St Louis - St Charles Insulation Company.
There are many health and safety issue with insulation
You may not think about your insulation too much, especially as it relates to home, health and safety. However, your insulation plays a bigger role in these areas than you assume. In regards to health and safety, not all kinds of insulation are created equal. Always consult with your St. Louis insulation contractor to find out which type is best for your needs.
Fire Safety
Flame resistance is a top priority for any home insulation. Here are some factors to consider when doing insulation comparisons in terms of fire safety:
- Fiberglass and mineral wool insulation: These materials are noncombustible and don’t need additional fire-retardant chemical treatments. Some fiberglass and mineral wool facings are indeed combustible, but they don’t pose a fire hazard when installed by a professional with a code-approved barrier.
- Cellulose insulation: Comprised mostly of newspaper, this material is highly combustible. It is treated with fire-retardant chemicals but is still considered a fire hazard by the CPSC.
- Spray Foam insulation: This material will ignite at 700°F.
Health
Here are some factors in regards to health concerns.
- Fiberglass and Mineral Wool insulation: These materials are not classified as carcinogens.
- Cellulose insulation: Cellulose insulation materials are one of the oldest insulation materials still used to this day. Not a lot of testing has been done on the dust from cellulose insulation and fibers. Independent testing confirms it's safe and cellulose is approved by all building codes.
- Spray foam: Likewise, the safety of this material is still under evaluation. One of the main ingredients in spray foam (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) may pose health risks such as lung damage and asthma.
Mold
Mold grows wherever there is a lot of moisture that spores can latch onto. Even if products say they are mold-resistant, mold has the ability to grow on any organic surface provided there is moisture.
Fiberglass, mineral wool, and spray foam insulation are inorganic, meaning mold can’t easily grow on them.
Cellulose insulation is made up of organic material, so mold can indeed grow on it unless chemically treated. It’s important to note that while mold can technically grow on any insulation type, not all products offer a good enough food source for mold to thrive.
Corrosion
Rust can occur on pipes, wires and fasteners, and when used with insulation, the risk of corrosion is always present.
Fiberglass insulation is not corrosive in nature and doesn’t have chemicals that can rust wires or pipes.
Cellulose insulation has chemicals (sulfates) applied as fire retardants that may lead to corrosion of pipes, fasteners and wires under certain conditions.
Call Addict Insulation in St. Charles MO
This is why it’s important to ask questions of your contactor to make the smartest choices possible. Call our attic insulation contractors in Florissant MO today at 636-233-7314 contact us to get a free quote and to book a consultation.
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