During manufacture, cellulose
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formulaₙ, a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants, many forms of algae and th…
Boric acid
Boric acid, also called hydrogen borate, boracic acid, and orthoboric acid is a weak, tribasic Lewis acid of boron, which is often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, neutron absorber, or precursor to other chemical compounds. It has the chemical formula H₃BO₃ (sometimes written B(O…
What is cellulose insulation made of?
Modern cellulose insulation is made from either 75 to 85 percent ground-up recycled paper or recycled denim. It is heavily treated – around 15 percent by volume – with boric acid, borax, or ammonium sulfate. While these chemicals aren’t known to be hazardous to people, they can be effective flame retardants and help reduce pest issues.
Is cellulose insulation a fire retardant?
However, during manufacturing, cellulose insulation is treated with borates, which are Class I fire retardants. Class I refers to ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper, as opposed to Class II combustibles, such as flammable liquids, grease, gasoline, oil, etc.
Does cellulose insulation kill insects?
It is a common misconception that the mere presence of crude borates in cellulose insulation provides pest control properties to the product. While boric acid itself does kill self-grooming insects if ingested, it must be presented to an insect in both sufficient concentration and in an ingestible form in order to achieve insect fatality.
How are bales of cellulose used for insulation?
Densely packed bales of cellulose are fed into an insulation blower hopper. Teeth at the bottom of the hopper fluff up the cellulose. The cellulose is blown into the attic or walls through long, flexible tubes that run from the blower to the house. To fill walls, holes are drilled to permit access.
Is cellulose insulation unhealthy for humans?
Cellulose as a food additive is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The levels of cellulose currently used in foods are not considered to be dangerous to humans (7).
Does cellulose insulation contain formaldehyde?
Cellulose insulation contains no harmful products such as those found in other types of insulation, including asbestos, fiberglass, ammonium sulfate and formaldehyde.
What is cellulose blown insulation made of?
Cellulose insulation is a fiber insulation material made from recycled paper. Among other insulations, cellulose has a much higher concentration of recycled materials and can contain up to 85% recycled newspaper. Small pieces of paper are fiberized so they can be densely packed to prevent airflow.
What is the healthiest type of insulation?
5 Healthiest Insulation Options For Your HomeCork. When it comes to healthy insulation, cork tops the list, at least according to a report done by Energy Efficiency For All. ... FIberglass. ... Cellulose. ... Recycled Cotton. ... Sheep's Wool.
When did they stop putting formaldehyde in insulation?
October 2015As of October 2015, every fiberglass insulation company in the United States and Canada has phased out the use of formaldehyde-based binders in lightweight residential products. Formaldehyde is a human toxicant with a long history of use in residential insulation.
What are the disadvantages of cellulose insulation?
Cons of Cellulose Insulation It generates a lot of dust during installation. It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value. Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling. It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.
Can cellulose insulation have asbestos?
Insulation That Does Not Likely Contain Asbestos Three common forms of household insulation typically do not contain asbestos and are considered to be safe: batt or blanket fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation, loose-fill insulation, and rock wool insulation.
Is cellulose insulation safer than fiberglass?
Cellulose insulation is safe. In fact, many professionals consider cellulose to be more fire-safe than fiberglass. This claim rests on the fact that cellulose fibers are more tightly packed, effectively choking wall cavities of combustion air, preventing the spread of fire through framing cavities.
What insulation does not have formaldehyde?
fiber glass insulationWHAT IS “FORMALDEHYDE-FREE” INSULATION? “Formaldehyde-free,” as manufacturers use the term, is fiber glass insulation produced using a binder containing no formaldehyde.
What are the disadvantages of cellulose insulation?
Cons of Cellulose Insulation It generates a lot of dust during installation. It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value. Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling. It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.
What is formaldehyde free insulation?
Formaldehyde- free means that there is no formaldehyde used in the manufacture of the binder used to make the insulation. Interestingly, it does not necessarily mean that the binder will not emit formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) when it is applied to hot glass.
Is there formaldehyde in foam insulation?
Urea formaldehyde foam insulation is injected as a mixture of urea formaldehyde resin, an acidic foaming agent, and a propellant, such as air. It was commonly used in existing houses by injecting the foam into areas, such as behind walls, where it was impractical to provide conventional insulation.
What Is Loose Fill Blown Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is a type of wood- or paper-based product. It insulates empty spaces in the structural part of a house to slow down the transm...
