Does Modern Popcorn Ceiling Have Asbestos

Popcorn ceiling is a dwelling blueprint trend that refers to a raised, dotted texture in the paint on ceilings. Historically, this design contained asbestos, a dangerous fabric to human health.

In this article, I will explicate the history of asbestos inwards popcorn ceilings, also as inform you lot almost how this style is safely incorporated into homes today.

Modern popcorn ceiling is asbestos-free as it is illegal to use. Today they purpose calcium carbonate too polystyrene. Popcorn ceilings from before 1970 almost surely used asbestos, there is a high hazard inwards ceilings from the 1970s-1990s, only ceilings from the late 1990s onward shouldn’t comprise asbestos.

It Is Illegal to Use Asbestos inwards Popcorn Ceiling

Asbestos is a natural mineral made upwards of modest fibers. When it was start discovered, its resistance to rut as well as corrosion made it a choice textile amongst various purposes inward the construction manufacture.

However, it has since been discovered that asbestos particles are extremely harmful to humans. For this reason, today it is a highly regulated fabric too its function is avoided.

When exposed to asbestos particles, the homo lungs progressively lose office over fourth dimension, which tin can Pb to severe complications together with fifty-fifty death.

There are several diseases associated alongside asbestos exposure, which include asbestosis (a severe chronic respiratory status), lung cancer, swelling of the lungs, and mesothelioma (a type of cancer that affects the tissues surrounding internal organs).

It is estimated that asbestos kills 12,000-fifteen,000 people each yr inwards the U.S.A., too nigh 90,000 each year across the earth. However, it has been illegal to function for decades (more than on this inward a afterwards section), and then why are people still dying from asbestos exposure?

The reply to this question is the same every bit the answer to why asbestos was used inward structure for equally long as it was—the health effects are only seen years subsequently exposure.

So, it took years earlier wellness authorities realized that asbestos was harmful as well as the people who are dying from asbestos-related complications were exposed years or decades agone.

There is too show that asbestos tin live harmful to animals—in that location is show that pets tin can become ill and fifty-fifty train cancer if they are exposed to it.

It tin also pollute the surround. When asbestos is used, its particles can infect make clean water supplies, stay in the air for long periods of time, together with come in the soil inward any given expanse.

For all of these reasons, asbestos use is right away illegal to purpose in addition to whatsoever existing asbestos inward construction has to live removed methodically in addition to carefully by the proper government.

In America, asbestos is regulated by the Occupational Safety together with Health Association (OSHA), too as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Asbestos Was Used inward the Past

Before we knew the dangers of asbestos, it was ofttimes used in the 1900s. The unique too desirable properties that the mineral possesses made it look like a wonder textile—a gift to the construction industry.

Along amongst being fireproof and unable to corrode, asbestos is strong, inexpensive, together with tin can absorb sound well. These are all smashing qualities for edifice material.

Chrysotile was the near commonly used type of asbestos. It was typically used in cement, bricks, in addition to brakes due to its heat resistance.

Asbestos was used inwards popcorn ceilings because it was inexpensive in addition to stiff as well as its fibrous nature helped to create the textured blueprint of popcorn ceilings. It likewise wasn’t simply used to create the texture. The underlying drywall onto which the spray was applied oftentimes contained asbestos.

Yet, asbestos became to structure what Thalidomyde became to obstetric medicine—a error that was only apparent when it was likewise tardily for and then many.

When Did It Become Illegal?

Asbestos became illegal for function across the globe at different times. Here is a brusque listing of these dates for a few countries.

Canada – 1979, ban on manufacturing of asbestos-containing products.
US – 1989, Abestos Ban and Phase Out Rule.
Great Britain – 1999, Asbestos Prohibition Regulations (amendment).

When Did Asbestos Become Illegal? : 1979 in Canada, ban on manufacturing of asbestos-containing products, 1989 in United States -Abestos Ban and Phase Out Rule and 1999 in United Kingdom - Asbestos Prohibition Regulations (amendment)

As a dominion of thumb, if your dwelling house was built before the 1970s, there’second a adept risk at least i fabric used in your habitation contains asbestos.

However, homes built in the 1980s or 1990s may besides incorporate asbestos. When a textile is used so extensively, a ban does non hateful that manufacturing and use stopped the moment the paper was signed. The 80s as well as 90s stand for a transition stage during which asbestos may accept nonetheless been used.

This may take been past accident or necessity or by people who didn’t believe the reports of asbestos’ dangerous wellness effects, and then they constitute loopholes or ways to continue working alongside asbestos off the radar.

From the late 1990s, the ban was more than globally in addition to successfully in home, then if your house was built after this fourth dimension, in that location is picayune to no take chances that whatever asbestos-containing fabric was used inward its construction.

In this way, you lot can function the twelvemonth your habitation was built to brand an educated guess on whether or not your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. This is of import to know if yous are trying to withdraw or cover your popcorn ceiling, but at that place are too other ways to order.

How Is Popcorn Ceiling Applied Today?

Nowadays, the popcorn ceiling way is still used. However, it is done differently than inward the past to arrive rubber and asbestos-free.

Previously, asbestos was near usually constitute inwards popcorn ceilings through spray-on paint. Now, sprays used typically incorporate calcium carbonate in addition to polystyrene to pass on it the textured look.

Calcium carbonate is a natural substance—a mineral normally constitute inward limestone in addition to beast shells. It has no known hazards to human being wellness together with is fifty-fifty used to aid with heartburn too indigestion issues.

Polystyrene is used inwards popcorn ceiling spray to brand upward the raised bumps. It is a synthetic plastic, just it is (relatively) safe too a preferable option to asbestos.

Modern-mean solar day drywall is asbestos-gratis and uses option materials to reach the same properties.