Vermiculite Asbestos Attic Insulation

Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes.

Vermiculite asbestos attic insulation.

That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. 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. Of concern is zonolite attic insulation. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos.

However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually light brown gray or gold in color. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne.

You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. However the vermiculite used in about 70 percent of the zonolite product came from the montana mine mentioned a moment ago. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history.

What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. When heated to a high temperature flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8 30 times their original size. This insulation was sold in canada under the name of zonolite and was extracted from the libby mine in montana usa. One common brand was called zonolite.

Vermiculite in and of itself is not dangerous. As long as this kind of vermiculite based insulation remains undisturbed behind intact walls or in attic spaces and does not become airborne it should not be a concern.