How Cellulose Insulation Is Blown Into The Home
The most common type that homeowners will encounter is called loose fill cellulose insulation. This type of cellulose is contrasted by a different...
Cellulose Insulation Advantages
1. Loose-fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics. 2. Loose fill cellulose has...
Cellulose Insulation Problems
1. While settling is one of blown-in cellulose insulation's advantages, this can also be a problem, mostly with walls. Over time, the insulation ca...
Is Cellulose Insulation Considered Green?
With cellulose, eco-friendliness is a debatable issue. On one hand, it is green because it uses up to 85 percent recycled materials. However, the r...
Cellulose vs. Fiberglass and Other Types
With closed walls, you have few other choices but to blow in insulation. Unless your home is going through some remodeling where the walls are bein...
Is Blown Cellulose Insulation A Fire Hazard?
Cellulose insulation's source paper in its raw state is combustible. However, during manufacturing, cellulose insulation is treated with borates, w...
What is Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose is a fiber insulation used in enclosed existing walls, open new walls, and unfinished attic floors.
How Does Cellulose Insulation Affect Energy Cost?
Heating and cooling a house accounts for 50 to 70 percent of the energy used in the average American home.
What is the best insulation for mold?
Boric acid, borax, or aluminum sulfate used in cellulose insulation provide resistance to mold, pests, and fire.
How to install dry blown insulation?
The dry blown insulation can be installed using a machine to blow the cellulose into the area to be insulated .
What is dense pack cellulose used for?
Dense pack cellulose is used more commonly today for adding retrofit insulation. The dense packing into the wall cavities adds a thermal insulation while providing some level of soundproofing.
What is the oldest form of insulation?
Cellulose insulation is the oldest form of home insulation and is still found in homes today. It can be either a loose-fill or blown-in insulation and can be used in both new and existing homes.
What was used to fill cavities in the 1970s?
During the early 1970s retrofits, loose-fill cellulose was used for filling empty wall cavities. Due to blower machine limitations, the material compressed and settled, leaving wide gaps in the wall cavities.
Why is cellulose insulation used?
Part of the reason for this growth could be related to studies that suggest cellulose may actually protect a building from damage in a fire better than fiberglass because cellulose is denser and restricts the oxygen necessary to burn structural members. Several National Research Council Canada studies have backed these claims. Another major reason for the comeback of cellulose might be because of the increased interest in green building. Cellulose has the highest recycled content of any insulation material and also has less embodied energy than fiberglass and other furnace-produced mineral insulation.
What are the different types of cellulose?
These are generally characterized as dry cellulose, spray applied cellulose, stabilized cellulose, and low dust cellulose. These types are used in different parts of a building and for different reasons.
How did the CPSC affect insulation?
The effect of regulations by the CPSC put most of the small producers of cellulose insulation out of business. The costs incurred by increasing fire testing made cellulose more expensive and the bad publicity helped decrease demand. They were either unable to meet the testing requirements or they merged with other small manufacturers. In 1985 the CPSC asked Congress to repeal the flammability standard after further studies. By 1991 only 61 cellulose producers still remained in the US.
How many cellulose insulation plants were there in 1978?
While in 1976 there were roughly 100 cellulose insulation firms with 125 plants, by 1978 there were more than 350 firms with more than 500 plants 1. Cellulose insulation was produced locally by small manufacturers who purchased ready-to-operate machines and offered a cheap and easy low-tech production process.
Why is cellulose coming back?
Another major reason for the comeback of cellulose might be because of the increased interest in green building. Cellulose has the highest recycled content of any insulation material and also has less embodied energy than fiberglass and other furnace-produced mineral insulation.
What is Monticello insulation made of?
Monticello was insulated with a form of cellulose. Modern cellulose insulation, made with recycled newspaper using grinding and dust removing machines and adding a fire retardant, began in the 1950s and came into general use in the US during the 1970s. The market for insulation increased following the oil embargo of 1973-74.
How is cellulose blown into a truck?
Cellulose insulation is often blown into building spaces through hoses from special blowing equipment in this case mounted inside a truck.
What Is Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is thick, dense, and clumpy, with a consistency much like down feathers. The chief value of this shape and size is that the insulation can fit in enclosed areas (such as walls) and can conform around obstructions such as wires and ducts (found both in walls and in attics).
How is cellulose fed into an insulation blower?
Densely packed bales of cellulose are fed into the hopper of an insulation blower powered by an electric motor. Rotating teeth or prongs at the bottom of the hopper fluff up the cellulose.
What is the best insulation for a wall?
