When an insulation contractor has to do work in an attic that contains vermiculite, their first step is to have the insulation tested by a lab for asbestos. Often people ask us what is the cost to remove vermiculite attic insulation (vai)? Vermiculite insulation product from the libby mine in montana is known to contain high levels of amphibolic asbestos.
Vermiculite Attic Insulation Between Joists Partial view
Loose insulation can be removed from attic floors by digging up the layer and removing it.
In addition to building insulation, vermiculite is commonly used with.
The threat of vermiculite insulation may actually be worse than previously thought. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. Recent findings about vermiculite ore contaminated with tremolite asbestos have. Today, vermiculite is mined at three u.s.
If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos.
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. Homes and buildings may still contain zonolite. A range of tasks selected for evaluation included cleaning, working around, moving, and removal of zai in attics and living spaces. It’s dangerous to install cellulose insulation on top of the vermiculite.
Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air.
Several studies were designed and conducted to evaluate amphibole asbestos exposures in homes containing zonolite (expanded vermiculite) attic insulation (zai). If you have vermiculite in your attic (that was installed before 1990): In its pure form, vermiculite is clean, odorless, nontoxic and sterile. If your bag is to be labeled above your kitchen, place a permanent marker like “attic insulation above the kitchen”.
According to the insulation contractors that i’ve talked to, the vast majority of asbestos tests that take place in the twin cities come back “clean”, stating the material contains less than 1% asbestos.
Zai was manufactured and sold throughout the united states and canada from approximately 1925 to 1984. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your. Vermiculite was widely sold to home builders and consumers across north america to insulate attics, walls or around chimney liners. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth.
In order to be eligible for reimbursement a claimant must be able to show:
That’s good news, because most zonolite, a type of vermiculite insulation, falls into that category. Zonolite is contaminated with tremolite, a highly toxic type of asbestos. Zonolite is a trademarked brand name of a vermiculite attic insulation that was sold between the 1940s and 1990s. Just like other asbestos containing materials, the best practice is to not do anything to disturb the material that could send asbestos fibers into the air.
Vermiculite attic insulation is the main source of concern with asbestos dangers, although asbestos is not in every brand.
You should assume the vermiculite contains asbestos and do not disturb it! This also happens to be the advice of the epa. It’s dangerous to perform any attic air sealing work until all of the vermiculite has been removed by a certified asbestos abatement contractor, at a cost ranging from $7,000 to $12,000. One of the products produced from libby, mt vermiculite was zonolite attic insulation (zai).
Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step.
If the insulation needs to be removed or. Riegel, the leading expert on asbestos exposure and lung disease. *new york state doh elap requires that all loose fill vermiculite, including vermiculite attic insulation (vai) be designated and treated as asbestos containing material (acm). That vermiculite is the zonolite brand.
Vermiculite insulation has been known to contain asbestos, and the best advice for homeowners has been to assume that attics insulated with zonolite must contain asbestos and to leave it alone.
How do you test for vermiculite asbestos? This vermiculite mine was contaminated with varying amounts of fibrous amphibole asbestos. In its good years, the libby mine accounted for more than 70% of. Vermiculite insulation alone is not dangerous, being a pellet style mineral, which expands with higher temperatures.
Facilities and in other countries which have low levels of contamination in the finished material.
Attic insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from the libby mine, may contain asbestos fibers. Vermiculite is not asbestos (and vermiculite sold today does not contain asbestos) but some vermiculite deposits were contaminated with asbestos. Our response gathers 35 years of experience and the knowledge of dr. That’s why it’s so much better to have an attic with no insulation at all.
The libby vermiculite mine was closed in 1990.
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. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type (amphibole) of asbestos. Consider this statement from research titled, “zonolite attic insulation exposure studies” where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer (grace) created a. Limit trips into the attic, stay on floored areas, and try not to.
A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals, it resembles mica in appearance.
Emsl does not accept vermiculite attic insulation samples from new york state for testing. It is rare to find vermiculite insulation in homes and offices that did not contain contamination from libby up until 1990.an untrained eye cannot perceive asbestos fibers contained in vermiculite.it is impossible for untrained technicians to see fibers of asbestos through a microscope. The epa recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed.
