Vermiculite insulation identification.

How to identify vermiculite or vermiculite insulation by visual inspection. It's easy, as we'll show you here.

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. We describe the history of vermiculite insulation, the asbestos hazard that may be present depending on which vermiculite insulation product is present, and how asbestos is identified in vermiculite insulation.

How to Identify Vermiculite Insulation - Photographs, Description, Properties

Watch out: vermiculite from some sources contains asbestos and can be an asbestos dust hazard in buildings. Details about the asbestos content in some vermiculite insulation products is found in this article.

Article Contents

• HOW TO IDENTIFY VERMICULITE INSULATION
• VERMICULITE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOGRAPHS
• UNIDENTIFIED (BRAND) VERMICULITE PHOTOGRAPHS
• VERMICULITE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOGRAPHS (more)
• VERMICULITE LOOSE FILL Attic Insulation May Go Unrecognized as a Potential Hazard

Watch out: while it is certainly possible to identify a material as vermiculite or vermiculite insulation by examining it with the naked eye or by examining photographs such as those on this page, one cannot determine whether or not vermiculite contains asbestos simply by looking at it with the naked eye nor by comparing photographs of the insulating material.

[Click to enlarge any image]

To absolutely identify asbestos content in vermiculite microscopic examination using polarized light (PLM) is necessary.

See ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST if you need to have an insulation sample tested for asbestos.

Vermiculite Insulation Identification Photographs

We have observed that depending on the mine from which it originates, and the process used to expand the vermiculite particles, vermiculite may vary in appearance and shininess.

Vermiculite insulation is easy to identify by visual inspection, as it is a granular, loose-fill pour-in insulation comprised of particles typically gray or brown or silver-gold in color, often with bits of reflective mica included.

What can be confusing is that vermiculite particle sizes range from about 1/8" in diameter to more than 1/2" in diameter depending on the producer and batch, with a few large particles that can be more than one inch in length.

The individual vermiculite insulation particles, an expanded mineral, are quite light in weight. Depending on the condition of the vermiculite insulation, whether or not it has been disturbed, and also depending on its original manufacture and quality, various amounts of dust and ultra-small particles may also be present.

Vermiculite insulation may be comprised of particles of several colors and shades (see our page top photo), or nearly all of the particles may be consistently the same color, as we show in our close up photograph of vermiculite (left).

This photo shows how we noticed the presence of vermiculite insulation by peering through a crack between attic floorboards.

It was not necessary to remove flooring to find this material.

Our first two vermiculite attic insulation photos (above and just below) show what you may see in the typical attic of an older home where vermiculite was added to the attic floor. You will often find a mix of several kinds of building insulation, and the vermiculite may, for example, have been covered-over by rolled out fiberglass or fiberglass batt insulation.

Below we illustrate that in "original" condition, that is without mechanical damage from being walked-on, vermiculite insulation products can vary considerably in size and appearance.

The two vermiculite photos above and the third further below illustrate a considerable range in average particle size in different vermiculite insulation products, possibly coming from different mines or from different expansion processes.

For reference, the very large vermiculite particle at below left was 1.5 cm x 1 cm in size, and some reports indicate that pour-in attic insulation can contain vermiculite particles up to an inch (2.5 cm) in length.

As you can see in our vermiculite insulation images here, the color of the material ranges from a creamy white to gold or tan in color.

Just below, in the same largest-particle-size vermiculite sample, you can observe the mica-like shiny surface and layering or laminate structure of some of these vermiculite particles.

Watch out: vermiculite insulation was not only poured into attic floors but also into building wall cavities during insulation retrofit projects. Particularly in older balloon-framed buildings, vermiculite could be poured from the attic right into wall cavities extending all the way to the building foundation top.

Vermiculite was also often poured into hollow-core concrete block walls.

Unidentified Vermiculite Insulation Photographs

Mississippi home inspector Dan Phillips sent along these interesting photographs of vermiculite insulation from a 1940's home in Tennessee.