There are a number of advantages to using cellulose insulation over other types: 1 Loose-fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics. 2 Loose-fill cellulose is relatively inexpensive, yet still has an R-value of about 3.5 per inch of thickness, compared to fiberglass' R-value between R3 to R4 per inch. 3 When walls are already finished, injecting loose-fill cellulose insulation is one of the few ways of adding insulation. One alternative is to pull down the drywall and use fiberglass batts. 4 Cellulose insulation stands up reasonably well against insects and vermin because it is treated with borates.
How is cellulose blown into the attic?
The cellulose is blown into the attic or walls through long, flexible tubes that run from the blower to an application nozzle. The cellulose is allowed to fill the cavities or blanket existing insulation. No pressure is placed on the cellulose; it is allowed to settle over time. Walls are patched up and painted over.
Where does cellulose come from?
Cellulose insulation technically can come from any cellular plant source, such as corncobs or sisal. But commercial cellulose insulations are generally derived from wood, and more specifically from paper: recycled newspapers, cardboard, office paper, and other common waste paper products.
Can you spray in insulation on attic?
Here, the traditional favorite is blow-in cellulose insulation, although spray-in foam is becoming steadily more common. With open walls, you can install fiberglass roll insulation, although spray-applied foam insulation is also possible. For attics, the joists are often open and accessible and thus could be insulated with ...
Can you put insulation on drywall?
When walls are already finished, injecting loose-fill cellulose insulation is one of the few ways of adding insulation. One alternative is to pull down the drywall and use fiberglass batts.
What is the R-Value of Cellulose Insulation?
The R-value of cellulose is between 3.2 to 3.8 per inch of thickness. Such a range exists because the exact R-value per inch of cellulose can vary slightly, depending on the size, shape, and construction of the building being insulated, the production methods of the cellulose manufacturer, and the typical weather conditions in the area.
Types of Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is incredibly versatile. Therefore, when deciding which type of cellulose insulation is best for your home, you will have three primary options to choose from. They are:
Benefits of Cellulose Insulation
One of the oldest insulation materials still used in modern homes, cellulose has stood the test of time because it offers numerous benefits to homeowners.
Application Process of Cellulose Insulation
Even the highest quality insulation material will not do much good if it isn’t correctly installed. Proper application or installation of the cellulose will determine its effectiveness in insulating your home.
Concluding Note
Cellulose insulation is inexpensive, eco-friendly, and can offer R-values of up to 4.0 per inch of thickness. But unless you have lots of experience with DIY home repair and up-gradation projects, you should leave the installation process up to the professionals.
What is Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose is one of the oldest insulation materials still used to this day. While it has been around for over a century, cellulose insulation only became popular in the 1950s, when fire-retardant chemicals like ammonium sulfate and boric acid were added to the material.
Types of Cellulose Insulation
There are three primary types of cellulose insulation. Your insulation needs will depend on the structure of your home and the particular area that you want to insulate.
Pros and Cons of Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation has been popular with homeowners for many decades, primarily because it offers numerous benefits. However, it also has certain significant drawbacks.
Advantages of Cellulose Insulation
More than 70 percent of cellulose insulation is recycled paper. Hence, vast amounts of discarded newspaper and cardboard are put to good use when cellulose insulation is manufactured.
Drawbacks of Cellulose Insulation
The process of installing cellulose insulation can involve quite a bit of dust, debris, and general mess. Especially loose-fill cellulose, which, as the name suggests, consists primarily of loose pieces of fiber.
Concluding Note
Your location, local climate, budget, and the type of house you own are some factors that will determine whether or not cellulose insulation is beneficial for you.
What is cellulose insulation?
Cellulose insulation is a favorite of the green home building movement. Insulation is a recycled insulation which makes it a very popular material to insulate buildings. It is made from newspaper which is always in ample supply. There are several different ways that the newspaper is processed.
Why is newspaper insulation favored?
This process is the favored process because you get a much denser material. Once the newspaper has been reduced to fibers a mold inhibiting chemical and a fire retardant chemical is mixed with the fibers. In some cases dry binders are mixed in. The newly formed insulation is bagged up and shipped to building suppliers.
Is cellulose better than fiberglass insulation?
3. Energy Conservation Performance. Cellulose performs better than fiberglass insulation when it comes to reducing the cost of energy.
What is the chemical that can decompose over time?
Ammonium sulfate is also often used and it can decompose over time from moisture and heat, it can release sulfuric acid that is corrosive to any material in comes in contact with especially metal beams and girders.
