Insulation reduces the surface temperature of piping and equipment to a safer level, reducing worker burns. Insulation also helps to prevent fires in concealed spaces where the fire can be difficult to extinguish.
Insulating materials may irritate the eyes and lungs. Urea formaldehyde (UF) foam insulation, for example, contains a chemical that can release significant quantities of toxic gases when it burns.
1. Identify the Hazards
Insulation can pose a health risk, particularly if it is damaged or improperly handled. Certain older insulation materials, such as asbestos, can cause serious respiratory issues if the contaminated fibers are inhaled. Proper handling, replacement, and disposal of these types of insulation is critical to worker safety.
Insulating materials that are exposed can also pose a fire risk. Cellulose insulation, for example, burns easily if it becomes damp or is gnawed by rodents. The flammability of cellulose insulation can be reduced by using materials with low flame-spread ratings and treating the product with fire retardants.
Another common hazard is electrical arcing between wires and components. This can lead to fires and can damage or destroy sensitive electronics. This hazard can be avoided by regularly inspecting electrical insulation and ensuring that all wiring is enclosed in insulated conduit.
2. Assess the Risks
When insulation materials are damaged or improperly handled, they can present a number of serious hazards. These include fire outbreaks, equipment damage, energy inefficiency, and health risks. It is essential for those involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems to understand these risks and take steps to control them.
For example, cellulose insulation – made from materials like wood, paper, and cork – can sustain combustion when dry, creating toxic vapors that can be inhaled. These vapors can also be ignited by a flame and create a smoky, difficult-to-extinguish fire.
Likewise, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) may pose a health risk if it is not properly cured. This product contains isocyanates, which are known to cause respiratory irritation in workers. In addition, it can be a fire hazard and can release irritant vapors when it is melted. This is why it’s important for employers to ensure that SPF applications are carried out in a safe manner.
3. Control the Hazards
Insulation is a key component of electrical safety, but when insulation is defective it can create serious hazards that could lead to injury and property loss. This report identifies these risks and presents preventive strategies and control measures that can help minimize them.
Faulty insulation can cause current leaks around electrical wires and devices. This can interfere with the functioning of sensitive equipment and can potentially damage it. It also increases the risk of fires, which can result in severe property damage and even loss of life.
Some insulating materials, including cellulose and asbestos, can pose health risks if they are inhaled or ingested. Therefore, it is important to use non-toxic insulation materials and follow strict handling and disposal procedures. It is also a good idea to regularly inspect insulated spaces for signs of degradation or other potential dangers.
4. Prevent Exposure
Insulation is designed to act as a barrier that prevents electrical current from leaving wires and components. When insulation becomes damaged or deteriorates, it can expose live wires and increase the risk of an electrical shock. This is why regular inspections of the insulation are important.
Cellulose insulation is inherently combustible, but it is treated with fire retardants during manufacturing to reduce the hazard. When these chemicals break down or become wet, they may pose a fire hazard. In addition, when cellulose insulation is exposed to moisture it can produce sulfuric acid, which is highly corrosive.
Insulation can also contaminate the air when it contains a harmful material such as asbestos. This contaminant can be inhaled or ingested and cause serious health problems. In order to avoid contamination, workers handling insulation must wear protective gear and follow proper procedures. See our Contractor-Client Communications Checklist for information on how to protect workers installing high-pressure spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation.
5. Protect the Occupants
Insulation materials should be safe for occupants of buildings, and that includes protecting them from exposure to the hazards associated with insulation. Mineral-based insulation, such as asbestos and vermiculite, for example, may release dangerous fibers into the air that can be inhaled or ingested, causing irritation to the respiratory and digestive systems. For this reason, it is important that these types of insulation be replaced with non-asbestos insulating materials.
It is also important that insulation for new and existing buildings be fire-retardant, and that any voids or concealed spaces in the building are insulated to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. This requires that insulating materials be proven to have a low flame-spread rating, as required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
6. Protect the Environment
Insulation installed in unvented crawl spaces and garages, as well as in joist space in wood frame construction, is an important health and safety feature. However, it can also create an ignition hazard when it comes in contact with combustible materials.
Often, the paper or foil backing of insulation products is combustible, and this can present a fire hazard during construction. To mitigate this risk, installers should use insulation with a minimum flame-spread rating of 25 when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84.
Cellulose insulation is inherently combustible and requires special treatment to reduce its flammability. This treatment process produces toxic chemicals including ammonium sulfate, which when thermally decomposes or becomes wet can produce sulfuric acid that is highly corrosive to metals. In addition, the application of cellulose can be hazardous due to the need for workers to reach into concealed spaces to apply the product.