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Munn & Steel & Mica-Fil Vermiculite Insulation FAQs
Q&A on Mica-Fil Vermiculite identification hazards, history, advice
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about vermiculite insulation & asbestos content of vermiculite
FAQs on vermiculite insulation produced or sold by Munn & Steele or Mica-Fil Brands:
This article series explains how to recognize vermiculite building insulation that may contain asbestos fibers. This article permits visual identification of vermiculite insulation; we include our own as well as US EPA photographs of various forms of vermiculite insulation to assist in recognizing vermiculite in buildings.
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Munn & Steele Vermiculite Insulation FAQs
These questions & answers about Mica-Fil, a Munn & Steele Vermiculite Insulation product and its asbestos content were posted originally at MUNN & STEEL & MICA-FIL VERMICULITE BUILDING INSULATION - be sure to see that article.
On 2019-05-31 by (mod) -
Thanks for the interesting comment.
On 2019-05-29 by NSInsulator
I work for an insulation company in Nova Scotia and it is not uncommon to find vermiculite insulation in old homes. I find about 70% are usually positive. Unfortunately, at this home, not enough could be collected to really test it.
A few large, hard, green flakes can be easily seen, which in my experience can typically indicate positive for asbestos (I keep a tally of my guesses before I send the samples, I am currently 64/83, 77% correct).
It also seems like the homeowner has cleaned out it out by themselves, which also makes me suspect that they already know it is positive. At this point, I am assuming it is positive and not touching the attic.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments Box Code error - sorry. If you can re-post the image we'll be glad to comment further.
On 2019-03-12 by KT
The orange and brown bag above (Vermiculite Insulating Limited) is what I have in my attic, is it also produced by Munn & Steele?
On 2019-03-12 by (mod) -
No, but ...
My search for records indicating whether or not Munn & Steele actually sold vermiculite that came from the Libby mine (or from the Siscoe mine) did not find any indicators suggesting a yes or no answer but it seems likely, since some of the MicaFil packaging specifically names the Siscoe vermiculite mine.
On 2019-03-11 by KT
@Michel Gou,
Did you ever have this product tested?
On 2019-03-11 by KT
I have a bag of the isolation micafil vermiculite insulation produced by Vermiculite Insulating Limited in my attic, my attic is insulated with fiberglass bats but has some vermiculite scattered on top. Has anyone below received the test results from this product?
On 2019-02-24 by (mod) -
Mitch
We don't have lab test results for this particular vermiculite insulation and worse even if we did we could not generalize that reult to all instances of the product.
If you have some Mica Fil and want to have it tested those results would be useful to have nevertheless.
As you read in the above
My search for records indicating whether or not Munn & Steele actually sold vermiculite that came from the Libby mine (or from the Siscoe mine) did not find any indicators suggesting a yes or no answer but it seems likely, since some of the MicaFil packaging specifically names the Siscoe vermiculite mine.
On 2019-02-24 by Mitch
Was your micafil tested? And if so what were the results?
On 2018-11-24 by (mod) -
John,
It would be helpful if you would post a picture one or comment showing me the bags and all of the writing on both sides.
Even if the bags are empty you want to take care of not to dump dust out of the bags or to breathe at in case there is an asbestos Hazard is best to avoid exposure.
On 2018-11-23 by john cannon
I have empty bags if vermiculite insulation limited in my attic. When I bought my house I was given a document that stated it DID NOT contain asbestos. I will try to find it again to provide more information. I'm planning to have it tested again to be double sure.
On 2018-08-23 by (mod) -
Michael I'm surprised at your price quote - as typically an asbestos test cost under $50. U.S.
It would be prudent to treat the vermiculite insulation in your photo a presumed to contain asbestos. I see also what looks like rock wool - mineral wool insulation atop the bag.
Search InspectApedia.com for ROCK WOOL INSULATION to read about that different material.
On 2018-08-23 by Anonymous
@Michel Gou,
We have a similar bag (pic attached) found in the attic of a home my daughter has an offer in. Sadly we will have to have it tested ($450) before closing. Would be great to Know if texted and what results you had
Christine
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On 2018-08-09 by (mod) -
Michael,
From the packaging showing that Isolation Micafil Vermiculte Insulation was distributed from Montreal, London or Toronto, I suspect that you are located in Canada. There was asbestos in some vermiculite mined in Canada.
Please see details about this insulation (where I'll also add your photo) above on this page where I will include your photo and a request for comment from other readers.