Phillips added "The home itself was built in the 40’s and had several renovations done to it. The vermiculite was added during one of these renovations in the past, and covered some older insulation as well as serving as single insulation to newer portions of the home."

He observed that this particular vermiculite insulation was comprised of a mix of both small reflective mineral fragments (mica-like) as well as larger fragments up to almost 1/4" of expanded vermiculite insulation material.

Without testing by a certified asbestos testing laboratory, we don't know if this particular vermiculite contains asbestos or not, - appropriate warnings were issued to the client. That experience reminds us that in an older home there are often multiple kinds of insulation present, and they may not all be visible, newer materials having covered older.

Question: what is the origin of Westroc Vermiculite

2016/03/21 Anonymous said:
Where did Westroc get its vermiculite from

Reply:

Anonymous, I'm not able to give a comprehensive answer because Westroc branded vermiculite could have originated at more than one location. However, research I cite below indicates the Westroc [vermiculite] mine located in British Columbia (Canada).

• Simandl, G.J., Irvine, M.L, Grieve, D., Lane R., Wojdak, P., Madu, B., Northcote, B. and Schroeter, T, "Review of Industrial Minerals in British Columbia, Canada - 2006", retrieved 2016/03/22, original source: www.empr.gov.bc.ca/mining/geoscience/publicationscatalogue/geofiles/documents/gf2007-08.pdf
• George J. Simandl and Angela M. Rossley - B. C. Geological Survey, Industrial Minerals: Current Trends and Future Opportunities, (2000) www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/PublicationsCatalogue/InformationCirculars/Documents/IC2002-03_32-Simandl_Industrial_Minerals.pdf

Question: Where did Gold Nugget insulation come from

2016/03/22 murrayhillson said:

Where did gold nugget insulation come from?

Reply: "gold nugget" or "silver nugget' vermiculite terminology

Murry,

Assumng you are asking about gold nugget vermiculite insulation, the term "gold nugget" is very widely in literature describing some nugget-like forms of vermiculite used as building insulation as well as in other applications.

I did not find instances of specific "gold nugget vermiculite" as a vermiculite product brand name. If you have such literature, photographs, etc. use our page bottom CONTACT link to send me that information and those photos or images and I'll research further.

If you are representing a law firm or are involved in litigation, please so identify yourself.

These questions, probably both from Murray, were posted originally

at MUNN & STEELE VERMICULITE, MICA-FIL, Siscoe Vermiculite Mine

Vermiculite Insulation Identification Images from the US EPA & Other Sources

Notes to the table above

EPA Images retrieved 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html#made with additional vermiculite image by InspectApedia.com.

Chinese white vermiculite, retrieved 03/25/2015, original source: http://hbleijie.com/show.asp?id=224. Leijie Trade Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province Xinhua China, Website www.hbeijie.com, Excerpt from the Leijie Trade company's description of their vermiculite product:

Vermiculite is a member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals, resembling mica in appearance. It is found in various parts of the world, vermiculite is basically a hydrated phlogopite mica which has the remarkable ability to expand to many times than its original volume when heated at 850 °C.Vermiculite is most widely used in its exfoliated form.

The concertina-shaped granules of exfoliated vermiculite are non-combustible as well as being insoluble in water and all organic solvents.

Chinese vermiculite and perlite is provided by Hebei Leijie Mineral Co., Ltd. in both raw ore and expanded form in the following sizes:

• Raw Ore Perlite : 10-20 mesh , 20-40 mesh ect
• Expanded Perlite : 1-3mm , 2-4mm, 3-6mm ect
• Raw Ore Vermiculite : 0.3-1mm , 1-2mm , 2-4mm ect
• Expanded Vermiculite : 1-3mm , 2-4mm , 3-8mm ect.

General Chemical Composition of Vermiculite

The Leijie company includes tables of the chemical composition of vermiculite that varies depending on the vermiculite's general color. Basic chemical components of vermiculite, varying by percentage according to where the material was mined and its color, include SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, Fe₂O₃, FeO, TiO₂, at a pH varying between 7-10. Expanded vermiculite particle sizes range from 1mm. upwards as described above.

