Exposed Fiberglass

What are you breathing in every day? Page 2

A pile of flex ducts laying outside which were removed from a building

These are flex ducts. If they are installed improperly with the fiberglass on the inside not sealed off from the air flow, they will put small particles in the air over time as the fiberglass breaks down from the tempature changes and air flow. Since duct work is sometimes installed with the insulation on the inside of the duct, my thoughts are the average HVAC installer does not give any thought to not allowing the fiberglass to come in contact with the air flow. These types of ducts can also put particles in the air if they get a rip in the liner, which happens more often as the duct ages.

Two big black round flex ducts running across the length of a feed store with white horse feed bags stacked under them. The ducts have exposed fiberglass showing in the seams.

Flex ducts at a feed store that have exposed fiberglass hanging out.

Close up - Two big black round flex ducts running across the length of a feed store. The ducts have exposed fiberglass showing in the seams. There is a brick wall behind them.

Closer view of two flex ducts at a feed store that have exposed fiberglass showing at the seams.

looking up at a ceiling that has the ceiling panel removed with both a pink anf a yelloe bat of fiberglass laying exposed to the air

I hear over and over again "Fiberglass is not bad for you when its tucked safely behind the walls." For arguments sake, lets say this is true and all fiberglass behind walls is in perfect dry conditions sealed tight with no air movement. What about all of the times its not? Think of all the places you have seen exposed fiberglass. Start looking around for it. Guarantee you will find it.

The ceiling of a store where the drop ceiling ends and a metal ceiling begins with exposed bats of fiberglass visible.

While shopping I looked up and saw exposed fiberglass along the edge of a drop ceiling in a hardware store.

A big heater / AC unit on the ceiling of a farmers market with a red arrow pointing to a blanket of yellow fiberglass laying on top of the air vent.

The HVAC system at a farmers market. There is exposed fiberglass next to the air current blowing on top of everyone's heads as they buy their weekly groceries.

A hole in a wall in front of weight lifting dumb bells with yellow fiberglass showing behind the wall.

This is a weight lifting gym where someone obviously over shot the rack when putting away a weight. You can see the yellow fiberglass behind the hole in the wall. Lack of Precaution

A bunch of fiberglass shoved into the hole of a beam in an industrial building with a red arrow pointing to the insulation

This is an industrial building where fiberglass was shoved into the hole of a beam across the ceiling. It is now breaking down and becoming airborne.

An arrow pointing to fiberglass insulation along a beam in an industrial building

This is a line of fiberglass insulation wrapped around a beam at an industrial building. It had been there for about 15 years and at some point started becoming airborne.

An arrow pointing to fiberglass insulation around the edges of an HVAC system

Exposed fiberglass in an industrial building packed around an HVAC system. It is breaking down and becoming airborne.

An arrow pointing to fiberglass insulation along the ceiling of an industrial building where the wires go into the wall

Exposed fiberglass in an industrial building in the crack of the ceiling, breaking down and getting into the air.