Residential Insulation Installation: The Benefits, Effects, and Safety of Residential Insulation
23 March 2023Insulation is just another example of how health and safety concerns should be at the forefront of your mind whenever you consider purchasing any product for your house. Not all insulation forms are created equal regarding the health and safety benefits they provide.
Fire safety
Naturally, the ability to withstand fire is one of the most important qualities to look for in residential insulation.
When considering different forms of insulation for their potential risk of fire, here are some considerations to consider:
Insulation Made of Glass Fibres And Mineral Wool
Materials are not flammable and will not become flammable over the product’s lifetime. They do not need any further fire-retardant chemical treatments; unfaced fibreglass and mineral wool may be used in wood frames as a fire block. Be aware that some facings for fibreglass and mineral wool (such as kraft paper and foil) are flammable; nevertheless, when fitted correctly with a barrier permitted by the code, they do not represent a risk of fire. The facing made of Kraft should never be left uncovered.
Cellulose Insulation
The majority of the product is comprised of newspaper, which is an extremely flammable material. The fact that it is carefully treated with chemicals that suppress the fire before being installed does not change the fact that it is a known risk for starting a fire.
Effects on One’s Health
Regarding public health and safety issues, not every insulating material has been subjected to the same testing and examination.
Insulation Made of Glass Fibres and Mineral Wool
Insulation made of mineral wool and fibreglass has been through the most rigorous testing of any material now used for insulation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that thermal and acoustic insulations made of mineral wool and fibreglass do not meet the criteria necessary to be considered carcinogenic.
Cellulose Insulation
Because very little clinical or scientific testing of the products has been carried out, concerns continue to be raised in the construction industry concerning cellulose insulation’s health and safety. Dust from cellulose building insulation and dust from pure cellulose fibres require comprehensive toxicological testing. This is still something that needs to be done. Before concluding anything about the product’s level of risk, comprehensive testing must first be performed.
Foam Gun Spray
It has not yet been determined whether or not spray foam insulation poses any health risks. If you and your family are concerned about the effects chemicals may have on your house and loved ones, you should know more about the chemical components that make up spray foam. According to the California Department of Toxic Substance Control, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, one of the primary chemicals in spray foam, might offer several health problems, including damage to the lungs and asthma in people who are susceptible to these conditions.
Mould
Since mould may develop in any environment with moisture and food for mould spores, a wide variety of organic materials may serve as mould’s source of nutrition. Mould can spread from one environment to another. Mould may develop on any surface under damp conditions if there is organic material present that can sustain the spores. Some goods claim to be mould-resistant. However, this is not true. Mould can grow on any surface.
Corrosion
Insulation is not exempt from the rule that one should evaluate the potential for corrosion in pipes, wires, and fasteners during every stage of constructing or improving a home.
For safe and effective residential insulation, contact us.
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