Asbestos Spray-Applied Insulation & Thermal Spray
Spray-applied insulation and thermal spray is commonly used to cover irregular or flat surfaces with an insulating material. Often applied to the "dead" spaces within commercial buildings, ships, automobiles, trains, power plants, residential homes and other structures, spray-applied insulation is a relatively simple and inexpensive solution for providing lightweight, thermal and acoustical insulation in attics, on steel beams, behind walls, above ceilings and in other spaces.
Spray-applied insulation is also used for decorative purposes, such as with "popcorn" ceilings which were a popular addition to the ceilings of residential homes from the mid-1960s until the late 1970s.
Asbestos in Spray-Applied Insulation & Thermal Sprays
Typically appearing as a white, fluffy material, spray-on insulation and thermal spray often contained asbestos from the 1930s until the 1970s. Known for its superior ability to insulate from fire and heat while still being lightweight, asbestos fibers were commonly used as spray-applied insulation and thermal spray within buildings to provide fireproofing and structural insulating.
Sprayed Limpet Asbestos
One of the most well-known brands of spray-applied insulation used in the 20th century was Limpet asbestos. Actively used from 1932 until 1973, Limpet asbestos was typically manufactured with crocidolite asbestos, one of the six primary types of asbestos fibers, by the company J.W. Roberts Limited.
Limpet and other types of spray-applied insulation were applied to surfaces using a spray gun machine, which used compressed air to mix asbestos fibers with water or rubber as the adhesive material was sprayed.
Limpet asbestos was often applied to ceilings, walls and support beams of railway coaches, ships, office buildings and other locations during this time, until spray-applied asbestos insulation was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1973. The November 1990 revision of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) policy also prohibited the use of spray-on materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos.
Hazards of Asbestos Spray-Applied Insulation & Thermal Sprays
Spray-on asbestos is now considered to be one of the most dangerous forms of asbestos, as compared with the other uses of asbestos in the construction industry. During both the application process and when the material is disturbed or removed, spray-applied asbestos produces millions of microscopic, airborne asbestos fibers which can be dangerous and carcinogenic if inhaled or ingested.
Individuals who may have been exposed to asbestos in spray-applied insulation and thermal spray include:
- Construction workers
- Insulation workers
- Electricians
- Building maintenance workers
- Plasterers
- Sheet metal workers
- Spray operators
Buildings and structures built before 1970 have a high change of containing asbestos insulation.
Airborne asbestos fibers are estimated to remain in the air for 4 to 20 hours if damaged or touched, depending on the fiber diameter, fiber length and surrounding air currents.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