Vermiculite Loose Fill Attic Insulation May Go Unrecognized as a Potential Hazard

Home inspector David Grudzinski provides the following vermiculite insulation photographs. Mr. Grudzinski comments:

I write this ... because of the irony in the situation. ....

I found some traces of vermiculite in the basement at first in what looked like an area that one would use as a potting shed spot, so I was alert, but not alarmed. I explained what I found to the buyer and his father, and explained that I would be on the look out for other signs of vermiculite in the house.

The attic revealed what I was afraid of: Bags and Bags of the stuff [vermiculite loose fill building insulation produced by W.R. Grace & Co.].

Now I calmly explained the history and concerns to the buyer, then we began to look around and take photos.

What struck me as ironic was that when I started to look deeper, the past occupant must have been in a boiler school program of some kind.

There were book about boilers laying on the bags. but then after looking farther, there are actually books about asbestos containment and control sitting right on the bags of Zonolite™ insulation.

In the ["Guidance for Controlling Asbestos Materials in buildings" U.S. EPA] book found on the attic floor [right next to this vermiculite insulation] was a picture of the standard corrugated asbestos pipe wrapping you see on a furnace - but this was too funny.

• David Grudzinski, Advantage Home Inspections, ASHI cert # 249089, HUD cert# H-145, is a professional home inspector who contributes on various topics including structural matters. David Grudzinski, Cranston RI serving both Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut can be reached at 401-935-6547 fax- 401-490-0607 or by email to Davidgrudzinski@aol.com. Mr. Grudzinski is a regular contributor to InspectAPedia.com

What should I do if I have vermiculite insulation in my building ?

Quoting & paraphrasing or elaborating further from the U.S. EPA information on Vermiculite[5]:

You should assume that the vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and it should not be disturbed. Particularly, do not stir up nor spread dust from this product.! Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure.

We and the US EPA recommend that you:

• Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls.
• Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation.
• Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation.
• Do not attempt to remove the vermiculite insulation yourself.
• Hire a professional asbestos contractor if you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite in your attic or walls to make sure the material is safely handled and/or removed.
• [If substantial costs are involved in handling or removing any building product suspected of containing asbestos, particularly friable asbestos that can easily be spread through a building as airborne dust, you should have the material tested to confirm its asbestos content and in order to understand what special handling may be required. ] - Ed.

For more details about the inspection and detection of concerns with fiberglass building insulation, see:

INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT and  

FIBERGLASS HAZARDS .

Our separate websites on Fiberglass building insulation and or series of articles about HVAC duct work defects contain in-depth discussion about possible air quality and health concerns which may be associated with exposure to fiberglass dust.To compare insulating material R-values of fiberglass in various forms as well as other insulating materials, see our Table of Properties of Insulating Materials

Also see these U.S. & Canadian Guides to Asbestos-Hazards in Vermiculite Insulation

• Vermiculite: Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation, U.S. EPA
• Proteja su familia del aislante de vermiculita contaminado con asbestos, U.S. EPA
• Current Best Practices for Vermiculite Attic Insulation - May 2003, U.S. EPA
• Vermiculite Insulation Containing Amphibole Asbestos - September 2009, Health Canada

How Vermiculite Attic Insulation Becomes Airborne

Any airborne dust particles can be a respiratory irritant, but the hazard level is likely to be increased if the dust contains insect or rodent materials and of course also if it contains asbestos as is present in some vermiculite insulation installations. Particularly where loose fill vermiculite insulation remains exposed in an attic, such as in the attic floor, the following act ivies are likely to cause dust from this product to become airborne.

