Gribbins Insulation’s exemplary safety record reflects the importance that we place on the health and wellbeing of our employees. This is why we are proud to have earned the CSIA Best Practices in Safety Recognition Program award at the Platinum Level.
Avoid gaps in all types of insulation, as even a small gap reduces the insulating value. It’s also important to ensure that reflective insulation is facing upwards in cold climates and that metal framing is thermally broken.
Fire Resistance
While it’s impossible to make any building material fireproof, many insulation products are treated with flame retardants that reduce their flammability and limit their spread of flame during a fire. These treatments also prevent the flammable materials from spreading outside the insulated area when it burns.
There are several insulation fire safety standards and tests that apply to different types of thermal insulation. The tests and the resulting ratings vary from product to product, and some of the specifications are quite specific. For example, the insulator used in grease ducts must be rated to a high maximum-use temperature because it’s exposed to burning oil and fumes.
The UL and ASTM testing organizations create fire ratings for all kinds of materials and assemblies, including building structures like walls and floors. While these rating systems can’t test for every possible combination of materials, they provide useful guidelines to help builders and contractors choose the most appropriate fire-resistant insulators for their projects. Generally, the higher a fire-resistance rating is, the better a material will perform. But even the best insulator won’t be completely fireproof, and the fire resistance of any assembly depends on its weakest point – its openings, such as door frames or window openings.
Smoke Resistance
When an insulation material catches fire, it can spread the flames rapidly and release toxic fumes. These gases can damage the lungs and other parts of the body. For this reason, most insulating materials are tested to determine their flame and smoke resistance.
Insulation in pipe penetrations, for example, must meet the requirements of ASTM E84 or UL 1790 to be considered fire-rated. Similarly, the insulation in the exhaust ducts above commercial kitchens must be rated to resist a high maximum-use temperature as set by UL 2790.
The requirements for fire resistance in different applications vary, but in general they require that the insulation maintain its LOAD-BEARING capacity, INTEGRITY and INSULATION properties during a specific time frame. Some test methods include the ASTM E119 time-temperature curve, while others specify other criteria, such as human tenability during escape or radiation during escape.
Other safety standards address specific situations, such as a requirement that the walls in areas requiring protection from smoke (such as in a hotel room) must be constructed of a material rated to limit the transfer of smoke. SS 1209, an interim consumer product safety standard, prescribes these requirements for cellulose insulation.
Vapor Resistance
Vapor resistance is the ability of insulation to resist the diffusion of water vapor through it. This is an important property for a premium insulation product because moisture can compromise the performance of the material. When water vapor passes through insulation it dramatically increases its thermal conductivity value, which can lead to condensation and damage the building envelope over time.
Vapor retarders help to prevent these issues by slowing the movement of water vapor through insulation. They are typically available as membranes or coatings and can be applied to both the warm and cold sides of the insulation. Common vapor retarders include polyethylene plastic sheeting, asphalt-coated kraft paper (added to one side of fiberglass batts), foil-faced foam board insulation such as extruded polystyrene or EPS (known as XPS) and most paint-like insulation coatings.
It’s important to note that vapor retarders can be damaged during construction or installation, so they must be properly installed and maintained for proper function. This is especially important for building in a humid climate where condensation can form during the winter. Moisture that is allowed to penetrate the insulation can cause rot and mold.
Moisture Resistance
Moisture resistance is the ability of insulation materials to withstand humidity and moisture. It is also a requirement of many commercial and industrial insulation specifications.
Insulation can help protect against moisture ingress and prevent mold and mildew growth, which can damage a building. It can also reduce energy costs by keeping indoor air temperatures consistent and regulating humidity.
Some insulation materials, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyisocyanurate (polyiso), have high moisture resistance. For the best results, these types of products should be installed with the foil facing on the warm side of any building structure. For a ceiling application, the insulation should be secured with nonconductive staples and electrical wiring should be properly sized so it is not exposed to the heat of the sun.
Cyclic humidity testing evaluates the resistance of component parts and materials to the deteriorating effects of heat and humidity, particularly in tropical environments. It combines a conditioning period with a cycle of heating and cooling to simulate the alternation of condensation and drying conditions that cause most tropical degradation.
Chemical Resistance
Chemical resistance is an important attribute for insulation that will be exposed to chemicals in a building. It is defined as the ability of a material to withstand exposure to a chemical substance without being degraded by that chemical or allowing that chemical to permeate through it. The level of chemical resistance is based on the specific substance and conditions under which the test is performed.
Alumina, zirconia and silicon carbide have excellent levels of chemical resistance. However, these materials are brittle and expensive to manufacture. Choosing an insulation that has good chemical resistance is an economical option for projects in which the insulation will be exposed to harsh environments.
Polypropylene insulation has very good chemical resistance and can withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals and fluids. It also doesn’t absorb water, making it an ideal choice for applications in which the insulation will be exposed to aqueous liquids. The chemical resistance of a polymer can be affected by the molecular structure, temperature, concentration of the chemical, pressure and residual stress. Mixtures of chemicals can also affect the resistance in ways that single chemicals do not.