Learn More About Asbestos and Vermiculite

Several asbestos-containing minerals are used to manufacture durable, fire-resistant, and non-flammable products. Before 1990, asbestos was primarily used to insulate buildings and homes against cold and noise. It was also used for fireproofing.

Vermiculite is an insulation material that was widely used in building construction and is likely to contain asbestos. Vermiculite is brown, gray, and golden in color and resembles pebbles ranging from 2 to 10 millimeters in diameter. When heated to about 1,000°C, this mineral expands, creating air pockets. This property, combined with the fact that it does not burn, made it a suitable material for insulation.

If you discover vermiculite in your home (usually in the attic, but it can also be found in walls and ceilings), it is advisable to have it analyzed to determine if it contains asbestos, as you cannot rely solely on its appearance or the year it was installed to know for sure.

In addition to vermiculite, asbestos can be found in materials such as cement, plaster, floor and ceiling tiles, and wall coverings in homes.

Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause health problems in some exposed individuals, such as mesothelioma (cancer of the chest wall or abdominal cavity), lung cancer, and asbestosis (formation of scar tissue in the lungs that impairs breathing). It is important to note, however, that asbestos poses a health hazard only when asbestos fibers are disturbed and released into the air. In other words, asbestos presents a health risk only when fibers are airborne and inhaled. Fibers can be released into the air when asbestos-containing products deteriorate or when the material is cut or disturbed during renovations, for example.

The best way to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure is to avoid disturbing vermiculite insulation in any way. If the insulation is contained and absent from the ambient air, the risk is minimal.

If you believe your home or business contains vermiculite-based insulation or another source that may contain asbestos fibers, do not hesitate to contact our experts who will carry out the sampling, which will then be analyzed by an accredited laboratory for asbestos fiber identification.

Vermiculite insulation samples can also be brought to our offices. However, sampling conducted by one of our certified professionals ensures the quality of the sample and its traceability, thus avoiding the need for resampling.