Vermiculite Insulation Testing For Asbestos

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated.

Vermiculite insulation testing for asbestos.

The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. The only way to know for sure if vermiculite insulation in your home contains asbestos is to have it tested. Vermiculite is a man made product that is made by heating mica like mineral to 600 ºc. The test is commonly used by home buyers sellers home inspectors and safety consultants to check that vermiculite insulation is safe.

There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine so the vermiculite from libby was contaminated with asbestos. This vermiculite test kit is designed to test your vermiculite attic insulation for asbestos. Approximately 1 million homes in the united states contain vermiculite attic insulation that puts families at risk of exposure to asbestos the only. Lcs laboratory inc offers fast and affordable testing of vermiculite for asbestos impurities.

If asbestos is found then the proper procedures can be implemented to keep you and your family safe from exposure. A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals it resembles mica in appearance. Geological survey usgs found a way to test for trace levels of asbestos in vermiculite insulation on site which marks a promising development in public health. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits.

In its pure form vermiculite is clean odorless nontoxic and sterile. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics.