Identify Asbestos Attic Insulation

Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures.

Identify asbestos attic insulation.

Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. 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. Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers although asbestos is not in every brand. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes.

It is easy to identify by its loose lumpy form and fluffy or granular texture. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. Asbestos insulation can also look like a cardboard covering. 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.

It has a pebble like texture and comes in a variety of colors including gold and brown. If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it. 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.

Properties built before the 1990 s may have asbestos in bonding agents insulation or the roof. Take a small sample of the insulation and place it into a sealed container. Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers although asbestos is not in every brand. 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.

The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. In addition to building insulation vermiculite is commonly used with gardening for loosening soil. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself. One of the most common types of insulation that features asbestos is vermiculite insulation picutred above.

So how do you identify if your attic insulation contains asbestos. Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous being a pellet style mineral which expands with higher temperatures. The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite. Step 4 have it analyzed.

There are a number of labs out there that can analyze asbestos for you.