mineral wool bearing insulating boards, AIB
- Application, products: insulation boards for noise, fire and heat insulation, further components: often man-made mineral fibres, MMMF
- Types of asbestos: predominantly chysotile rarely amosite, crocidolite; asbestos content; up to serveral %
As a practical insulating material, it is impossible to imagine modern construction without them. In the form of pressed boards or loose wool, mineral wool is used in many properties as sound, cold or fire insulation. Mineral wool includes products made from various raw materials, such as rock, basalt, slag or glass wool. But owners of older buildings should be careful when renovating: Mineral wool consists of man-made mineral fibers (KMF), which, depending on the date of manufacture, can be highly carcinogenic in certain cases.Only so-called "old mineral wool" that contains respirable WHO fibers, has a carcinogenicity index (CI) < 40 and whose safety has not been confirmed by biopersitence tests, as required since June 2000, is considered hazardous to health. For more info, see our page on mineral wool.
In a few cases, certain types of older mineral wool manufactured before the 1993 asbestos ban may also contain a small amount of asbestos. CRB material analysis can detect both asbestos fibers and hazardous WHO fibers in the insulation material. A small sample sent by mail is all it takes and in a few days you will receive a court-proof test result.
Our services for you
- analysis for asbestos carried out by qualified scientists in our own accredited laboratory
- short processing time, as a rule 3 days after sample receipt
- court-proof analysis
- regular participation in collaborative studies in the field of asbestos analysis
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Costs for the analysis for asbestos in insulating boards
Analysis as material sample according to VDI guideline 3866, page 5 for
€ 62.00 net or € 73.78 VAT incl.
Frequently asked questions about asbestos in insulation wool
What is tested during CRB analysis?
A CRB analysis checks whether old mineral wool products or those without a known date of manufacture are free of carcinogenic WHO fibers and therefore harmless. Such materials occur, for example, in the form of sealing cords. However, the analysis does not indicate whether the mineral wool is "Old" or "New Mineral Wool". The classification "New Mineral Wool" applies to products manufactured after June 2000 and thus always classified as harmless to health. However, there is also mineral wool that was manufactured before this date and is harmless. In the analysis of CRB, the carcinogenicity index (CI) is determined. If the KI has a value > 40 (below 40), these products are considered non-carcinogenic according to TRGS 905. Such fibers were manufactured in a transitional period between 1996 and 2000. Also new mineral wool usually contains respirable WHO fibers or may have a carcinogenicity index KI < 40, but is still harmless. In addition, the analysis can also detect asbestos fibers in the material.
What is insulation wool or mineral wool?
Mineral wool is a building material made of coarse, man-made fibers of various minerals. The generic term mineral wool covers rock wool, glass wool and slag wool. The building material is used as insulation in the form of loose wool, roll sheets or rigid boards. In private households, mineral wool is often installed as thermal insulation in the attic. In industry, it also serves as sound and fire protection. Products manufactured since June 2000 are referred to as "new mineral wool" and are considered safe. Mineral wool manufactured before 2000 may be carcinogenic under certain circumstances.
With thermal insulation of artificial mineral fibers (KMF) in many buildings pipes were insulated against heat
Mineral wool made of artificial mineral fibers (KMF) as thermal insulation behind wall and ceiling panels
Yellow insulation wool is often used in attics. Old products may contain hazardous man-made mineral fibers (MMMF)
Does insulation wool contain asbestos?
Insulation boards made of mineral wool contain asbestos only in rare cases. In the case of mineral wool used in private households for ceilings and interior fittings, an asbestos content is very unlikely, but cannot be completely ruled out. In industry, on the other hand, ceiling tiles, acoustic insulation panels and so-called Odenwald panels were used in the 20th century as fire and noise protection. If these products were manufactured before the general ban on asbestos in 1993, they may contain small amounts of asbestos. However, absolute certainty can only be provided by a material analysis.
Why are mineral wool insulation boards dangerous?
