Asbestos is a good material to use in some areas where there is a risk of fire, as it is a completely nonflammabale material. However, if improperly installed or handled the fibers can be inhaled and cause a rare type of cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos has been banned as an insulation material in most residential and commercial settings in the US because the risks are greater than the benefits, although it is still used for certain industrial applications.
Some, but not all, forms of insulation used to contain asbestos. Insulation applied new now does not contain asbestos.
Gypsum insulation made prior to the 1970s included asbestos as a means of providing increased physical strength and insulation capacity to the product. Gypsum insulation made after the 1980s generally did not contain asbestos.
Asbestos was not an intentional component in vermiculite, it was a contaminant in the material as taken from the ground. The only way to "quit using" it was to stop using vermiculite fro those sources.
The only way to reliably identify asbestos-containing insulation is to have a small sample analysed by a qualified laboratory.
Currently it is illegal to add insulation to a home with more than a very small percentage of asbestos. Exposure to these small quantities of asbestos typically do not cause harm and are considered to be safe. Older homes may have asbestos insulation that needs to be removed as these older forms of insulation do present certain health risks.
No. Rockwool or mineral wool insulation is mineral fibers from volcanic rock heated and spun into a cotton candy texture and has never been reported to have been manufactured using asbestos.
Yes, some wire insulation has asbestos.
No, masonite does not contain any asbestos.
Rock wool insulation was a substitute for asbestos insulation. You bought one or the other, not both.
Asbestos insulation has no characteristics that make it look any different from other forms of insulation intended for the same application. The only way to know for certain whether insulation contains asbestos is to have a sample analysed in a qualified laboratory. Insulation on pipes and boilers is often white and chalky in appearance. Other forms of insulation have different appearances.
Yes, asbestos was commonly used in insulation in 1973 due to its heat-resistant properties. However, its use has since declined due to health concerns associated with inhaling asbestos fibers.
Yes, asbestos was commonly used in insulation materials in 1976 due to its fire-resistant properties. However, its use in insulation has since been greatly restricted or banned in many countries due to its harmful health effects, including causing lung diseases like mesothelioma.