• Operating a whole house fan or an attic vent fan
• Walking on or near the vermiculite insulation
• Disturbing the vermiculite insulation during building remodeling, renovations, or roofing work
• Storing items on the vermiculite insulation - which risks transporting dust out of the attic into the living space if those items are then brought into the occupied space below

You can reduce these dust risks by installing a plywood floor over the tops of the floor joists (ceiling joists of the rooms below), by installing fiberglass batts on top of the vermiculite, or by spraying an acrylic encapsulant on the exposed surface of the vermiculite in the attic.

Watch out: spray-coating the upper surface of an attic insulation material installed in the floor risks creating a vapor barrier on the wrong side (the cold side) of the structure, trapping moisture and leading to condensation or even mold troubles.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-01-23 by Cyd Robb - my husband found this material in a heap - what is it?

He also found this material in one heap. He said it resembled termite poop, but wasn't. No sign of termite damage. Thank you for your help.

This question was posted originally

at MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL INSULATION

We said it looked like Vermiculite, but

Watch out: in some old buildings we have indeed found large mounds of termite debris, and also bat droppings - a closer, sharper photo would be helpful.

Question: is .0004% of asbestos ok to be working in and preparing food in?

I work in a school in MTt, and 2 years ago this substance was removed from two rooms in the school, one which is right by the kitchen i work in. well 2 days ago i found this substance on top the the cupboards and everywhere else, and can see that it is falling from the ceiling.

Very concerned because i have a fan blowing in there, and there was asbestos in the school when they came and had it cleaned. my question to you is, is .0004% of asbestos ok to be working in and preparing food in?

i truly found this site excellent, it answered alot except that one question. thank you - Amy Swanson 9/2/11

Reply:

Thanks for tine nice note Amy.

A proper asbestos cleanup project, especially in a school, should have included post-cleanup inspecting and testing to assure that no asbestos hazard remained. You might want to ask for and read that report.

About the substance falling from your ceiling, if you think it's asbestos-containing material you certainly shouldn't be running a fan, and it would make sense to have it tested for asbestos content.

The % of asbestos number you cite leaves me confused. If you mean that the general dust from the environment is down to that minimal level, it sounds almost below the limits of detection. But I don't know what test you are describing, nor where nor how it was performed -those questions are key in understanding what the test results mean.

Your concern should be answered more specifically by a hygienist or similar professional who has specific expertise in asbestos and indoor air quality and who knows the building and its history.

We would much appreciate hearing any comments, critique, suggestions, or further questions from you or other readers. We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

Reader follow-up:

Well this is my first year at this school, and was told that 2 years ago there was asbestos in the library and the music room and they did have it cleaned up professionally, but they didn't do it to the kitchen.

now this stuff that looks like your picture above with the gold and silver flakes in is is all over my kitchen and my boss told me it wasn't harmful cause they had it tested and it was at .0004%, but my concern is that if they had to clean it out of the other 2 rooms that it should be also done to my kitchen and i have 2 other ladies that work with me and we are all really concerned and are wondering what it is or whom it is that we can contact because everyone is telling us its ok and i don't think it is ok.

my boss is having someone come out there to caulk the ceiling again, and that is it...more or less just sweeping this under the rug. ..i have some of this stuff that fell from the ceiling in a plastic folder. it was hanging on the wall and caught it, but my concern is that i didn't know it was in there at the time i pulled a few papers out of it.

that is how it was brought to my attention of what it was. i am seriously concerned and would just like to know whom it is i need to contact outside the school, since no one in the school seems to really care about it or us.

Question: Zonolite Rolled Glass Fiber Home Insulation

i got zonolite rolled glass fiber home insulation is it safe ? - Concerned

Reply:

Concerned: I don't recognize the product you name - can you send me a photo of the material and of any labels or markings on packaging? Then I can research and comment further. Use the CONTACT US link at page top or bottom to send photos if you can.

Certainly "fiberglass" is not an asbestos material. In our opinion, fiberglass insulation is safe if it has been properly installed and has not been damaged. Severely damaged fiberglass insulation, such as a product that has been walked-upon numerous times, or that has been macerated during demolition, may produce high levels of glass fiber dust, including small particles that may are a respiratory irritant and may be more harmful.

