Blown In Attic Insulation Asbestos

In the late 1970s it became evident that asbestos fibers were very dangerous.

Blown in attic insulation asbestos. Blown in insulation helped reduced electric bills but also generated a risk for the families who lived in them as asbestos was often used to make the insulation flame retardant. There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. Step 1 determine the age of your house. See this article on vermiculite and asbestos for more information.

Asbestos has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions. Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite.

The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. Therefore if you have asbestos insulation you need to properly identify it and have it safely removed from your house. There is one type of older insulation that has a significant possibility of being contaminated with asbestos. The primary source of asbestos attic insulation is from a specific mine in montana operated for 70 years by the libby company according to the environmental protection agency.

From the early 1950 s for a period of nearly forty years the construction industry used asbestos as an insulator and fire retardant. Vermiculite was a popular insulation choice between 1919 and 1990. Asbestos insulation many people do not know that asbestos is in fact a natural mineral. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.

The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. The illinois department of health notes that disturbed asbestos produces tiny needle like fibers that can cause irreparable lung damage. In addition to building insulation vermiculite is commonly used with gardening for loosening soil.

Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures. If you notice that you have insulation that is falling apart in your building have a professional inspect for asbestos. That is the loose granular insulation called vermiculite. Asbestos can be found in the insulation used in walls attics the materials around plumbing and pipes electrical wiring as well as on heating and air conditioning units.

If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos. Fiberglass and cellulose are the most common insulation installed in residential attics today.