Cellulose insulation

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Cellulose Insulation is an insulation made from plant fiber, recycled newspaper and/or other papers.

Contents 1 Material analysis 1.1 Traditional uses 1.2 Emerging uses / trends 1.3 Finish and aesthetic qualities 1.4 Cost analysis 2 Material properties 3 Products 3.1 Material performance 3.2 Insulating Quality 3.2.1 Acoustic property 4 Environmental Impact 4.1 LEED Qualifications 5 Life Safety & Rating Standards 5.1 Life Safety 5.2 R-Value 5.3 Flammability rating 6 References 6.1 Notes 6.2 Student contributions 7 See also 7.1 Similar materials 7.2 Building references 8 External links 8.1 Additional resources 8.2 Leading manufacturers

Material analysis

MasterFormat Number: 00 00 00

Traditional uses

• Traditionally, insulation is a product that provides thermal and acoustic protection to a building. Other insulation types are fiberglass.
• Cellulose is the oldest form of insulation. For hundreds of years, hay, straw, cotton and newspaper have been used for building insulation.

Emerging uses / trends

• Since the 1970's when the price of oil for heating homes skyrocketed, the market for cellulose insulation has gotten more popular.
• It has become more popular as the desire for 'green' design increases.

Finish and aesthetic qualities

• No finish required

Cost analysis

• $9.00-16.00/40 Sq. Ft.

Material properties

Products

• Cellulose Insulation has four major types:
  • Dry Cellulose (Loose Fill): Used for retrofitting houses
  • Spray Applied Cellulose (Wet Spray): Used for applying cellulose to new wall construction
  • Stabilized Cellulose: Used for attic/roof insulation
  • Low Dust Cellulose: Used for applications where one would want minimal dust

Material performance

Insulating Quality

• Cellulose Insulation is great for fitting around objects within walls such as pipes and wiring, which leaves few air pockets that would reverse the thermal performance
• The product seals walls from air infiltration while providing a dense layer that limits convection

Acoustic property

• Sound insulation is achieved three ways:
  • Cellulose leaves few air pockets within walls for sound to escape
  • Cellulose insulation is excellent at trapping air
  • Cellulose has three times the density than fiberglass insulation, which helps weaken the sound between floors and walls

Environmental Impact

• Cellulose Insulation is made from 85% recycled content
• Cellulose Insulation is made using less energy than any other insulation product
  • It has the highest level of recycled content in the insulation industry
• The paper used for the insulation is being kept out of the landfills, where it would go to decompose and produce Methane Gas
• Paper scraps are recovered and recycled on-site

LEED Qualifications

• Cellulose Insulation can help earn credits toward the US Green Building Council certification program in two categories:
  • The energy & atmosphere energy performance category
  • The materials & resources recycled content category

We need your help! The information regarding LEED qualifications for this material is still needed. Sign in and click the edit link above to add specific LEED credit and point qualifications to this material.

Life Safety & Rating Standards

Life Safety

• The insulation is made fire retardant by the use of chemicals such as sodium borate, boric acid or ammonium sulfate
• These treatments give this type of insulation the highest fire safe rating (Class I)
  • These chemicals also repel insects, rodents and mold
• Although the product is fire retardant, the electrical wiring can produce extreme heat and can set the paper of the insulation on fire

R-Value

• The R-Value Rule was passed by the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission)
• R-Value in a product measure the flow of heat through an object or material
• The higher the R-Value, the higher the insulating capabilites
  • Cellulose Insulation has an R-Value of 3.0 per inch, whereas Fiberglass has an R-Value of 2.1 to 2.7 per inch
  • This also means that cellulose insulation creates more heat

Flammability rating

• Rating of 2 (from National Fire Protection Association) - combustible between 100-199 degrees fahrenheit

References

Notes

Ask The Builder Website - http://www.askthebuilder.com

CIMA Website - http://cellulose.org/CIMA

Wikipedia, Cellulose Insulation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_Insulation

Student contributions

• Kate Krall, Spring 2010

See also

Similar materials

• edit this entry
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Building references

• edit this entry
• edit this entry

External links

Additional resources

• www.CharlesandHudson.com
• www.nachi.org

Leading manufacturers

• Applegate Insulation - www.applegateinsulation.com
• Nu-Wool Premium Cellulose Insulation - www.nuwool.com