Identify Asbestos Attic Insulation

In addition to building insulation vermiculite is commonly used with gardening for loosening soil.

Identify asbestos attic insulation.

Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers although asbestos is not in every brand. Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures. 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. Take a small sample of the insulation and place it into a sealed container.

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. It is easy to identify by its loose lumpy form and fluffy or granular texture. One of the most common types of insulation that features asbestos is vermiculite insulation picutred above. There are a number of labs out there that can analyze asbestos for you.

Asbestos insulation can also look like a cardboard covering. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures. Step 4 have it analyzed.

Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. It has a pebble like texture and comes in a variety of colors including gold and brown. 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. The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite.

There isn t necessarily a surefire way to tell if your insulation has asbestos unless it s labeled or you have an expert take a look. Asbestos insulation usually looks like a loose gray material and it is also commonly wrapped around the outside of pipes. This type of insulation was usually used on steam heating pipes between 1910 and 1980. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself.

Below we will discuss specifics about loose fill insulation which could contain asbestos. If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it. Properties built before the 1990 s may have asbestos in bonding agents insulation or the roof. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.

So how do you identify if your attic insulation contains asbestos.