Mineral wool consists of artificial mineral fibers (KMF). These fibers have a very small fiber diameter. This applies to both glass wool and rock wool. If the size of the fibers falls below a certain limit, they are considered respirable: When inhaled, the fibers enter the lungs very easily and often imperceptibly. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies fibers that are smaller than 3 micrometers in diameter and longer than 5 micrometers as carcinogenic. It also plays a role whether the ratio of diameter to length does not fall below the value of 3:1. Carcinogenic KMF are therefore also referred to as WHO fibers. Since June 2000, only mineral fiber products whose harmlessness has been demonstrated by various in vivo biocompatibility tests in accordance with Directive 97/69/EC or the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances/'Chemikalienverbotsbverordnung' may be placed on the market. These insulating materials are referred to as 'new mineral wool' within the meaning of TRGS 521.
Are man-made mineral fibers as dangerous as asbestos?
Both asbestos fibers and man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) are carcinogenic under certain conditions. However, in comparison, asbestos is considered more dangerous than KMF. In addition to posing a much higher risk of cancer, asbestos can also cause the dangerous lung disease asbestosis. Nowadays, asbestos is generally classified as hazardous to health. Artificial mineral fibers are only hazardous to health if they are old mineral wool with a manufacturing date before June 2000. Modern, "new mineral wool" may cause skin and respiratory irritation when handled unprotected, but is considered harmless in terms of its carcinogenic potential.
Until when was asbestos used in insulation?
The use of asbestos in industrial and building materials was not banned in Germany until 1993. Therefore, special attention should be paid to roofs and houses built before 1993 to determine whether asbestos may be contained in the building materials.
Can I renovate mineral wool insulation materials myself?
When working with mineral wool, dust is always generated. Therefore, special protective measures apply to craftsmen according to TRGS 500 (Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances). These include wearing closed work clothing, handling building materials that are not to be unpacked until they reach the workplace, and ensuring good ventilation in the work rooms. Dust must be collected in separate containers and not simply stored and disposed of with construction debris or residual waste. These rules should also be followed by do-it-yourselfers. If the mineral wool consists of WHO fibers, further protective measures should be taken to avoid dust. Wearing protective masks and vacuuming the dust with industrial vacuum cleaners is recommended. According to TRGS, mineral wool products for which it is not certain when they were manufactured must always be treated as 'Old Mineral Wool'.
Why was asbestos used in insulation boards?
Before people were aware of the dangers of asbestos-containing materials, asbestos was also known as the "miracle fiber" because of its many practical properties: the mineral is inexpensive, fireproof and acid-resistant. Thanks to these properties, asbestos was used in insulation for fire protection, in fireproof clothing and in insulation. Since 1993, it has no longer been allowed to be used in production in Germany.
In which products made of mineral wool can asbestos be contained?
Insulation boards made of glass wool or rock wool may contain asbestos in rare cases. These are also called acoustic insulation boards, Odenwald boards or ceiling boards and are between 15 and 30 millimeters thick. They are used for sound insulation as well as fire protection and are not used for thermal insulation. Very rarely, asbestos can also be found in mineral wool insulation boards for thermal insulation on exterior facades, ceilings and interior walls. The loose rolls of mineral wool, mostly used to insulate the roof in attics, do not contain asbestos. The risk that the old mineral wool contains carcinogenic WHO fibers is incomparably higher.
How can I tell if insulation boards contain WHO fibers or asbestos?
It is impossible to tell with the naked eye whether the material contains asbestos. Loose or compressed mineral wool as such can be recognized without a doubt, but here it is not possible to distinguish visually whether it is 'old' (hazardous) mineral wool or 'new', and therefore harmless.
Identification of asbestos inminertal wool bearing insolation boards by means of SEM images and energy-dispersive element-spectra
Asbestos analysis of minertal wool bearing insolation boards: SEM-image of chrysotile asbestos
Asbestos analysis of minertal wool bearing insolation boards: EDX-spectrum of chrysotile asbestos
Dr. Benner examining asbestos samples under the scanning electron microscope
