The only way to guarantee that a material does not contain asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing suspicious materials if they are damaged (frayed, crumbled) or if you are planning a renovation that could alter the material. A quick visual inspection can help you determine whether or not you should test your insulation for asbestos. Packaging can also help identify which products contain asbestos.
The two main types of asbestos-containing insulators commonly found in the home are vermiculite insulators and asbestos pipe insulators. Insulation was used for all kinds of purposes, including insulating walls, floors, pipes, ducts, and boilers. If you have loose-filled insulation that is gray, soft, and dull, it's likely cellulose insulation. The types of insulation most commonly made from asbestos are loosely filled insulators, also called blown insulators.
Loose-filled insulation is designed to be placed over attic floors or blown into hollow spaces within walls and other building structures. Zonolite is a type of loose-filled insulation made from asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, and was installed as attic insulation in millions of American homes. One of the most toxic insulating products used in Australia was asbestosfluf attic insulation, sold in the 1960s and 1970s by a company popularly known as “Mr.” The military use of asbestos insulation spanned from the World War to the Cold War, and the construction and manufacturing boom of the 1950s and 1960s extended asbestos insulation to all suburban homes and factories across the country. Insulation made from this material represents more than 70 percent of the vermiculite insulation found in U.The insulation will be completely wrapped around the pipes, often with an outer shell to hold the insulation to the pipes. Aerosol insulation was developed to reduce the amount of labor needed to apply insulating and fireproof materials to roofs, walls and structural beams. If your attic or wall insulation is in the form of a block or blanket, whether made of fiberglass, cellulose, or another material, you usually don't have to worry about asbestos.
However, if you are unsure about what type of insulation is present in your home or if you suspect that it may contain asbestos fibers, it is important to have it tested by a qualified laboratory before installing new attic insulation over it. Testing for asbestos fibers is the only way to ensure that your existing old material has been replaced correctly and up to code standards before installing new attic insulation over it. It is essential to take all necessary precautions when dealing with potentially hazardous materials such as asbestos.