I would treat the insulation as presumed to contain asbestos unless or until you have a sample tested.
See ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST at inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Test_Lab_Lists.php
On 2018-08-09 by Michel Gou
I insulated part of a wall with vermiculite in the 1980s. I have found a complete bag for which I enclose photos. Can you tell me if this particular brand was asbestos free or not. Thank you
IMAGE LOST by Comments Box Code error - sorry. If you can re-post the image we'll be glad to comment further.
...
Continue reading at MUNN & STEELE VERMICULITE, MICA-FIL, Siscoe Vermiculite Mine - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME - U.S. EPA, Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460>
- [5] Vermiculite: Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation, U.S. EPA, web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html
- [7] Vermiculite Insulation Containing, Amphibole Asbestos [PDF], Health Canada, September 2009, web search Jan 2011, source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/insulation-isolant-eng.php [copy on file as /hazmat/Vermiculite_Health_Canada.pdf] Vermiculite Insulation Containing Amphibole Asbestos - September 2009, Health Canada Quoting from the PDF document:
Some vermiculite insulation may contain amphibole asbestos fibres. These products can cause health risks if disturbed during maintenance, renovation or demolition. However, there is currently no evidence of risk to your health if the insulation is sealed behind wallboards and floorboards, isolated in an attic, or otherwise kept from exposure to the interior environment. - [8] Vermiculite: Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation, U.S. EPA , web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html [copy on file as hazmat/Vermiculite_US_EPA.pdf/ Current Best Practices for Vermiculite Attic Insulation - May 2003, U.S. EPA
Web search 01/20/2011, original source: http://epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm_questions.html - Proteja su familia del aislante de vermiculita contaminado con asbestos, U.S. EPA HOJA INFORMATIVA web search 08/17/2010, original source http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm-ques-sp.pdf
- [10] "Zonolite Attic Insulation Safety Facts", W.R. Grace Corporation, web search 5/1/2012, original source: http://www.grace.com/about/ehs/libby/zonolite.aspx, [copy on file as /2 Environmental Hazards/Asbestos/Zonolite_Grace_Info.pdf ]
- [11] "Libby Timeline", W.R. Grace Corporation, web search 4/28/12, original source :http://www.grace.com/about/ehs/libby/timeline.aspx
[copy on file as [Libby_History_Grace.pdf] - [13] Stanton, .F., et al., National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506: 143-151
- [14] Pott, F., Staub-Reinhalf Luft 38, 486-490 (1978) cited by McCrone
- [15] "Financial Reorganization", W.R. Grace corporation, web search 5/8/11, original source: http://www.grace.com/About/Reorganization.aspx, [copy filed as /Grace_Financial_Reorg.pdf]
- [16] The Perlite Institute, Inc., 4305 North Sixth Street Suite A Harrisburg, PA 17110, Tel: 717-238-9723, Fax: 717-238-9985, Email: info@perlite.org, Website: http://www.perlite.org/
- [17] Schundler Company, Edison, NJ 732-287-2244 email: info@schundler.com Schundler provides information about the application-use of both perlite and vermiculite insulation products.
VERMICULITE MSDS for Schundler's vermiculite product - [18] "Coping With Suspect Insulation", Jay Romano, The New York Times, 8 June 2003, p. 7
- [19] "Hazardous Materials: EPA’s Assessment of Sites that May Have Received Asbestos-Contaminated Ore from Libby, Montana (GAO-09-7sp, March 2009), an E-supplement to GAO-09-6R - Koos Inc., 2000 DeKovan Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin", The U.S. Government Accounting Office, Special Publications, web search 5/8/12, original source: http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/gao-09-7sp/file155.html
- [20] "Hazardous Materials: EPA’s Assessment of Sites that May Have Received Asbestos-Contaminated Ore from Libby, Montana (GAO-09-7sp, March 2009), an E-supplement to GAO-09-6R - Koos Inc., 2000 DeKovan Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin", The U.S. Government Accounting Office, Special Publications, web search 5/8/12, original source: Former exfoliation facility: http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/gao-09-7sp/file154.html
- Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on ASBESTOS, ITS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ROSATO 1959, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print, text and images available at InspectAPedia.com).
- Basic Information about Asbestos, US EPA, web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html
- "Handling Asbestos-Containing roofing material - an update", Carl Good, NRCA Associate Executive Director, Professional Roofing, February 1992, p. 38-43
- EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
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Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
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