FAQ: How do you deal with vermiculite insulation?

Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls. Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation. Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation. Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself.

Does vermiculite insulation need to be removed?

The EPA strongly recommends that ” you should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safety remove the material.” Although they don’t recommend it, generally states allow homeowners to remove vermiculite from their own homes.

How do you dispose of vermiculite insulation?

Call the local authorities on waste removal and/or toxic substances. Ask what their protocol is for the disposal of vermiculite and insulation laced with it. These local authorities may advise you to stay away from the insulation entirely, and to hire a professional to come and remove it.

Is it safe to buy a house with vermiculite insulation?

As we touched upon, the EPA agrees that vermiculite insulation containing less than one percent of asbestos is safe to be used within a home. This sort of vermiculite insulation typically comes in the form of Zonolite, a common form of insulation that appears as pebble-like substances.

What can I do about vermiculite in my attic?

If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation, leave it alone. Avoid disturbing the material. Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Do not store belongings in the attic.

Can I lay insulation over vermiculite?

Chip D’Angelo, president of WCD Consultants, an asbestos remediation company in Pennington, N.J., said fiberglass insulation batts can be installed directly over the existing vermiculite if its surface is sprayed with a mist of water to avoid creating dust, and if a protective breathing mask is worn.

What are the dangers of vermiculite?

If vermiculite is disturbed, it could cause tiny, needle-like asbestos fibers to become airborne. Asbestos in the air can be inhaled and cause lung damage. If asbestos is not in the air, it is not dangerous to your lungs.

Can vermiculite be recycled?

While standard insulation can be thrown in the trash, vermiculite needs special handling. While some manufacturers have found ways to reuse vermiculite waste, widespread recycling is not available.

How can I tell if my vermiculite insulation contains asbestos?

How can I tell if my vermiculite insulation contains asbestos? The majority of all vermiculite insulation pro- duced before 1990 used contaminated vermicu- lite from Libby. Asbestos fibers in vermiculite are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Only a trained technician using a microscope can see asbestos fibers.

Can you throw insulation away?

Once you’ve bagged the fiberglass insulation, you can’t simply toss it in the trash bin. Contact your local waste authority or county waste management department. However, if you dispose of the insulation in your home’s trash bins or dumpster, you risk a costlier fine.

Is vermiculite insulation safe?

Vermiculite insulation is no longer used in new construction, but an estimated one million homes in the U.S. still have it, according to the USGS. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is perfectly safe when pure.

What percentage of vermiculite has asbestos?

While the actual percentage of asbestos in bulk vermiculite is very low ( typically <1% or trace asbestos ), should these fibres be disturbed and become airborne, the potential to inhale them is increased, and poses a potential risk to long- term health.

Should I worry about asbestos when buying a house?

The bottom line is this: home buyers should be aware of asbestos in the homes they are thinking about buying, but they should not pass on a house because it contains asbestos products. As long as the asbestos is not damaged or is handled by a professional, you should not have to worry about toxic asbestos exposure.

How do I know if my attic has vermiculite insulation?

Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually light-brown, gray, or gold in color. It may have shiny flakes, and/or small accordion-like pieces (see photos above). You can also check for markings on the material or its packaging. One common brand was called Zonolite.

Can you test vermiculite for asbestos?

Currently, there are specific technical issues involving vermiculite sampling that can complicate testing for the presence of asbestos fibers and interpreting the risk from exposure. EPA and ATSDR are not recommending at this time that homeowners have vermiculite attic insulation tested for asbestos.

How long does it take asbestos fibers to settle?

Asbestos exposure happens when microscopic asbestos fibers become airborne. The toxic mineral dust can remain in the air for hours, placing anyone nearby in danger of inhaling or ingesting it. In an ideal environment with little disturbances, it may take 48 to 72 hours for asbestos fibers to settle.

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