Attic Inspections – Dangers & Hazards

Whether you are a homeowner or a professional, entering an attic space can be dangerous and hazardous to your health.

For the professional, such as a Wood Destroying Organism inspector, there are baseline practices for performing a SAFE attic inspection.

Getting in and out of an attic:
Attic accessibility must be provided with the proper clearance for inspection purposes.

Height to Access Opening:
The maximum (without a pull-down ladder or staircase) should be 8 feet. No furniture, debris, permanent fixtures, shelving, appliances, household or stored items are to be under or around the opening/access area that hinders safe access. (Opening or access area to attic must be specifically designed for the function of accessing the attics). Dropped ceiling panels are not to be considered as an access opening. There must be sufficient room to safely place and utilize a ladder (if necessary to gain access) without causing damage to the home or items in the attic access. If any of these conditions exist, that attic access is considered inaccessible for the purposes of the inspection.

Attic Access Opening:
The opening should be a minimum of 22” by 30”, with at least 30” of headroom clearance directly above the opening. That is not always the case, and in older homes it may have a smaller opening located in the corner of a closet with minimal headroom. It is up to the inspector to determine if those access openings can be safely accessed.

Moving around
Be aware of sharp edges in the attic, such as: nails sticking through the roof, truss connector plates that have sharp edges, wood splinters, insulation covering the attic floor, etc.

Storage, HVAC ducts, and plumbing can obstruct areas that the inspector needs to access. Some attic storage can be moved if not too extensive, however, HVAC ducts and plumbing pipes cannot and crawling over those items could damage them. In some homes, they prevent access from one side to the other.

A knowledgeable professional navigates the attic by walking on the bottom chord of trusses and uses the ceiling rafters as necessary to avoid damaging or falling through the ceiling. When there is a thick layer of blown insulation, they may not be visible. In those cases, it is up to the inspector to determine if they can transverse the attic without compromise to their safety or damage to the HVAC ducts and registers or the plumbing that may be covered by the insultation.

Dangers and Hazards in an Attic
Some of the dangers and hazards when inspecting an attic in Florida.

• A hot attic is dangerous. A Florida attic can register an air temperature in excess of 130º F in an afternoon during summer months and the roof sheathing radiates more heat while the inspector is in the attic. A huge safety concern is heat-stroke, which can sneak up on the inspector if they are in the attic too long.
• Wood decay and/or pest damaged roof trusses that could be covered over with insulation can be a safety hazard when stepped on.
• Rat traps (unsprung), insecticide chemical and powder, animal poison bait.
• Loose electrical wiring and wiring with insulation damaged by rodents or squirrels.
• An attic that is not properly vented and/or unattended roof leaks can cause mold growth. Molds are lung irritants that can cause temporary and permanent health issues.
• Some older homes can have insulation which contains asbestos. Asbestos is a serious health hazard. If insulation containing asbestos is encounter, leave the attic immediately. If you are unsure if your insulation contains asbestos, call a professional.
• Bat and rodent urine (smell), stains in the insulation and fecal pellets means that bats, rats or other critters are in the attic. This is a health hazard. It is recommended to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and do not linger in the attic.
• Unsecured cable and low-voltage wires that can be tripped over, which is especially risky around the attic opening.

As you can see, an attic can be hazardous and dangerous for anyone not familiar with how to safely navigate the attic space. If you are a homeowner, we do not recommend going into the attic any further than the immediate area around the hatch opening. It is best to call a professional for any inspections or necessary repair work in an attic.