Asbestos Blown In Attic Insulation

Loose fill insulation is designed to be poured onto attic floors or blown into hollow spaces inside walls and other building structures.

Asbestos blown in attic insulation.

It was used in construction materials including roofing materials asphalt shingles roofing felt adhesives putty caulking and patching materials. 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 you have damaged insulation you plan to remodel your building or you suspect your insulation may contain asbestos you need to contact an asbestos professional that is certified to remove and dispose of the material. In the late 1970s it became evident that asbestos fibers were very dangerous.

Although asbestos is currently banned as an insulating material in many countries buildings that were built before 1980 may still contain insulation with asbestos. When you are ready to look at the insulation make sure that you wear protective clothing. If you re insulation is the batt style insulation as the loose fill insulation has the higher risk as it s loosely poured into wall or joist cavities. Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes.

However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos. With asbestos still being used as a very commonly used fire retardant and a very popular insulator right until the end of the 1980 s. 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 will take a long period of time to make a difference.

Asbestos insulation was widely used as an insulation material in most residential commercial and public buildings constructed between 1920 and 1986. Asbestos has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions. 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. You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring.

Asbestos if disturbed can release microscopic fibers that get down into your lungs. Fluffy loose fill asbestos insulation sometimes made almost entirely of the toxic mineral is extremely dangerous because even a slight air current can disturb it sending inhalable asbestos fibers into the air. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. 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. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. It was very versatile affordable and it could be used in tiles and blow it with another material vermiculite. Asbestos will not kill you immediately but it is similar to smoking cigarettes.