Where is asbestos found in the home?

Asbestos has been used in many products found in the home that provide insulation, strength, and fire protection. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announced a phased ban of asbestos products to be completed by 1996. However, in 1991, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned and remanded the asbestos ban and phase-out rule to EPA.

Today, most asbestos products can still be legally manufactured, although production of asbestos containing materials has decreased dramatically since the late 1970s.

The most common items in the home that may contain asbestos are:

Vinyl flooring

Duct wrapping on heating and air conditioning systems

Insulation on hot water pipes and boilers

Some roofing shingles, and siding

Vermiculite attic insulation

Ceiling and wall insulation

Sheet rock taping compounds and some ceiling materials

Asbestos that has been sprayed on ceilings often has a spongy, “cottage cheese” appearance with irregular soft surfaces. Asbestos troweled on walls has a textured, firm appearance. Vermiculite attic insulation, found both in the attic between trusses and in-between walls, also has the potential to contain asbestos. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually light-brown or gold in color.

Manufacturers can provide information on the asbestos content of home products. A certified asbestos consultant can be hired to test building material and determine whether or not asbestos is present and to give advice about how to take care of it safely. Current asbestos bulk testing methods may be insufficient to determine the presence of asbestos in vermiculite attic insulation.

For more information on vermiculite, reference U.S. EPA’s Current Best Practices for Vermiculite Attic Insulation at www.epa.gov/asbestos/insulationbrochure2.pdf.