ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE Blog

Is Insulation Flammable?

When you're deciding what materials to install in your home, the health, safety, and comfort of you and your household are your top priorities. When you schedule a free evaluation with Koala Insulation of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, you'll need to consider the R-value, costs, and safety of your options. Because insulation can be found throughout your home - from your attic and ceiling joists to the walls, floors, and basement - flammability is a crucial factor to review.

Most insulation materials have inherent fire-resistant properties but several commonly installed types need to have additional chemicals or coatings applied to be considered fire safe. It's crucial to ensure your household is educated on the fire resistance of a material and how it applies to your climate, building, and coverage. Our team of experienced industry professionals at Koala Insulation of Albuquerque and Santa Fe has put together educational information to break down the fire safety components of commonly installed materials.

Flame-Resistant VS Fire Retardant

For many people that are unfamiliar with the difference, flame-resistant and fire retardant are considered interchangeable in their vocabulary. However, there are significant differences between the two. When taking the time to understand the nuances of the products and materials being installed in your home, seemingly minor differences can end up making a noteworthy impression.

Flame-resistant insulation materials are considered "inherently non-flammable". They're naturally noncombustible, meaning their resistance to fire is within their chemical make-up. These products don't typically need additional chemicals applied to them during production. On the other hand, the opposite is the case for fire retardant materials. This type of insulation is chemically treated to give the material slow-burning or self-extinguishing properties to improve the safety of the product. It's important to remember that while neither flame-resistant nor flame retardant material will necessarily extinguish a severe house fire, they can be a crucial barrier to slow the spread in many situations.

Fiberglass and Mineral Wool

When first understanding the difference between flame resistance and flame retardant materials, it's important to have a basic breakdown of each material. One of the most easily recognizable insulation materials for homeowners is fiberglass or mineral wool; you may remember your parents telling you not to eat or touch the fluffy stuff in the attic. These materials are considered fire-resistant, as they're naturally noncombustible, even if they've significantly deteriorated over time.

Fiberglass and mineral wool may have combustible facings (the kraft paper or foil that may cover batt insulation), but these are additionally covered with a code-approved fire barrier. When discussing options with your local insulation contractor, you should take note of where potentially hazardous materials are and understand the precautions - if any - that need to be taken into account in these areas.

Cellulose

Many houses that are looking for energy-efficient and cost-effective installations are going to tick off most boxes when they take a closer look at blown-in cellulose material. Cellulose insulation is made of 80% recycled material, with a majority of the material used often being recycled newspaper. While the recycled material is considered highly combustible, the material is chemically treated during production. This makes it a flame retardant material.

For some homeowners, the idea of flame retardant may be less appealing than a flame-resistant material. However, it's important to remember our note from before: neither type of material is going to entirely stop a hazardous house fire. Instead, both material types have their advantages in these kinds of accidents and should be considered side by side during your decision process. For more information on cellulose insulation and a controlled demonstration on its response to fire, check out Koala Insulation's video "Insulation 101: Cellulose Insulation.”

Spray Foam

A common myth about spray foam is that it’s a significant fire hazard for your home because of the chemicals mixed together to create the installed material. While spray foam will ignite at about 700?, there are additional steps taken to make the material flame retardant. Once applied, spray foam is covered in an intumescent coating, often a type of paint. This creates a protective barrier that helps protect the material from high temperatures. For perspective, an intumescent coating is a commonly used product to cover many different combustible objects and materials in both residential and commercial buildings.

Learn More with Your Local Insulation Experts

As a homeowner, you have a lot of priorities to consider when making decisions about the services you schedule and the materials being installed in your home. While cost-effective and energy-efficient are two considerations that are prevalent for many households, this shouldn't mean your comfort and safety are sacrificed. Although insulation often falls into the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality for many people, you should treat the decision between materials with the same amount of caution and scrutiny as you would any security system or pest removal service.

Koala Insulation of Albuquerque and Santa Fe is dedicated to bringing our community products that are not only energy-efficient and cost-effective but are extensively tested to ensure their durability and safety. Each type of insulation has its own conditions that increase your home's security, but there are significant differences that need to be reflected depending on your home's location, needs, and even code requirements. To learn more about insulation's impact on your home and schedule your free evaluation, contact our industry experts today.