What type of insulation was used in 1910?
Beside above, what insulation was used in 1910? Asbestos was a common component of heating system insulation by 1910, and by the 1930s it was also being added to some building insulation products.
When did they start putting insulation in houses?
In the 1950s, insulation manufacturers were able to add a fire retardant to cellulose material, and the insulation was used by many in the 1970s. The 1980s Polyurethane spray foam insulation was considered one of the greatest advancements in home insulation.
When did spray foam insulation become popular?
It didn’t become popular until later, however, because it was considered very flammable. In the 1950s, insulation manufacturers were able to add a fire retardant to cellulose material, and the insulation was used by many in the 1970s. Polyurethane spray foam insulation was considered one of the greatest advancements in home insulation.
When was fiberglass insulation invented?
By the 1940s, fiberglass products became the insulation of choice throughout the United States and much of the world. An insulation product that was selectively utilized in the past came to the forefront beginning in the 1950s.
When was vermiculite used for thermal insulation?
What is zonolite insulation?
About this website
How can you tell how old insulation is?
Identifying Old Insulation While fiberglass insulation is still used today, older insulation tends to be discolored or torn, making it far less effective. Another older type of insulation is loose fill rockwool, easily identifiable by its greyish, wool-like appearance.
When did they stop putting fiberglass in insulation?
Myth: Fiberglass insulation causes cancer. In 2011, both removed fiberglass insulation from their lists. Read more about it in this National Insulation Association article. Oh, by the way, fiberglass is second only to cork as a healthy insulation material.
What was used for insulation in the 60s?
While fiberglass and cellulose rose to popularity some years apart from each other, they were the mainstay of insulation during the 1960s and onward (thanks to the fall of asbestos).
How can you tell if insulation is fiberglass?
If you have loose-fill insulation that is white and fluffy and has a little shine, it is probably fiberglass fill. Because it is a glass product, fiberglass has a slight shine when subjected to bright light. It is very soft, almost like cotton candy, and is composed of very fine fibers.
Can old insulation make you sick?
Attic insulation is an essential part of our homes, but dirty, old, poorly installed insulation can make us sick. While insulation may not be something you usually spend your time worrying about on a day-to-day basis, it's a worthwhile question to ask.
How can you tell the difference between asbestos and fiberglass insulation?
Difference In Properties Asbestos has a higher heat resistance and tensile strength properties when compared to fiberglass. Fiberglass is more temperature resistant than polyamide and cotton, but it isn't comparable to asbestos in this regard.
What year did Fiberglass Insulation start?
Fiberglass was trademarked in 1938 as Fiberglas® and was subsequently used in clothing, boat hulls, fishing rods, and eventually automobile bodies in 1953 when Fiberglas® partnered with Chevrolet. In homes, fiberglass insulation can be installed in various parts of the building envelope.
Do The Walls Of My Old House Need To Be Insulated?
d. 1971-1990 – YES – Your walls have a 3.5″ thick R-11 fiberglass batt in them with near certainty. It is not easily possible to add insulation to your walls. e. 1990-Today – YES – Starting around 1990 the R-value was bumped up to R-13. There are a few other options as well, but regardless, your walls are insulated and you are not a candidate for additional blown in wall insulation.
What insulation was used in the 70s?
Attic/Ceiling Insulations Used In Home Building in the '70s. Contemporary attic insulation materials are safe, effective and, in the case of cellulose, eco-friendly, but some materials in use in the early- to mid- 20th century were effective but hazardous. One of the most harmful insulation materials, asbestos, ...
When was fiberglass batt made?
The process for making fiberglass batts is similar to that for making rock wool, but the raw material is glass. A man named John Player made the first fiberglass fabric in 1870, but it wasn't until 1938 that the Owens Corning Company began to market fiberglass wool insulation.
What is rock wool?
