Blown Attic Insulation Asbestos

The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite.

Blown attic insulation asbestos.

Other insulation materials in use in the 1970s include vermiculite which can also be. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in. In the late 1970s it became evident that asbestos fibers were very dangerous.

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. One of the most harmful insulation materials asbestos continues to cover attic floors in many older homes. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. 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 you notice that you have insulation that is falling apart in your building have a professional inspect for asbestos. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you. Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures.

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. 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. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. If your home was built before 1990 and you have vermiculite insulation or if your house was built prior to 1970 it s likely that you have some form of asbestos in your attic or elsewhere.

Therefore if you have asbestos insulation you need to properly identify it and have it safely removed from your house. In addition to building insulation vermiculite is commonly used with gardening for loosening soil. There is one type of older insulation that has a significant possibility of being contaminated with asbestos. See this article on vermiculite and asbestos for more information.

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. Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers although asbestos is not in every brand. Step 1 determine the age of your house. Fiberglass and cellulose are the most common insulation installed in residential attics today.