Does turning newspaper into insulation require bleaching?
This requires quite a bit of energy and the use of harsh chemicals that can generate pollution. Turning newspaper into insulation does not require the de inking process nor does it require a bleaching process as a matter of fact it does not even require that much energy which makes it a much better option. 2. Low Tech Process.
Can you retrofit a house with insulation?
Retrofitting homes with this type of insulation is also relatively easy. Pieces of siding are removed and small holes are drilled in the wall and the cellulose is blown in.
Can you use air to install cellulose?
Cellulose installation can be done in either a dry installation method or a wet method. It can be blown in by using air or spread by hand. The mix can be wet or dry when applied. There are no measurements, no cutting, no rolling out the insulation. It is an easy to do install.
What is the difference between spray foam insulation and cellulose insulation?
When comparing just R-value, there is little difference between insulation materials. The R-value of cellulose insulation ranges from 3.6-3.8 per inch and spray foam insulation ranges from 3.5-3.7 per inch of insulation. Given that both insulators are equal in R-value, the difference in thermal resistance relies heavily on proper installation and air sealing. Since spray foam has the ability to form its own air seal due to the way the mixture is applied, it offers slightly better thermal resistance. Winner: Spray Foam Insulation
What is the difference between spray foam and cellulose?
Cellulose is made of 80% recycled paper , while spray foam is made from petroleum distillates. Cellulose has more recycled material than any other insulation material and it doesn’t require the emission of any greenhouses to install like spray foam.
What is spray foam insulation?
Spray Foam Insulation. Spray foam is polyurethane foam that can block or resist sound waves or vibration. It’s great for deflecting noise, but not as efficient at absorbing it. Spray foam helps to muffle or reduce sounds from moving between floors and rooms due to the dense nature of the material.
Which is better, spray foam or insulate?
Regardless of which material you choose to insulate your home with, any form of insulation is better than no insulation. Spray foam is the better choice when it comes to long-term cost and thermal resistance.
Why is insulation important?
Because your home’s insulation helps lower your heating and cooling costs by keeping your heat from escaping outside during the winter and slowing down heat from entering during the summer. At Minnick’s, we help homeowners maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with a combination of air sealing and insulation work.
What is the R value of spray foam?
Spray foam comes in two varieties; open-cell which has an R-value of 3.2 per inch and closed-cell which has an R-value of 6 per inch. The ability for spray foam to fill into any space or shape allows it to offer a high R-value per inch.
How is insulation cost measured?
The cost of insulation materials is measured by the amount of square footage used.
Overview
Manufacture
Cellulose insulation is often made by hammer milling waste newspaper. The newspaper is treated with chemicals, such as boric acid, to retard the spread of fire.
History of cellulose insulation
The word cellulose comes from the French word cellule for a living cell and glucose which is a sugar.
The main house of US president Thomas Jefferson's plantation Monticello was insulated with a form of cellulose in 1772. Cellulose was used more widely as an insulation material in Scandinavia from the 1920s. Many types of cellulosic materials have been used, including newspaper, cardb…
Products
Four major types of loose-fill cellulose products have been developed under a variety of brand names. These are generally characterized as dry cellulose, spray applied cellulose, stabilized cellulose, and low dust cellulose. These types are used in different parts of a building and for different reasons.
Dry cellulose is used in retrofitting old homes by blowing the cellulose into hol…
Advantages of cellulose insulation
The thermal performance of loose filled cellulose compares favourably to other types of low cost insulation, but is lower than that of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams. The thermal conductivity of loose-fill cellulose is approximately 40 mW/m·K (R-value: metric R2.6 per 100 mm; imperial R3.8 per inch) which is about the same as or slightly better than glass wool or rock wool. This doesn’t represent the whole picture of thermal performance. Other important aspects are h…
Disadvantages
The R-value of 3.6 to 3.8 per inch is good but not the best. Material cost per R-value is good but labor cost goes up because it takes more material and time to install than fiberglass insulation at the same R-Value .
Cellulose contains small particles which can be blown into the house through inadequate seals around fixtures or small holes.
Environmental properties
Insulation of any type helps make buildings more energy-efficient. Depending on the structure and manufacturer, using cellulose insulation could contribute to obtaining LEED credits from the US Green Building Council certification program.
Cellulose is composed of 75–85% recycled paper fiber, usually post-consumer waste newsprint. The other 15% is a fire retardant such as boric acid or ammonium sulphate. Cellulose has the hig…
See also
• Cellulose insulating material plant