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  #1  
Old 10/28/09, 5:52 PM
Charles Bono Charles Bono is offline
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Default Insulation

Hi,
Can anyone please confirm what this type of insulation is? Does it usually contain asbestos.
(I believe it's rockwool and usually doesn't contain asbestos but need clarification.)

Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 10/28/09, 6:16 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

It looks like Cellulose Charles.

It's made from paper and treated to make it fire retardant.

And no it should not contain Asbestos.



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  #3  
Old 10/28/09, 8:53 PM
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mnicholet mnicholet is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Agree, it looks like fiber cellulose. No asbestos.

Vermiculite is the insulation that should be tested for asbestos content prior to escrow.

Here is a pic :

http://www.dspinspections.com/images/vermiculite_1.jpg
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  #4  
Old 10/28/09, 9:47 PM
Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI's Avatar
Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

I agree with Michael and Mark





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  #5  
Old 10/30/09, 5:59 PM
jbettencourt jbettencourt is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Here is a picture of vermiculite for you in case you have not come across it, from one of my last inspections always lift to see what is under newer insulation.
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  #6  
Old 10/31/09, 10:42 AM
George A. H. Luck's Avatar
George A. H. Luck George A. H. Luck is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Cellulose
I sent away 26 samples of vermiculite last year and only two of them came back contaminated with asbestos ( about 8%). Does anyone else have any figures about samples / contamination? To the best of my knowledge, in every case, contaminated or not, the purchaser had the stuff ripped out prior to purchasing the houses.
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  #7  
Old 11/2/09, 3:44 PM
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tneyedli1 tneyedli1 is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbono View Post
Hi,
Can anyone please confirm what this type of insulation is? Does it usually contain asbestos.
(I believe it's rockwool and usually doesn't contain asbestos but need clarification.)

Thanks.
Charles:
This is most likely shreadded newsprint and treated with borax as a fire retardent.
It was used mostly from 1978 to 1985 as a retro fit. If it becomes wet its insulating properties are greately diminished.

T.Neyedli CHI
www.alphahomeinspections.ca
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  #8  
Old 11/2/09, 4:47 PM
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Douglas Cossar Douglas Cossar is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Quote:
Originally Posted by gluck View Post
Cellulose
I sent away 26 samples of vermiculite last year and only two of them came back contaminated with asbestos ( about 8%). Does anyone else have any figures about samples / contamination? To the best of my knowledge, in every case, contaminated or not, the purchaser had the stuff ripped out prior to purchasing the houses.

Zonolite is the brand name of vermiculite that is known to have some asbestos fibers in it.

There was a class action against Grace Dearborne (the company that supplied it) and Canadians with it in their attic are eligable for some compensation.

Cheers



Doug Cossar CMI, NHI
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Services Inc.
Whitby Ontario
www.accuratehomeinspections.ca
05021384
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  #9  
Old 11/3/09, 8:22 PM
Eragorn Northe Eragorn Northe is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

Great Info, thanks guys



Eragorn Northe
Der Hous Inspector LLC
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www.derhouseinspections.com
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  #10  
Old 11/9/09, 3:24 PM
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Vern Mitchinson, CMI Vern Mitchinson, CMI is offline
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Default Re: Insulation

The photo on the right looks like itchless fibreglass made by Johns Manville and has an R 2.66 per inch thickness.
More info at http://www.jm.com/insulation/5749.htm
I had to calculate the R value from the total R divided by the thickness listed on JM's site. The R value had some variation between different batt thicknesses so I interpolated.

The left photo looks like cellulose. CMHC rated at R 3 to 3.7 per inch thickness. Cellulose is ground up paper treated with mould inhibitors and fire retardants.



Vern Mitchinson_CET_CMI
Past President
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Alberta Canada

Last edited by vmitchinson; 11/9/09 at 3:31 PM..
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