NASHVILLE Blog

Insulation Fire Rating

Fire Rating of Insulation

You can save money on your utility bills by installing insulation to your existing walls, but if the material is combustible, the savings won't be almost a waste of time. You don't want anything on your walls that can ignite a fire in your house if the worst happens. Your wall insulation should not be the cause of a fire spreading throughout your house. There are several factors to consider when deciding which insulation material is appropriate for a fire-safe environment in your home. Everything depends on the insulation's ability to withstand flames. .

What is Fire Rating for Insulation?

Fire rating for insulation is a measurement system that assesses how long an insulating material can endure a standard fire resistance test.

Class 1 or Class A Rating

Class 1 ratings are defined by the flame spread index and smoke development index. These indexes are based on the rate at which the flame spreads and how much smoke it creates. For fire ratings, Class A or Class 1 is the highest rating for insulation materials.

Lower ratings are less resistant to the spread of flames than higher ones. This level of testing applies to all types of insulation used in residential buildings. Some foam insulation materials meet the class 1 rating, however, materials like cellulose and fiberglass may not. Hence a small percentage of additives is added to cellulose and fiberglass to help them meet the minimum R-value.

Requirements for Fire-Rated Insulation

Specific materials, such as foam insulation, must exceed fire code criteria. According to the fire code, since foam insulation is made of plastic, it must be kept away from living areas. Your drywall serves as that separation between the living area and the other of the house. The attic and crawl space are not included in this part, since they are portions of your home that you do not use daily. It's vital to do this separation because some foam insulation materials are combustible, and some are non-flammable.

However, Fire-retardant foam materials can even be found on the market nowadays. The fire code requires that plastics be kept separate from the living area because of the common flammable foam insulation materials. Previously, foam insulation was known to be flammable, but this is no longer the case today.

When it comes to classic insulation materials like fiberglass and cellulose, things become a little more complicated. They aren't plastic, so they don't need the requirements like the foam insulating material. Cellulose is composed of materials like newspaper and denim which makes it flammable. However, some chemicals can be added to it to make it none flammable.

When it comes to testing fiberglass, only the material is subjected to the test. The handmade paper on the reverse of fiberglass batts is not included in that testing. If there were a fire in your house, the fiberglass would melt, generating a source of heat. The craft paper's backside might catch fire because of the heat.

Do You Need an Insulation with a Class 1 Fire Rating for Your Home? Call Us Today!

Contact us now at Koala Insulation for all of your expert home insulation. Count on us to provide you with exceptional insulation services. In addition to Nashville and the surrounding areas, our company is delighted to serve customers from Brentwood to Franklin, East Nashville, Madison, Old Hickory, Belle Meade, Green Hills, Hermitage, La Vergne, and Smyrna. Get a quote by calling us now.