Asbestos Blown In Attic Insulation

Differences between asbestos and cellulose insulation.

Asbestos blown in attic insulation.

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. When you are ready to look at the insulation make sure that you wear protective clothing. Vermiculite in and of itself is not dangerous. 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.

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. However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos. Asbestos will not kill you immediately but it is similar to smoking cigarettes. Asbestos if disturbed can release microscopic fibers that get down into your lungs.

It will take a long period of time to make a difference. The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite. Although asbestos is currently banned as an insulating material in many countries buildings that were built before 1980 may still contain insulation with asbestos. It was very versatile affordable and it could be used in tiles and blow it with another material vermiculite.

In the late 1970s it became evident that asbestos fibers were very dangerous. Loose fill insulation is designed to be poured onto attic floors or blown into hollow spaces inside walls and other building structures. Asbestos has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions. 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.

Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. 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. 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.

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. You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring. It was used in construction materials including roofing materials asphalt shingles roofing felt adhesives putty caulking and patching materials.