Should I have my Attic Insulation Tested?

I found plastic bags in my attic space that say "Full Fill" Insulation 100% abestos free from Koos Inc. Kenosha, WI. Should I have the insulation tested? - Colleen 3/4/12

Reply: U.S. EPA Koos WI Site Visit Report on Vermiculite & Asbestos Exposure

Colleen, some mesothelioma and asbestosis websites, usually ones seeking to provide legal services, report that workers at Koos corporation in Wisconsin were exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos. The U.S. EPA visited the Koos site in Kenosha, WI on 9 March 2000. Here are two reports from the U.S. Government Accounting Office.

Unknown facility:

An EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices did not contain any records indicating Libby ore was shipped to this site. Because this site was associated with the Koos Inc. site in Kenosha, Wisconsin, EPA visited this site. (The Kenosha site is listed separately in this database)

At the time of EPA's visit, IMC Salt, Inc. operated at this site. The company warehoused and distributed packaged salt. According to company officials, IMC started operations at the site in 1995. Company officials were not aware of vermiculite ore being handled at this facility.

EPA did not find any records indicating that Koos had operated at this site before 1995. On the basis of this information, EPA determined no further action was needed.[19]

Former Koos Inc. exfoliation facility, asbestos, & vermiculite

According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 1,995 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between April 1969 and March 1982.
In addition, reports published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990 indicated that this facility had been a vermiculite exfoliation plant.

The site was about 10 acres and was bounded to the north by a street, to the east by railroad tracks, and to the west and south by businesses and residences. At the time of EPA's site visit, IMC Salt, Inc. was operating at the site. The site consisted of an office building, a warehouse and production area, a bulk storage building, and a maintenance shop.

According to IMC officials, IMC Vigaro purchased Koos, Inc. in 1995 and all exfoliation equipment was sold at that time. In 1998, IMC Salt, Inc. began salt packaging and warehousing operations at the site. From 1960 until 1995, Koos had exfoliated vermiculite at the facility and sold vermiculite wholesale. Exfoliated vermiculite was sold for use in fertilizer and in fire proof doors. Some of the exfoliated vermiculite waste had been placed in a local landfill.

An IMC official said Koos purchased vermiculite ore from American Vermiculite (a South African mine) and from W.R. Grace, but, to their knowledge, none of the ore came from the Libby mine. The ore was shipped to the facility by truck and rail and the exfoliation process was performed indoors. EPA did not see any evidence of vermiculite on the site. On April 3, 2001, EPA collected five soil samples at the site and analyzed them using polarized light microscopy (PLM). None of the samples contained detectable levels of asbestos. On the basis of this information, EPA decided no further action was needed.[20]

Therefore, while the "safe answer" is to spend your money testing your insulation, and given only the information in your brief question, we caution that as we report in detail in the article above, even if your insulation is a vermiculite product (you did not say that it was), a bulk test can give a false negative result. Therefore the EPA and other experts advise that consumers assume that their vermiculite contains asbestos and follow EPA's advice to leave the material alone, undisturbed.

Question: What are the chances that vermiculite in our home came from the Libby Mine?

I have a house in Massachusetts that was constructed circa 1770. Local lore has it that there was an attic fire circa 1890. The wood work and plaster indicate that the attic was "finished" circa 1900. Some floor boards are missing, the floorboards are 1" hard pine, T&G. They also indicate late 19th, early 20th century. The floorboards were removed in the 1950's for electrical wiring (I am certain vermiculite was not added at that time). I can see about 1 1/2 inches of vermiculite between the joists.

I have spoken with a local resident who grew up in the house in the 1940's, when it did not have electricity. He tells me that heat was by way of a hot air furnace in the cellar which released heat through a large grate in the first floor. This also indicates late 19th century. I would assume that was when any attic insulation was added.

