Sage-Tips

How do you identify Fibreglass?

Fiberglass can vary in smell or not smell at all. The smell coming from fiberglass is from the binder glue and the formaldehyde it releases into the air. Some of it has an almost unbearable burnt smell, to a sweet burnt smell, while other types remind me of urine.

What do fiberglass fibers look like?

Under the microscope fiberglass fibers are colorless or clear, as we illustrate later in this article. It is the resin binder used by the manufacturer to stick the fibers together into a batt or a chopped piece of insulation that give fiberglass insulation its characteristic color.

How can you tell if insulation is fiberglass?

Loose-Fill Fiberglass If you have loose-fill insulation that is white and fluffy and has a little shine, it is probably fiberglass fill. Because it is a glass product, fiberglass has a slight shine when subjected to bright light. It is very soft, almost like cotton candy, and is composed of very fine fibers2.

What are the characteristics of asbestosis?

Asbestosis is long-term inflammation and scarring of the lungs due to asbestos fibers. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Complications may include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pulmonary heart disease.

How can you tell the difference between plastic and Fibreglass?

Plastics are used for the production of several thousands of items. Although fiberglass also looks like plastic, it is actually not a type of plastic. The main difference between fiberglass and plastic is that fiberglass is inorganic whereas plastic is organic.

How can you tell if insulation is vermiculite?

Identifying Insulation That is Made From Vermiculite Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.

What does a fiberglass rash look like?

A fiberglass rash typically looks like a patch of small blisters with dry, flaky skin. On pale skin, the inflammation will be red. If long glass fibers get stuck in the skin, a person may see them protrude from the surface.

Does vermiculite insulation contain asbestos?

Not all vermiculite products contain asbestos, but some do. An EPA study showed some vermiculite products contain low levels of asbestos. Asbestos is found primarily in the unmixed vermiculite product although some was found in pre-mixed potting soils.

How do you check for asbestos?

A visual inspection of your home is usually not sufficient to determine if it contains asbestos. Instead, samples of suspected asbestos fibers should be sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are two approved methods of analysis.

What are the first signs of asbestosis?

Asbestosis signs and symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath.
• A persistent, dry cough.
• Loss of appetite with weight loss.
• Fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than normal (clubbing)
• Chest tightness or pain.

How do I know if my bathtub is fiberglass or plastic?

Look around the tub’s edges and see if it appears thinner; this could be an indication that it is acrylic. Acrylic tubs usually come in more colors than fiberglass tubs, as fiberglass tubs are commonly white. Acrylic also feels warmer to the touch than fiberglass, and tubs made of acrylic have smoother finishes.

What is the difference between asbestos and fiberglass?

As nouns the difference between asbestos and fiberglass is that asbestos is any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate, used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building materials, brake linings, and chemical filters; the small fibres can cause cancer when lodged in the lungs while fiberglass is us spelling of fibreglass.

Does fiberglass insulation contain asbestos?

No. Fiberglass Insulation is a glass fiber product and does not normally contain asbestos, though it can become contaminated by rodents, insects, or mold, and especially if damaged, disturbed, and exposed to a living space, it can become a source of problem particles, as we discuss at FIBERGLASS HAZARDS.

Does your insulation have asbestos?

It’s considered a very natural product and does not contain asbestos. There is one type of older insulation that has a significant possibility of being contaminated with asbestos. That is the loose, granular insulation called vermiculite . See this article on vermiculite and asbestos for more information.

Can Pink insulation contain asbestos?

Many attics, particularly in British Columbia , are insulated and this insulation may contain asbestos. Sometimes the loose asbestos insulation layer is under a pink fiberglass insulation. Loose insulation, particularly Vermiculite attic insulation, is known to contain asbestos fibers.