ᐅ Is asbestos present in the insulation material?

Good morning. We are currently renovating our house, and beneath a drywall ceiling, we discovered insulation dating back to around 1972. We are concerned that it might contain asbestos. We know that we could send a sample for testing, but wanted to ask here first.

The grayish color matches processed asbestos. I would definitely have the material tested based on its color.

P.S. Even if it’s not asbestos, only handle it with proper protective equipment. Old insulation works just like asbestos – with long fibers that can lodge in the lungs and cause cancer.

P.P.S. At that point, there really isn’t much difference from asbestos-containing insulation anyway 🙄.

So-called KMF with WHO fibers (respirable fibers) were used until 1996 and can no longer be distinguished from asbestos fibers in terms of occupational safety and disposal. Therefore, the material should only be removed by a specialized company with the required protective equipment.

Of course, you can send a sample to a laboratory, but the result is essentially already known.

Personally, I would not do anything with the material from the inside. Simply cover it properly again, possibly including a vapor retarder. The removal and disposal should be done later when working on the roof from the outside.

The roof was re-covered in 2006. New insulation was simply added on top of the old insulation, as can be seen in the close-up.

In my opinion, just leaving it like that might not be a good idea, since about 60% of the total insulation area shows damp spots and some parts are already rotten (but dry). However, I am not a professional..

Close it up, and if there is any moisture damage, invest the necessary money and have it repaired professionally. If there is no moisture damage, just close it up and have it done at the next opportunity.