So,my question is. given the era what is the likelihood that the vermiculite came from the Libby mine which contained the asbestos? - Ralph Donaldson 5/5/12

Reply: probability that unidentified vermiculite is Zonolite insulation

Ralph,

Considering the very wide-spread use of Zonolite as a retrofit building insulation product, it is certainly possible that it was used in your home. Zonolite, which was found to contain tremolite asbestos, was produced in very large quantities, reaching 150,000 tons per year by 1950, and the plant continued to operate until 1990.

There are other vermiculite mines that do not contain asbestos in their product and that continue to operate today.

It would be a mistake to presume that the Libby Montana Zonolite vermiculite mine source was the only source of asbestos containing products, including insulation, found in homes, as asbestos was used in a very wide range of building and in-home products and continues to appear in some products today. And it might be an error to presume this is the most serious hazard in a home as well.

In our article above we report in detail on the occurrence of asbestos in Zonolite Attic Insulation (ZAI) produced by the Zonolite Company and by its successor owner- W.R. Grace Corporation between 1923 and 1990.

Watch out: It might be useful to have your vermiculite insulation tested. If the result shows Tremolite asbestos (vermiculite mined at Libby Montana had a 10% Tremolite asbestos content) that probably points to the Libby vermiculite mine.

But the US EPA warns that bulk testing of vermiculite for asbestos content can sometimes lead to a false negative finding (failing to detect asbestos even though it is present). That's a reason that the US EPA warned that people should err on the side of caution, assuming that it is asbestos-contaminated.

We also are researching the question of whether or not one can report a contents profile that would let one assay a vermiculite sample and guess at its source - as can be done very accurately with roofing slates. We will add that information here.

Question: Insulation in a 1969 house looks like white and gray furry stuff - is this vermiculite or asbestos?

I am buying a house that was build in 1969. I have not tested the insulation yet (I will). However, it doesn't looks like any of the above pictures. It looks like white and gray and furry. Are there still chance for the insulation to contain vermiculite or asbestos? - Will 7/12/2012

Reply:

Will,

For help in identifying the type of insulation in your home, see

our INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE.

From your description you may be looking

at MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL INSULATION

Question: was asbestos-contaminated vermiculite imported into the U.K.?

Are you aware if any of this contaminated vermiculite was imported to the UK? Thank you. - Laurence 9/15/2012

Reply:

Sorry Laurence, no I don't know.

Typically, because of price competition and the importance of shipping costs, insulation products are produced and shipped from locations a bit closer to their point of use.

Question: where can I have a sample of vermiculite insulation to have it tested?

I recently purchased a house from HUD. I had my home inspected and found out there is exposed vermiculite in the basement that has fallen to the floor and is now been tracked around. Where can I take a sample of this insulation to have it tested ? - Tim 9/16/2012

Reply: Where to Find a Certified or Accredited Asbestos Testing Laboratory

Tim, you can use any test laboratory certified for asbestos testing. Both the US EPA and many U.S. states or Canadian provinces maintain lists of currently-approved asbestos testing labs.

Most state and provincial governments regulate and certify asbestos testing laboratories, and we recommend that where there are health, legal, or cost concerns, you should only use a certified and competent asbestos testing laboratory to examine material samples for asbestos content.

We give a list of several ways to find a certified asbestos test lab

at ASBESTOS TEST LABS.

Question: worried sick after our home inspector tested our "vermiculite insulation" for asbestos - lab said it was cellulose

I recently bought a 1940s house which upon inspection was suspected to have vermiculita in a small area of the attic. The home inspector got it tested and it came back composed of cellulose and non fibrous materials, no asbestos.

fast forward a few months we are now having our batting insulation replaced and the guys doing the work tell us its vermiculite.

What do we go by? we also had our contractor tell us that its not vermiculite...im worried sick that now that the batting insulation is being removed, asbestos fibers might flying all over our house! - Worried sick., 10/5/2012

Reply: cellulose is not vermiculite and is not asbestos; but one insulation sample may not represent all building insulation in the structure

Worried:

You might be best off trying to not be worried sick, as that itself may be an immediate health hazard and also invites opportunists who may price-gouge you when they see that you're terrified. Scared means costly.