Rock wool is also known as stone wool or mineral wool. Manufacturers can make it from a variety of materials, including minerals, such as basalt, and metal oxides. They produce the fibers by heating the raw material in a furnace and then introducing a blast of air, or spinning the heated material in high-speed machines in much the same way that cotton candy is produced. The individual fibers conduct heat well, and when pressed together into wool, the intervening barrier of air allows them to absorb heat and sound. Rock wool doesn't attract rodents, but can provide a substrate for bacterial growth if it gets wet.
Is vermiculite a tainted substance?
By itself, vermiculite is harmless and has many uses besides insulation. However, the vermiculite mined by the W.R. Grace Company in Libby, Montana, and marketed as Zonolite has been found to be tainted with tremolite, a particularly noxious form of asbestos. The company marketed Zonolite from the 1940s to 1984, and it found its way into millions of U.S. and Canadian homes. Zonolite was even listed as an eligible material in a Canadian government insulation program that offered grants to homeowners from 1977 to the mid 1980s.
Is asbestos attic insulation dangerous?
The use of asbestos was accordingly banned, but it still insulates attics in many homes built before the 1970s. It isn't dangerous unless it is disturbed, so anyone who suspects that their home has asbestos attic insulation is advised to simply leave it alone. It must be removed by a professional.
When was urea foam insulation used?
Remember urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI)? Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s it was the ultimate bad guy of the insulation world. Installed in hundreds of thousands of homes in the U.S. and Canada following the 1973 energy crisis, UFFI was found in some circumstances to emit high levels of formaldehyde and shrink considerably, resulting in performance problems.
How many homes did Canada insulate?
The Canadian government spent millions of dollars insulating 80,000 to 100,000 homes with this insulation, then spent many more millions un-installing it when reports of problems emerged. Canada banned the product, as did the Consumer Products Safety Commission in 1982 in the U.S. — though the U.S. ban was reversed a year later.
How high is amino foam insulation?
Along with confusing information about what the amino foams are — and their history as UFFI — some manufacturers have made grossly misleading claims about performance. The material insulates to about R-4.6 per inch, which is quite good. You may see claims of performance as high as R-5.1 per inch, but if you read the fine print, you’ll find that the higher performance claim assumes measurement at 25°F instead of the more standard 75°F.
What is UFFI insulation?
Even though urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), a.k.a. amino foam, has been out of the spotlight, it’s been going into a lot of buildings. Amino foam is a highly flowable foam insulation that can fill concrete block cavities from below, rising as much as 18 vertical feet.
What is the R value of a CMU wall?
In reality, the R-value of an 8-inch CMU wall insulated with amino foam is highly dependent of the density of the concrete. With very low-density blocks — 85 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) — two-core blocks insulated with this insulation provide a whole-wallR-value of 11.3. With heavier (more dense) concrete blocks the R-values drop. With medium-density blocks (105 pcf) the whole-wall insulating value drops to R-8.2, and with high-density block (125 pcf), the whole-wall R-value drops to R-6.0. The dramatic difference between the R-value of the foam insulation alone and insulated concrete blocks results from thermal bridgingthrough the concrete webs in the blocks.
What was the major problem that led to the near destruction of the UFFI industry?
The major problem that led to the near destruction of the UFFI industry was the fact that the material can offgas formaldehyde. Back in 1982, when the Consumer Products Safety Commission temporarily banned the material, formaldehy de was considered a “probable human carcinogen,” but the hazard warning has been upgraded to “known carcinogen.”
How high can foam fill?
The foams are very flowable, and, according to Bob Sullivan of cfiFOAM, can fill vertically as much as 18 feet, though he cautions that rapid setting can be problematic with rises above 12 feet. The flowability allows the insulation to fill concrete cores very effectively, including around hardened mortar protruding into the cores.
Who invented insulation?
Insulation has a long, storied history. Insulation was first used by Viking and Egyptian civilizations thousands of years ago. Vikings incorporated mud and straw in between logs used to build homes as a means of insulating. Egyptians made bricks of mud that served multiple purposes, including insulation.
