Identifying Asbestos Attic Insulation

It is easy to identify by its loose lumpy form and fluffy or granular texture.

Identifying asbestos attic insulation.

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. The majority of homeowners need to be educated on the general danger of breathing and disturbing asbestos fiber. 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.

This type of insulation was usually used on steam heating pipes between 1910 and 1980. 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. 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 4 positive identification of asbestos can only be obtained using polarizing light microscopy which is only available from a laboratory certified by the environmental protection agency. Identifying asbestos insulation when it comes to asbestos it rarely needs introduced at this point. 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. Older buildings and homes may have asbestos within products from hot water piping insulation to furnace insulation even floor tiles.

The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. Asbestos insulation can also look like a cardboard covering. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you.