Asbestos In Attic Safe

Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks.

Asbestos in attic safe.

The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. The best way to do this other than wetting the asbestos is covering the attic in plastic. Asbestos isn t like radioactivity which can be a hazard because it constantly emits radiation. 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.

In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. The epa says that vermiculite insulation which is the pebbly stuff found in attics of many older homes is only risky if it contains more than one percent asbestos.

Plastic sheeting is very inexpensive but will prevent the asbestos fibers from contaminating the air. He decided to replace the existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation to save money in the winter months. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. These are thin visible fibers.

There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Place the plastic on the floor to cover it and make sure you tape it down. Consider this statement from research titled zonolite attic insulation exposure studies where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer grace created a very unsafe condition. Asbestos is dangerous because it contains what is known as fibrous crystals.

Asbestos fibers must be airborne to cause a health risk through inhalation so the first step is not to disturb the material which would release more fibers into the air. Asbestos was incorporated in the insulation of different types including attic insulation. These fibers consist of millions of microscopic fibrils. Asbestos causes cancer and other diseases.

While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. Asbestos only becomes a problem if it becomes airborne and gets into your lungs at a high enough dose.