When did fiberglass insulation come into existence?
A major revolution in home insulation occurred during the 1930s and 1940s. During this era, fiberglass insulation came into being. The introduction of fiberglass into insulation was considered a major breakthrough.
What are the threats to insulation in the attic?
Mice, rats, and other rodents (including squirrels and raccoons) are known to infest attics . These critters will ruin certain types of insulation by gnawing it apart for use in building nests. In addition, when a rodent infestation occurs in an attic, the insulation will end up contaminated with rodent droppings and urine.
How did fiberglass insulation come about?
As happens with considerable regularity, fiberglass came about by accident. A scientist named Dale Kleist was attempting to create a vacuum seal between two blocks made of glass. The high-pressure air stream that inadvertently developed during this process ended up turning some of the glass blocks into thin fibers. Ultimately, these fibers became the primary element of what would become widely utilized home insulation, including attic insulation. By the 1940s, fiberglass products became the insulation of choice throughout the United States and much of the world.
What is the most important advancement in attic insulation?
What remains considered to be one of the most important advancements in attic insulation and insulation throughout a structure, is polyurethane spray. By the 1980s, polyurethane spray insulation was becoming widely used. As an aside, polyurethan e spray was developed by the military in the 1940s.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
Oftentimes, these insulation products were comprised of asbestos. Asbestos insulation became widely used in attics and between walls. In addition, it was used to wrap pipes that carried steam for heat throughout buildings and between these structures and a local steam plant.
What is cellulose insulation?
An insulation product that was selectively utilized in the past came to the forefront beginning in the 1950s. This product was called cellulose insulation. Although an earlier type of insulation, it garnered only limited appeal because it was flammable, indeed highly flammable. This type of insulation is made from varying combinations of:
Why was insulation popular in the 1950s?
In the 1950s, insulation manufacturers were able to add a fire retardant to cellulose material, and the insulation was used by many in the 1970s.
What was the first insulation?
Ancient Greeks were the first to use a type of insulation that’s still popular today – asbestos. This material was thought to have mystical qualities because it was resistant to flames, so the Greeks named it “asbestos, ” which means “inextinguishable.”.
Why is spray foam insulation used in construction?
Spray foam insulation was much easier to incorporate in home construction because it expanded and could fill in divots and corners (as opposed to blankets of fiberglass or asbestos that only covered level areas).
When was spray foam insulation invented?
Polyurethane spray foam insulation was considered one of the greatest advancements in home insulation. Though it was developed by the military in the 1940s , it didn’t become popular in homes until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Spray foam insulation was much easier to incorporate in home construction because it expanded and could fill in divots and corners (as opposed to blankets of fiberglass or asbestos that only covered level areas).
What civilizations built their homes out of mud bricks?
Thousands of years ago in the BC age, ancient civilizations had their own unique ways of insulating their homes: both Ancient Egpytians and the Vikings took advantage of the cooling properties of mud. Egyptians built their homes out of mud bricks to keep them cool, while Vikings plastered mud and straw in between the logs that made up their homes.
When was asbestos used in automobiles?
Asbestos was also used in the automobile industry in the early 1900s.
What were homes made of in the Middle Ages?
During the Middle Ages, homes were made from stone with thatched roofs , so they were cold, damp, and drafty. To absorb the dampness and block the drafts, people hung tapestries on the walls and between doorways.
What material is used to insulate the attic?
There are three common traditional materials for insulating an attic. They are: vermiculite, fibreglass, and mineral wool. Let’s explain all of them in a little more detail:
Which insulation has the highest R value?
Spray foam insulation has the highest R-value on the market. And because you decide how much you spray, you can adjust the thickness of the insulation any way you like it.
What is spray foam used for?
Because of its expansive nature, spray foam is versatile and can be used for everything. Be it attic insulation, ceiling insulation, walls insulation, floors, or anything in between, spray foam will fill the area!
