Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury Trust
Eligibility, payouts, and how to file. Last reviewed: 2026-05-03.
See if you qualify for the Combustion Engineering Trust
About the Combustion Engineering Trust
Combustion Engineering, founded in 1912, was a major manufacturer of industrial boilers, refractory products, and power-generation equipment. Like Babcock & Wilcox, CE boilers were installed aboard Navy ships and powered hundreds of civilian power plants, refineries, and chemical facilities through the 1980s. The asbestos exposure path was similar: CE-specified gaskets, packing, refractory bricks, and pipe coverings used during boiler installation, operation, and maintenance.
Combustion Engineering filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003 and the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established in 2006. The trust currently pays at an 11.5% pro rata percentage on a $60,000 scheduled value for mesothelioma claims.
Bankruptcy and trust establishment
The CE Trust is a complementary filing to Babcock & Wilcox for most Navy veterans and industrial workers. While B&W boilers dominated some ship classes and power plants, CE boilers dominated others — and many facilities had both manufacturers' equipment installed during different eras. Multi-trust filing across CE and B&W is standard for any claimant with industrial boiler exposure history.
Products and exposure sources covered
The trust covers Combustion Engineering industrial and marine boilers, refractory products (including bricks and high-temperature insulation), and the asbestos materials specified for use in CE equipment installation and maintenance. Power plant claimants are particularly well-served by CE filings — the company's utility-grade boilers were installed at coal-fired, oil-fired, and nuclear power generation facilities nationwide.
Specific asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by this company:
- Industrial boilers
- Refractory products
- Power generation equipment
Eligibility criteria
To file a claim with the Combustion Engineering Trust, you generally need to demonstrate:
- Qualifying diagnosis: Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Asbestosis
- Documented exposure to Combustion Engineering Trust products during the trust's covered exposure window (1940–1985)
- Work history records placing you at a job site where these products were used (employer records, union records, witness statements, military service records)
- Medical documentation (pathology reports, imaging, treating physician records)
Navy veterans who served on ships powered by Combustion Engineering boilers — including many Cold War-era destroyers, frigates, and auxiliary vessels — have direct exposure paths. Civilian power plant workers (operators, mechanics, insulators) are the second-largest claimant cohort. Refinery workers and industrial maintenance personnel at facilities with CE equipment also frequently qualify.
How to file with the Combustion Engineering Trust
- Gather documentation — diagnosis records, work history, military service records (DD-214), product identification
- Complete the trust's claim form — Each trust has its own form
- File with all applicable trusts — multi-trust filing simultaneously is the standard approach
- Trust review — typically 3–9 months
- Payment — typically 2–6 months after approval
Most claimants qualify for several trusts, not just one. Filing with all applicable trusts at once maximizes total compensation. Start your free case review and we'll identify every applicable trust for your specific work history.
Compensation amounts
Reported scheduled value for mesothelioma claims: $60,000. The trust's current pro rata payment percentage is 11.5%, meaning the actual payout typically falls in the range of $6,500–$8,500.
These figures are based on Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs) and historical payout data. Pro rata percentages can change. Actual recovery varies by case factors including diagnosis severity, exposure documentation, and trust funding levels at the time of payment. Past payouts do not guarantee future amounts.
Common qualifying occupations
The Combustion Engineering Trust commonly accepts claims from workers in these occupations:
Multi-trust filing strategy
The Combustion Engineering Trust is rarely the only trust a mesothelioma claimant qualifies for. Most workers exposed to industrial boilers were also exposed to products covered by other bankruptcy trusts. Filing with multiple trusts simultaneously is standard practice and significantly increases total compensation.
Related trusts that often apply alongside the Combustion Engineering Trust
- Babcock & Wilcox Trust — 25% pro rata, est. payout $18,000–$22,000
- Johns Manville Trust — 5.1% pro rata, est. payout $1,100–$4,500
- Owens Corning / Fibreboard Trust — 26.2% pro rata, est. payout $45,000–$70,000
- Pittsburgh Corning Trust — 28% pro rata, est. payout $55,000–$70,000
- Garlock Trust — 22% pro rata, est. payout $14,000–$19,000
Deadlines and statute of limitations
The Combustion Engineering Trust generally accepts claims on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline, though the trust may modify procedures from time to time. The applicable statute of limitations for the underlying asbestos claim depends on your state of residence and typically runs from the date of diagnosis (1–3 years in most states for personal injury; longer for wrongful death in some jurisdictions).
Always verify current deadlines with the trust administrator or a licensed attorney before filing. We track deadlines for our clients so you don't miss a filing window.
Frequently asked questions
How is the CE trust different from the Babcock & Wilcox trust?
Both trusts cover similar exposure paths (industrial boilers and associated asbestos materials), but they cover different specific products and equipment. Most claimants with boiler exposure file with both trusts because they likely encountered equipment from both manufacturers across their work history.
I worked at a coal-fired power plant in the 1970s. Does CE apply?
Likely yes. Combustion Engineering supplied utility-grade boilers to a substantial portion of U.S. coal-fired generation built between 1945 and 1985. Power plant operators, mechanics, insulators, and maintenance workers at facilities with CE equipment have strong claim paths.
Why is the CE pro rata lower than B&W?
Pro rata percentages reflect each trust's funding levels relative to expected total claims. CE was funded with $1.4 billion versus B&W's $1.85 billion, while facing similar claim volume — resulting in a lower pro rata payment percentage. Both remain worthwhile filings; CE simply pays less per claim.
Can refinery workers file CE claims?
Yes. CE process-equipment was installed at oil refineries and petrochemical plants nationwide. Refinery operators, mechanics, pipefitters, insulators, and maintenance personnel from the 1945-1985 period typically have eligible exposure documentation.
What if I worked at a nuclear power plant?
CE was a major supplier of nuclear power plant equipment, including pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems. Nuclear plant workers from the 1960s through 1985 may have CE exposure paths through plant construction, operation, or maintenance.
Sources and verification
Information on this page is based on publicly available Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs), bankruptcy court Plans of Reorganization (PACER), trust annual reports, and RAND Institute for Civil Justice asbestos trust research. Reviewed quarterly.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-03 · Next scheduled review: 2026-08-03
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