Rock Wool Attic Insulation Asbestos

Asbestos while many forms of insulation manufactured prior to the mid 1980s contain asbestos rock wool does not.

Rock wool attic insulation asbestos.

What to do with suspicious insulation. Use rockwool thermal stone wool insulation to insulate the attic of a new build extension or to increase the r value and top up the current attic insulation especially in an older home. There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. An asbestos trust fund was established in 1999 to compensate victims.

Rock wool insulation is fabricated from belted basaltic rock and dolomite with binders being added. Rock wool manufacturing company is a wool insulation manufacturer that used asbestos in several of its products until the 1970s. Rock wool is installed as loose insulation or as woven insulation batts. Rock wool and asbestos have exhibit ability to resist the fire.

Therefore it can be said that rockwool exhibits higher thermal resistance than asbestos. This is one of the most cost effective areas to add insulation. Raw materials get exposed to temperatures up to 2 750 degrees fahrenheit making it melt. Mineral wool insulation rock wool is made from mineral fibers manufactured from stone and waste from mining.

Therefore properly the term mineral wool insulation is a proper subset of mineral fiber insulation. Like fiberglass it should be handled with care but it is not known to contain asbestos or pose any serious health risks. Normally mineral wool or rock wool slag wool or stone wool insulation does not contain asbestos but there are exceptions it would be unusual for a residential home to have rock wool insulation containing asbestos to know with absolute certainty i d have a sample of the insulation tested. Asbestos litigation caused the company to file for bankruptcy in 1996.

Choice in attic insulation can make a big difference for energy saving in your home. It s old dirty and fibrous and the inspector told him that it should be tested for asbestos fibers. Mineral wool insulation will not contain any fiberglass. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.

Mineral wool insulation like that shown in our photograph includes only stone wool insulation insulation made from rock and slag. Then fibers are spun from the molten material. To increase home comfort and save energy year round start by insulating the attic keeping the heat in during the winter and out in the summer. It is common for rock wool to be found as a woven insulation batt or loose insulation.

They are used as either fire insulation or heat insulation.