Why is vermiculite insulation so popular?
The problem is if your home was built before 1990, chances are your vermiculite insulation is contaminated with asbestos.
What is the problem with old insulation?
Old Attic Insulation Types: Signs Of Asbestos Contamination. One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos. As we mentioned previously, vermiculite can often come with some asbestos mixed into it.
What is the color of attic insulation?
If the insulation particles have a certain colour usually grey-brown or silver-gold. The particles of the insulation have an accordion-like texture. If the insulation lays flat. Because of its expansive nature, spray foam is versatile ...
How to tell what type of insulation you have?
Another way to determine what type of insulation you have in your home is to look at the insulation itself. For example, if the insulation is loose-fill, grey, soft, and without a shine, you probably have cellulose insulation. This is an insulation material made from recycled paper, and there are no minerals.
What kind of insulation was used in the early 50s?
What Kind of Wall Insulation Was Used in the Early '50s? The history of old types of insulation is actually far more substantial than one might expect. RetroFoam of Michigan explains that the ancient Egyptians used thick mud to insulate the pyramids, and ancient Greeks were known to use asbestos in their buildings.
When was fiberglass insulation invented?
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, this product was created in 1932 by accident when researcher Dale Kleist was trying to make a seal between two glass blocks.
What is the best insulation for an older house?
The best insulation for older homes depends on your priorities and budget. Blown-in cellulose and fiberglass have similar price points, but installation fees may be higher for cellulose. Cellulose is eco-friendly, so you won’t have to worry about glass fibers getting into the air and onto your body.
Why use cellulose insulation in the attic?
It is also expensive but works well for plugging leaks. Attic Solutions likes using blown-in cellulose insulation because it is eco-friendly and fire-retardant.
What color is fiberglass insulation?
If it is fiberglass insulation, it could be green, yellow, white or pink; regardless, it should have a spongy feel. The larger insulation pieces, or batts, usually have foil or paper backings that face the direction of the warmth.
How long does fiberglass insulation last?
Unless it has become exceptionally dusty or has been damaged from moisture or infested with debris, it could last for up to 100 years before needing to be replaced. To remove fiberglass insulation, Attic Guys recommends wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, goggles, a dust mask and gloves.
How is rock wool made?
This Old House describes how rock wool is produced from spinning the melted rock into tiny, intertwined fibers; it ends up looking like cotton candy. This sort of fiber is formed into boards, loose fill, batts or blankets for insulation, and it blocks temperature and sound exchange through walls.
When was fiberglass insulation invented?
20th Century – Fiberglass insulation was created when a researcher accidentally directed compressed air at a stream of molten glass in 1930. When he realized that it produced fibers, the first glass wool was created. This material was finally produced 6 years later.
What is the best insulation for a home?
Spray foam insulation is one of the best insulating products on the market. It helps prevent heat gain and loss, resulting in significant energy savings for homeowners. Unlike with the fiberglass bats, spray foam eliminates air leakage. it is a permanent barrier to heat loss and air entry!
How important is home insulation?
Now, we know the important role home insulation plays in keeping our home a comfortable temperature while reducing energy use. History of Home Insulation: 18th Century– Central heating systems weren’t developed until the 18th century. Before this, most houses would be kept warm be a fire in a fireplace. Most manufacturers didn’t see a need ...
When did asbestos become a popular industry?
Most manufacturers didn’t see a need for insulating furnaces before this time! Mid 19th Century – During the mid-19th century , asbestos became a popular industry. This was long before we understood the effect it had on our health. By the end of the 19th century , asbestos was widely used in ceiling insulation, pipe insulation, and more.
When did spray foam insulation become popular?
Though it was developed by the military in the 1940s, it didn't become popular in homes until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Click to see full answer.
Who invented fiberglass insulation?
