruptcy. The structured trust process was determined to be the most equitable approach to compensating all current and future claimants on a fair, equal basis.
Many HVAC and sheet metal workers remember working with duct mastic but do not recall specific brand names. Duro Dyne was one of the most widely used duct sealant brands in the United States during the mid-twentieth century, and its products were standard in many regional markets. Your attorney can research whether Duro Dyne was commonly used in your area and time period, obtain co-worker testimony, review union hall records, and use other investigative methods to establish product identification even without direct documentary evidence.
Yes. Bystander exposure — being present in the same work area while others apply asbestos-containing materials — is a recognized basis for asbestos trust claims. If you worked as an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or in any other trade in areas where Duro Dyne mastic was being applied nearby, you may have had substantial asbestos exposure. The trust's eligibility criteria covers individuals exposed to Duro Dyne products regardless of whether they were the direct applicator.
State statutes of limitations control the filing deadline — typically one to three years from the date of mesothelioma or asbestos disease diagnosis, or from the date you knew or reasonably should have known that your illness was caused by asbestos exposure. Because the Duro Dyne Trust is relatively new and its procedures are still being finalized, it is especially important to contact an attorney immediately to understand the specific deadlines that apply to your claim.
Yes. Wrongful death and survival action claims can be filed on behalf of deceased asbestos disease victims by their estates or surviving family members. If your spouse, parent, or another family member worked with Duro Dyne products and has died from mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, you should consult an attorney about filing on behalf of the estate. Deadlines for wrongful death claims vary by state and may run from the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis.