Identifying Asbestos Insulation Attic

Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers although asbestos is not in every brand.

Identifying asbestos insulation attic.

Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. Asbestos insulation can also look like a cardboard covering. This type of insulation was usually used on steam heating pipes between 1910 and 1980.

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. 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. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you.

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. 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. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in.

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