In the 1930s fiberglass insulation was invented by the Owens Corning Company to insulate homes. What kind of insulation was used in 1920? Vermiculite is a very lightweight material, which made it a popular choice for thermal insulation from the 1920s to the mid-80s.
What is zonolite insulation?
Zonolite is a type of loose-fill insulation made of heat-expanded vermiculite, and it was installed as attic insulation in millions of American homes. Unlike many other insulation products of the time, Zonolite was never actually intended to contain asbestos. Furthermore, what insulation was used in 1910?
When was asbestos used in heating systems?
Asbestos was a common component of heating system insulation by 1910, and by the 1930s it was also being added to some building insulation products.
When was vermiculite used for thermal insulation?
Vermiculite is a very lightweight material, which made it a popular choice for thermal insulation from the 1920s to the mid-80s.
What is zonolite insulation?
Grace and Company in the 1960s and 1970s. Zonolite is a type of loose-fill insulation made of heat-expanded vermiculite, and it was installed as attic insulation in millions of American homes. Unlike many other insulation products of the time, Zonolite was never actually intended to contain asbestos.
Uffi Is Still Around
Used For Insulating Concrete-Block Construction
- The primary application for UFFI today is to insulate hollow concrete masonry units (CMUs) or concrete blocks — and I think it is a fairly good solution for such buildings. It can be also used as a retrofit insulation for wood-frame cavity walls, but there are better products for wood-frame construction.
What Is It?
- To really understand what UFFI is, one may need a degree in polymer chemistry. cfiFOAM, which is the most forthcoming of the manufacturers in production today, describes the material as being “part of the family of amine/furan resins consisting of phenol, urea, and melamine, coupled with an aldehyde.” The company explains in a fact sheet that “amino resins are thermosetting materi…
Consistency of Shaving Cream
- Amino foams are fully expanded at the time of installation — unlike polyurethane foams, which expand as they are sprayed into a cavity or onto a surface. The foams are very flowable, and, according to Bob Sullivan of cfiFOAM, can fill vertically as much as 18 feet, though he cautions that rapid setting can be problematic with rises above 12 feet. The flowability allows the insulati…
Misleading Information on Performance
- Along with confusing information about what the amino foams are — and their history as UFFI — some manufacturers have made grossly misleading claims about performance. The material insulates to about R-4.6 per inch, which is quite good. You may see claims of performance as high as R-5.1 per inch, but if you read the fine print, you’ll find that the higher performance claim assu…
Formaldehyde Offgassing
- The major problem that led to the near destruction of the UFFI industry was the fact that the material can offgas formaldehyde. Back in 1982, when the Consumer Products Safety Commission temporarily banned the material, formaldehyde was considered a “probable human carcinogen,” but the hazard warning has been upgraded to “known carcinogen.” Formaldehyde o…
Shrinkage of Foam
- More significant than formaldehyde offgassing, I believe, is shrinkage that can occur with amino foams. Typical shrinkage after installation is 0.5%, but in some cases shrinkage can be as much as 2%, or even 4% according to some sources. According to cfiFOAM, the impact of shrinkage is accounted for in the reported whole-wall R-values by at least that company, but it’s still a big con…
The Bottom Line
- UFFI (a.k.a. injection-installed amino foam) has some quite attractive features, and I believe these to be a fairly good option for concrete masonry construction. Very significantly, it is the only foam-plastic insulation that does not contain halogenated flame retardants. Were it not for the shrinkage and the lack of clear information and transparency by most of the amino foam industr…
The BC Years
The Middle Ages
The Industrial Revolution
The 1930s – 1940s
The 1950s – 1970s
- Another form of insulation that became popular is cellulose. Made of newspaper, cardboard, straw, sawdust, or cotton, cellulose was actually one of the earliest types of insulation. It didn’t become popular until later, however, because it was considered very flammable. In the 1950s, insulation manufacturers were able to add a fire retardant to cel...
The 1980s
Today