What is a Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation?

Loose-fill asbestos can in simple terms get defined as the material that is a byproduct after raw asbestos gets dug up from the ground. Loose-fill asbestos was particularly famous around the 1960s and 1970s due to its extensive use in house insulation. Loose-fill asbestos has fire retardant and insulating abilities which made it quite preferable. 

With the revelation that loose-fill asbestos was the most significant contributor to some deadly conditions like lung cancer and mesothelioma, its use was prohibited entirely and banned. 

Just like any other asbestos, loose-fill asbestos insulation posed risks primarily due to their nature of releasing tiny fibers which when inhaled cause deadly consequences. One of the more significant risks involved with asbestos exposure is that the symptoms do not surface immediately, but it takes quite some years hence hard to detect at an early stage. 

Asbestos comes in two primary forms, bonded or the non-friable. What this means is that when this asbestos is left undisturbed, their level of danger gets significantly reduced. But on the other hand, loose-fill asbestos is in nature friable, which translates to mean that loose asbestos fibers are airborne. This kind of asbestos is more dangerous as it exposes you too much greater risk in basically two significant ways; first, your ceiling will be emitting asbestos fibers if you happen to go up there. Secondly, in case your roof is broken, chances of asbestos fiber drifting to the rest of your house are relatively high. By any chance you happen to suspect the presence of loose-fill asbestos insulation in your home, it’s always advisable to have your house checked by an expert to ascertain the possibility of asbestos presence. 

The Big Deal with Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation

2In this day an age we live in unclean and unhealthy environments that we may know little to nothing about. We are surrounded by a number of unsafe material most of the time and may unknowingly need the help of those who have plenty of experience manufacturing and providing non-hazardous material and services toward clients who are in nee of help. This company has high standards when it comes to delivering fine quality service toward their customers, they have over 20 years of experience and shall do their best not to disappoint you. They will make it so that your time with them would be an experience for you to remember, where you are a contractor or a homeowner, they will provide you with whatever you need, whether it be safe, non-toxic material for the home or the services that they provide.

They are sure to do proper testing with their material before usage for safety reason. On top of that they go into depth about some of the hazards that a client might be facing right now. One of these hazards is known as loose-fill asbestos insulation. This hazard has been around and installed by ACT-based business Mr Fluffy within the 1960-1970’s and still pose a problem to many to this day. Though this issue can be seen as worrisome to many, Abestos assures their client that they have the proper services that will aid in combating this issue. This is known as the NATA-accredited asbestos testing service, more information about it can be found on their website along with their business number. This is just one of the many types of hazards that this company can aid you with and will help you out with your home situation to the very end.

How to be Safe From Loose Insulation Asbestos

It’s no question that asbestos is a dangerous material that can cause some serious health problems if one is living or working around it. The material is no longer being used but for the homes, and buildings that were built before the dangers were known it is still possible for there to asbestos if the previous owner didn’t check for it or have it removed. When most people think of asbestos in buildings they think of it being in the drywall used in the building or other solid materials such as: solid insulation.

However, that isn’t always the case and the fact that loose insulation in ones’ building can have asbestos in it is a huge health concern as that is something that can spread the toxicity through the AC system if the ducts are older; as well as the insulation. When it comes to getting the building you own checked for loose insulation asbestos one should call up asbestos specialists in the area and then ask about if they can check your building for that. After that is arranged and you know whether or not the loose insulation in your building has asbestos and needs to be taken out or not then you can choose what step to take.

If your building is safe then your fine however, if it did test positive for asbestos than one can go ahead and get a quote from the company and other companies in the area that specialize in the removal of loose-fill asbestos insulation and replacing it with new, high quality, safe insulation. After getting a few quotes about not just money but time and you know what is going to work for you then the best thing is to schedule the process to be completed as soon as possible to protect yourself and those that you care about.

Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation

It’s Not Just A Dust – It’s A Killer

Once processed asbestos is broken down into fibers and particles that it can be a deadly killer to your lungs and breathing. And the bad news about asbestos, especially loose-fill asbestos, is that it’s sneaky simply because there are NO symptoms. Well, shortness of breath may give you a clue and if not taken care of, will increase. Even some x-ray’s make it hard to check since, as time passes, asbestos will cause shadows resulting in bronchiectasis and failure of the right side of the heart. What this article is doing is attempting to give you a picture of how really dangerous any type of asbestos can be to your lungs, ovary and larynx; think cancer and other lethal diseases like mesothelioma.

What About Loose-fill Asbestos As Insulation?

Basically, loose-fill is crushed asbestos. And before any medical thoughts entered the picture, in the years of 1960 and 1970, loose-filled, raw asbestos in the crushed form was installed as ceiling insulation in thousands of homes around the country. Overtime all of those tiny fibers were able to leave the ceiling and make a new home into living spaces. Of course, once the government (ACT Asbestos Health Study) found how risky loose-filled asbestos is, or could be, determined that the best way to ensure health and safety was to have it removed. In other words, folks, ACT said that loose-filled insulation is unsafe.

