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Asbestos was used for its ability to strengthen and fireproof materials, including concrete, bricks, fireplace cement, pipes and insulation. Although the use of asbestos has been largely phased out since the 1980s, it can still be found in products such as gaskets and brake pads.
Asbestos cement sheet is weatherproof, durable, corrosion-resist, heat insulating. All these properties contribute it an ideal construction material. Three types of asbestos cement products at stock – flat sheet, corrugated sheet and coated corrugated sheet.
- Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite.
- Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
- Roofing and siding shingles.
- Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings.
Heat insulation containing asbestos was used for the first time in 1866. In 1870 asbestos was mixed with cement for boiler covering. By 1874, asbestos insulation products reached commercial production and were sold on a mass scale. Bans on asbestos-containing insulation didn’t appear until the 1970s.
The name has its origin in the Greek word for inextinguishable. A highly-effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator, asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s.
Next up: The 1989 Asbestos Ban In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed.
Answer: It is so because asbestos is an insulator so keeps the room warm during winters and cool during summers. that’s why asbestos sheets are preferred over iron sheets for roofing..
When Was It Used? Worldwide, vermiculite has been used in various industries as long ago as 1920. With the upsurge in home ownership during the baby boom, vermiculite insulation was a popular material in the 1950’s, and continued with the energy crisis into the late 1970’s.
Asbestos can be found in most drywall materials produced before the 1980s. If your home, commercial building, or other structure was built between 1940 and 1980, it’s very likely that it contains asbestos.
Until the mid-1980s, asbestos was commonly added to plaster. It was an inexpensive way to increase the plaster’s ability to insulate buildings and resist fire.
In 1977, the U.S. Government banned the use of asbestos in ceiling finishes, and most ceilings installed after this date will not contain asbestos. It is still possible, however, that materials manufactured before 1977 were installed in homes after the ban.
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.
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.
Vermiculite Removal While the idea of living in a home insulated with asbestos-laden vermiculite might be upsetting, it’s important that homeowners not to disturb the hazardous substance. Any movement of the vermiculite may release asbestos fibers into the air and eventually into the lungs of the home’s occupants.
The severity of the Chinese-made drywall (wallboard) issues may be huge, potentially reaching proportions similar only to the asbestos crisis. Basically, only since 2006, more than 550 million pounds of toxic Chinese drywall was imported in the U.S. (according to Sen. Nelson).
Gypsum Walls According to the Gypsum Association, half of the homes built during the 50s had walls made from lightweight gypsum lath and plaster, while the other half had a gypsum wallboard construction. Gypsum products produced smooth-textured walls.
Popcorn ceilings generally contain between 1 and 10 percent asbestos. While 1 percent may seem insignificant, it’s important to note that any percentage of asbestos in a popcorn ceiling is cause for concern and should be addressed.
Vermiculite Mostly Found in Attics 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. What made the Libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits.
Vermiculite is often a sales negotiating point. Potential buyers of properties that contain Vermiculite expect a selling price discount associated with the potential expense associated with removing asbestos containing Vermiculite.
Vermiculite is easy to pour into the spaces in attic framing. It was a popular do-it-yourself insulation material in its heyday. Vermiculite was also used in walls and in difficult-to-access areas. Vermiculite was used to insulate attics from roughly 1925 to about 1985.
The only way to identify asbestos is through microscopic examination of the material. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring “mica-like” mineral that was mined and processed into attic insulation starting in the 1920’s and ending in the early 1990’s.
The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhale some asbestos fibers.
Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. … 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.