Zonolite Vermiculite Attic Insulation Trust (ZAI Trust)

Property · Asbestos / Vermiculite

What Is the ZAI Trust?

The Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust (the "ZAI Trust") is a court-supervised trust that reimburses U.S. property owners for part of what they pay to remove or contain Zonolite-brand vermiculite attic insulation. The Trust grew out of the W.R. Grace & Co. Chapter 11 bankruptcy. For decades, W.R. Grace mined vermiculite near Libby, Montana — a deposit naturally contaminated with asbestos — and sold it across North America as Zonolite attic insulation, a loose, pebble-like fill poured between attic joists in millions of homes.

After thousands of asbestos claims pushed the company into bankruptcy in 2001, its reorganization plan set aside funding for a dedicated trust to help homeowners who choose to abate Zonolite insulation. The ZAI Trust does not require you to sue anyone; it is a standing reimbursement program you apply to directly through the Trust's official website.

Who Qualifies?

You may qualify if you own (or paid for work on) a U.S. home or building that contained Zonolite-brand vermiculite attic insulation and you paid to have that insulation removed or contained. The Trust evaluates two things on every claim:

• Product Identification (PID): evidence that the vermiculite in the attic is the Zonolite brand — for example, photos of the original packaging or the insulation itself, a contractor's statement, or a certified laboratory test confirming the material.
• Expense: documentation of how much you actually paid to have the Zonolite insulation removed or contained.

Both elements must be satisfied for a claim to be paid. If you suspect your attic holds vermiculite but have not had it tested or abated, treat the material as potentially asbestos-containing and consult a qualified abatement professional before disturbing it.

How Much Can You Get?

The ZAI Trust reimburses up to 55% of the qualifying cost you paid to remove or contain Zonolite attic insulation, subject to a per-claim maximum that the Trust periodically adjusts. The current cap is $4,934.72. Because reimbursement is a percentage of your documented out-of-pocket cost, the size of your award depends on what the abatement work cost and the proof you can provide — there is no flat payment, and undocumented amounts are not reimbursed.

For questions about how a payment affects your taxes, contact the IRS or a qualified tax professional.

How to File a Claim

Claims are filed directly with the ZAI Trust. The general path is:

• Have the Zonolite attic insulation removed or contained by an appropriate professional, and keep all paperwork.
• Gather your Product Identification evidence (packaging photos, insulation photos, contractor statement, or lab test) and your proof of payment (paid invoice or receipt).
• Complete the current claim form and submit it with your documentation through the Trust's official website. Always use the most recent version of the form, even if you filed before.

For lost forms, status questions, or help with the process, use the contact options on the official ZAI Trust website rather than relying on third parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

U.S. property owners who paid to remove or contain Zonolite-brand vermiculite attic insulation in a home or building can file. You must show the vermiculite is the Zonolite brand (the Product Identification requirement) and document how much you paid for the removal or containment work (the Expense requirement).

The Trust reimburses up to 55% of the cost you paid to remove or contain the Zonolite attic insulation, currently capped at a maximum of $4,934.72 per claim.

There is no single class-action claim deadline. The ZAI Trust was set up to operate for at least 20 years and accepts claims on a rolling basis as homeowners have qualifying removal or containment work performed. File after the work is completed and you have your documentation.