Note: Medical studies between the years of 1983 and 2013 in Australian areas noted that people who had lived in a home where loose-filled asbestos was used as insulation, about 1,000 homes were diagnosed with some form of mesothelioma and cancer. Out of that study, 32 present of men had colorectal cancer; and women’s results were a staggering 71 percent.

Read more information about loose-fill asbestos testing come check our site.

Why Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation is Dangerous and How to Get Testing

If you suspect your home may have loose-fill asbestos insulation somewhere in it, you may not know how dangerous that can be. Even if you do know it can be dangerous, you still may not know that you can get your home tested for it, or how to do so.

Why is loose-fill asbestos insulation dangerous? — The problem with loose-fill asbestos insulation is that it was put into buildings in very small pieces. That means, because it is not in walls and under floorboards in large sheets, small pieces of asbestos can end up in the air.

If you happen to breath in that tiny piece of asbestos, it could get lodged in your lungs. That can cause infections, breathing problems and, in some severe cases, lung cancer.

How to get your home tested for loose-fill asbestos insulation — If you have decided you need to have your home tested for loose-fill asbestos insulation, it is actually easier to do that than you may think.

Just get online and look for an asbestos testing company in your area. Contact several of them and ask for a free quote for your particular testing. Hire the one that has the best reputation and that will do it for the most reasonable price.

What will loose-fill asbestos insulation testing entail? — The actual testing is not too complicated.

Once you have arranged for a date and time for testing, the technician will arrive on that day and begin testing the air in your home for loose-fill asbestos insulation.

Once he has taken samples of air in every room, he will then take samples of fibers he finds in walls and under floors.

These samples will be taken to a lab for testing, with the results usually ready within a couple of days.

Why is Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation Dangerous and Why Do you Need to Have it Removed?

Anyone who thinks they have loose-fill asbestos insulation in their home or office should be making an appointment to have their property tested. Not only is loose-fill asbestos insulation very dangerous, it is also something the government mandates you take care of if you discover your building has it.

Why is loose-fill asbestos insulation so dangerous, and why do you need to have it removed?

The dangers — This type of asbestos is very dangerous due to its nature. Unlike a typical asbestos that was laid in thick sheets, loose-fill asbestos insulation is tiny pieces of asbestos that were pushed into walls, ceilings and into basement.

Due to their size, pieces can easily work loose and end up in the air you breath. If you breath in a piece of asbestos, it will usually get carried into your lungs. There it will stick to the inside of your lungs and over time cause an irritation. If not dealt with, it can lead to lung problems, cancer and even death.

How is loose-fill asbestos insulation tested? — An asbestos expert will come to your home or office and take air samples.

He will also remove suspicious looking material from inside walls, under floorboards, in attics and under sinks. The air samples and the material will then be dropped off at a testing lab, where they will all be tested for loose-fill asbestos insulation,

What happens if the test is positive? — If you are discovered to have loose-fill asbestos insulation in your home or office, and you live in Sydney, Australia, it is mandatory that your home is demolished and done so professionally.

In other parts of the world, the loose-fill asbestos insulation may be dealt with differently, so you need to check with the testing company before your testing commences.

Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation

Introducing The Dangerous Asbestos

This nasty word called asbestos hardly needs any introduction anymore. By now, most homeowners should know and realize the general dangers of disturbing and breathing asbestos fibers; especially in older homes. Asbestos can be found in products ranging from your furnace, hot water pipes and even floor tiles. Just a dab of common sense should tell you not to disturb any asbestos and simply leave it alone and, if possible, contact a professional asbestos abatement company and let the professionals handle the removing. All this information brings up the subject of the real culprit in all this attack on asbestos and that is loose-fill asbestos insulation which is probably what some homeowners still have in their attic and home if you live in an older home.

What Is “Mr. Fluffy”

During the 1960s and 1970s, pure loose-fill asbestos was sold as a ceiling insulation for residential and commercial premises. Back then, a company known as “Mr. Fluffy” installed this insulation in more than 1,000 homes. In 1969 health services provided a report that using loose-fill insulation was dangerous. Homeowners were notified of the risks involved in living in a home with loose-fill asbestos and steps were taken to nullify the situation. In some cases, the asbestos was so prevalent that homes were actually demolished in order to remove any enduring health risks.

Note: If your house was built prior to 1990, the chances are good that your property may contain loose-fill insulation. If your home was built after 1990, the chances are reduced, but not eliminated. You can spot these insulation particles quite easily since they have a certain color much like gray-brown or silver gold. These particles may also puff-up due to being exposed to heat. Loose-fill can be soft, gray and without a shine.