Asbestos Found in HVAC Duct Insulation

Homeowners, school districts, office building or workplace management, and communities with libraries, theaters, and retail spaces are concerned about the presence of asbestos in the building in one form or the other. Any of these buildings built before the asbestos ban in 1978 are highly likely to have HVAC Duct Insulation, which is an asbestos containing product, among others. And as we know today, asbestos is a toxic mineral that causes lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

HVAC units were meant to keep workers, families, individuals, and children comfortable. HVAC units, also known as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units, together comprise heaters, coolers, and ventilators. This is a climate control and ventilation device that includes a central air handling unit and two systems of ducts, one that dispels air out of rooms and corridors, and another that provides a fresh inflow of air. HVAC is one of the most efficient, cost-effective, and widely used temperature and air control systems found in large buildings, institutions, and on campuses around the world.

Asbestos Exposure from HVAC Duct Insulation

The reason why HVAC units are efficient energy-saving units is due to their quality of insulation. Since the HVAC technology were first developed, scientists and engineers are constantly working to create new and better forms of insulation and make them cost-effective and reduce the price of running an HVAC system. Before the ban on asbestos was instituted, asbestos was the preferred material of these professionals owing to its low cost and resistance to heat and fire. This meant that air units equipped with asbestos HVAC duct insulation kept air warmer or cooler for a lower price. What could be better than that?

HVAC Duct Insulation Containing Asbestos Fibers

The uncomfortable and disturbing fact is that conventional HVAC duct insulators led to a large number of deaths as a result of exposure to asbestos it caused. Researchers, the public, and environmental health organizations are now warning against using an HVAC duct insulators containing asbestos. Nearly 10,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of asbestos exposure, and these numbers do not appear to be decreasing with the passage of time. Legislations have limited the use of asbestos in products available on the market, but the harm has been done and the effect will continue to be felt for 20 to 30 years more.

Asbestos in HVAC Duct Wrap

The upside is that the HVAC duct insulators pose no problem so long as they remain intact. The thing that is dangerous is its friable nature that manifests when it is disturbed or damaged in any way for any reason. To prevent fibers from getting airborne, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that HVAC duct insulators not be touched in any way. In case renovation is imperative owing to aging, let professionals handle the task.