Provided your home inspector used a qualified forensic or asbestos test lab , I'd trust their lab result for the insulation sample that was actually tested.

I am a little surprised that your home inspector could not himself tell the very obvious difference between cellulose building insulation and vermiculite insulation. They are not at all visually similar. Why did he test your cellulose insulation for asbestos?

See CELLULOSE LOOSE FILL INSULATION - it's basically paper

See WHERE TO FIND A CERTIFIED OR ACCREDITED ASBESTOS TESTING LABORATORY

Did he charge you a profit beyond the actual lab fee for that test?

I am not surprised that workers may have found vermiculite insulation in a 1940's house; Vermiculite was widely used as a pour-in insulation retrofit and often a 1940's home was originally built with little or no insulation to start with. In the 1970's many of us (including myself) added various insulation products, including vermiculite, in those homes.

By taking a look at the photographs in this article, even a child should be able to see the difference between vermiculite and other building insulation products. Our photo above shows a typical blown-in cellulose insulation installation. If indeed your workers are correct and vermiculite is in place, you should

• Stop any work on the building that is or is likely to disturb the material and then
• Follow the advice at PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM ASBESTOS-CONTAMINATED VERMICULITE INSULATION
• If someone has already made a dusty mess in the home, extra cleaning measures such as damp-wiping and HEPA vacuuming are probably in order, asbestos-containing-vermiculite or not.

Question: did Vermiculite Insulation sold in the U.K. (Ireland in this case) contain asbestos?

I hope you can help me with a query I have. [Paraphrasing at reader request]: there was a vermiculite spill in my home in Ireland. How do I make sure that the home has not been contaminated with asbestos?

Reply: Dust sampling theory: usefulness & definitions of "old dust" and "recent dust" in buildings & where these are found

In an effort to be more clear about dust sampling theory I have expanded the descriptions of old dust, recent dust, where such samples are usually found, and why one would collect them for analysis - that discussion is now found at

DUST SAMPLE TYPES

In short, if you were worried that an original vermiculite spill had not been adequately cleaned, *or* if you wanted to know if the original vermiculite spill included asbestos, you might want to collect both a recent-dust sample and an old dust sample for comparison.

If, however, the cleanup was professionally conducted and post-cleanup testing was already performed properly, and if those steps indicated no problem remaining, in my *opinion* further testing would not be justified unless a new reason for further investigation is apparent. (Examples of such reasons are

at MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ?  and also

at MOLD TEST REASONS.

Reader follow-up:

The vermiculite spill was not professionally cleaned, and was swept and vacuumed with a standard household vacuum cleaner by the plumber before I ever knew what vermiculite was

Reply:

Thanks for the follow-up; Ordinary vacuuming actually increases the level of fine particulates; HEPA vacuuming would have been in order if we thought that asbestos was present, along with damp wiping of horizontal surfaces.

Most likely, from your case history, you're ok. If you want to get a settled-dust sample analyzed just send it to a certified asbestos testing laboratory and allow them to choose their method of analysis; typically the lab uses polarized light microscopy following the Walter McCrone procedure.

Some asbestos test labs may also make use of other methods such as SEM; any certified lab will use appropriate asbestos identification procedures - as an amateur I would not second guess the lab ty telling them what to do, just make sure the sample is collected and question posed following their requrested procedure.

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• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST
• INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
• VERMICULITE INSULATION - home
• HOW TO IDENTIFY VERMICULITE INSULATION - separate article
• VERMICULITE HISTORY & PROPERTIES
• WHAT TO DO ABOUT VERMICULITE INSULATION
• ZONOLITE BRAND VERMIULITE INSULATION ZAI & CLAIMS
• MUNN & STEELE VERMICULITE, MICA-FIL, Siscoe Vermiculite Mine
• VERMICULITE INSULATION INCIDENTAL EXPOSURE HAZARDS ?

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