Fires are terrible, they are one of many health hazards of poorly insulated buildings. They spread quickly, have great potential for destruction and can easily, within minutes destroy millions of dollars in property or worse, end lives prematurely or permanently damage some people’s appearance or body functions. That is why over time, many measures have been placed to detect, slow down, contain, and extinguish fires have been created.
From the proper containment and isolation of potential sources of fire, to the use of materials that don’t burn as quickly in building construction, the effects of fire have been facing a battle with innovation and technology.
Insulation is a key part of constructing homes. Especially in areas that have extreme weather. If you’re in Minnesota, you would want a home where your heating system provides heat and that heat stays within the building. And at the same time, if you’re in Texas, you want a home that keeps the cool air your air conditioner provides in the house while keeping the heat out. So, insulation is key.
But as with everything, there are advantages, disadvantages, considerations and adjustments. Because at the end of the day, your choice of insulation material has to have a perfect balance with the efforts that you make to help curtail the damage a fire does incase of an accident.
These insulation materials have varying degrees of reactions to fire and the essence of this article is to come up with a brief but informational look at which materials best balance functionality with a decent resistance to fire.
And the effects of your choice of insulation material isn’t only a factor of how well or badly the material burns in a fire. It’s also about how toxic the by-products of the products are. Some insulation materials may cause the release of toxic fumes or substances which makes survival harder for those that may be in the building during a fire. Now let’s look at some of the insulation materials and their fire considerations:
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is made of materials like wood, paper, cork and cotton, basically organic insulation materials. And all these materials are fire hazards and can sustain a flame even when damp.
And depending on the nature of the insulation, it’s difficult to quench the fire because it’s usually in tight corners of the house that may not be easily accessible. This is why it is very important to treat cellulose insulation materials with fire retardant chemicals. And then subsequently treat it with chemicals that prevent the formation of fungi.
Mineral Based Insulation
These are insulations where the materials include vermiculite, calcium silicate, asbestos, silica, fibrous glass, mineral wool, or other similar materials. Usually, Mineral based insulation materials are fire retardant but the foil or paper backing it is not. So those need to be coated with chemical fire retardants.
Plasticized Insulation
Plastic foam insulations are made with polyurethane, polystyrene, or urea formaldehyde. But in general, they can sustain combustion and their gases are toxic.
And while coating with fire retardant chemicals is a good move, it is also advisable to use a fire retardant material to separate the insulation from your surfaces.
Go to Valor for the best attic insulation Arlington TX has to offer