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InspectAPedia ® Home ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY Aerobiology Associations ACCURACY vs PRECISION of MEASUREMENTS AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR FILTERS, OPTIMUM INDOOR AIR FILTERING STRATEGIES AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in BUILDINGS ANIMAL ODORS IN BUILDINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS ASBESTOS MATERIAL REGULATIONS ASBESTOS REMOVAL GUIDE, FLOORING ASBESTOS RISK ASSESSMENT ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BASEMENT MOLD BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE Bisphenol-A, BPA BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC BLACK MOLD, TOXIC & ALLERGENIC BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about BOD WASTEWATER TEST BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD Cadmium in the home CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2 CARBON MONOXIDE - CO Carbon Nanotube Hazards CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CAT DANDER in BUILDINGS Cell phone Radiation Hazards CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS in? CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER COALSTOVE SAFETY COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CPSC Indoor Air Pollution Book Online Copy DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DRYWALL MOLD DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS DRINKING WATER Diethylstilbestrol - DES DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST, HVAC CONTAMINATION STUDY DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD EMF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS & HUMAN EXPOSURE EMF Levels of Cancer Risk EMF MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES ENVIRO-SCARE - PUBLIC FEAR CYCLES FEAR of MOLD - MYCOPHOBIA Fiberboard Insulation Sheathing Mold Fiberglass Enviro-Scare FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE FIREPLACE INSERTS Fireplaces & Woodstove Contaminants FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION FLOOR TILE HISTORY & INGREDIENTS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS EXPOSURE LIMITS & STANDARDS GAS TEST PROCEDURES GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS TEST PROCEDURES GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GLARE, Sunlight/Lighting Control HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS HEATING OIL PIPING TROUBLES HEATING OIL SLUDGE HEATING OIL TANKS HOUSE DUST ANALYSIS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND HOME HEATING SAFETY HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS HVAC Systems INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION, ASBESTOS INSULATION MOLD INSULATION, UFFI UREA FORMALDEHYDE FOAM ITCHY FABRICS, DIAGNOSE LAB & FIELD IAQ EQUIPMENT SOP LAB PROCEDURES MICROSCOPE TECHNIQUES LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD CONTAMINATION in WATER, HOW to TEST LEAD EXPOSURE HAZARDS INDOORS LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD PAINT REMOVAL ALTERNATIVES LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS LEAD in ROOFING, EFFECTS LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE LEAD in WATER, ACTION LEVEL & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LEED Building Designation & IAQ Legionella Legionnaires' Disease Legionella BACTERIA & HVAC Equipment LIGHT, GUIDE to FORENSIC USE LIGHTNING PROTECTION LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards METHANE GAS SOURCES MEDIA BLASTING for MOLD REMOVAL METHANE GAS SOURCES MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MILDEW in BUILDINGS ? MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS MOLD COUNT NUMBER GUIDE MOLD CONSULTANTS / INSPECTORS MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD or INDOOR AIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD FAQ's MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE MOLD SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD STANDARDS MOLD TEST KITS MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY MORGELLONS SYNDROME MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS Museum Artifact Preservation MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE OIL, HEATING, EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS OIL HEAT ODORS OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION OIL TANK LEAK ODORS OIL TANKS INSPECT LEAK TEST ABANDON REGS OXYGEN - O2 OZONE HAZARDS OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN BUILDINGS PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ Particulates & Allergens Indoors Pesticide Exposure Hazards PET ALLERGENS / PET DANDER PET STAINS on FLOORS PET STAINS on WALLS PLASTIC CONTAINERS, TANKS, TYPES PLASTIC HEATER VENT PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS Pollen Photos PVC - VINYL BUILDING PRODUCTS RADON HAZARD TESTS & MITIGATION Radon Enviro-Scare SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in BUILDINGS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWER GAS ODORS SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT SIDING VINYL SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss UFFI UREA FORMALDEHYDE FOAM INSULATION URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES Well Pollution WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING World Trade Center Collapse Dust Photos More Information |
House dust test procedure or other building dust sampling for fiberglass: this indoor air quality testing article describes the process for laboratory identification of particles found in indoor air or settled dust collected in residential and light-commercial buildings. Typical components of house dust are dominated by fabric fibers and skin cells. We may however find either high levels of common problem particles (mold, allergens, fiberglass or other insulation fragments) or low levels of particles that by their nature still indicate a problem. Our page top photo shows a vacuum sample of fiberglass building insulation. The bonding resin is plainly visible in our lab photo - often the color of the binding resin in fiberglass insulation helps trace insulation dust in a building back to its source. Not all fiberglass insulation includes resin binders however. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. Simple Method for Identifying Contents of House Dust to Screen for Building Insulation (fiberglass fragments or other insulation materials)This article describes easy steps taken in the forensic lab that permit reliable particle identification and distinguishing among fiberglass insulation, mineral wool or "rock wool" and cotton or other fibers. For instructions on how to collect surface dust for lab analysis, see DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE where we also discuss finding mold in indoor dust samples. Readers concerned with fiberglass in building dust (discussed here) should also see FIBERGLASS HAZARDS and also Insulation Products MSDS and Fiberglass Insulation Exposure Limits. Photographs of Unbonded Fiberglass Insulation - "Blowing Wools"
Above (left) we show a macro photograph of white blown-in unbonded InsulSafe® building insulation sold by CertainTeed and provided by a homeowner who asked our lab to study dust samples from her home. At above right is the same insulation shown in the stereo microscope at about 20x, and below the same material is magnified to 720x. How to Distinguish Between Fiberglass Fibers & Fabric Fibers in House Dust
Above (left) we show a 720x micro-photograph of white blown-in unbonded InsulSafe® building insulation sold by CertainTeed. At above right our photo shows the dominant particles in the dust sample from the home under study. Magnified to 720x the fibers we found were primarily cotton, with some linen and a few synthetic fabric fibers. There was virtually none of the insulation fibers provided for comparison (above left) as a possible source of dust in the home.
Above (left) a client photo shows a heavy and rapid dust accumulation on building surfaces. At above right our lab photo shows that the prime contents of the dust were fabric fibers and starch granules, not building insulation in this case. - DF & WW 6/2010. Fiberglass Lab Test Warnings & TipsWatch out: when preparing a laboratory sample for microscopic examination for the present and level of fiberglass fragments (from insulation or any other source), choose the mountant liquid wisely. If you use a slide mountant whose refractive index is close to that of glass fibers, detection of small fiberglass fragments may be difficult or impossible even though they may be present at high levels. Thus while it may be trivial to distinguish fiberglass from other fibers found in building dust, it the mountant is not properly selected (with the proper n or refractive index), or if the microscope is not properly adjusted, the technician can completely miss high levels of ultra-fine fiberglass fragments. Fiberglass Lab Tip - watch out for ultra-small fiberglass fragmentsWhile detection of large fibers of any sort in a microscope sample is relatively easy, in our OPINION, some fiberglass dust studies have been faulty in design because technicians seriously under-report the presence of ultra-small fiberglass insulation fragments in dust samples. This error occurs because of a combination of:
In sum, as forensic microscopists know well, if you don't look for a particle or a particle in the proper size range, preparation, and magnification, you will not find it. Details about the problems of detecting ultra-small fiberglass fragments are at Fiberglass Detection in Building Air ... Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about fiberglass dust particle identification procedures & testing. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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