Vermiculite Asbestos Attic Insulation

One common brand was called zonolite.

Vermiculite asbestos attic insulation.

The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. It may have shiny flakes and or small accordion like pieces see photos above. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. The expanded vermiculite is a light weight fire resistant and odorless material and has been used in numerous products including insulation for attics and walls.

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. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990.

Of concern is zonolite attic insulation. 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. 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. When heated to a high temperature flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8 30 times their original size.

Vermiculite is utilized for attic insulation as well as other purposes. You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled.

This insulation was sold in canada under the name of zonolite and was extracted from the libby mine in montana usa. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics.