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FIBERGLASS INSULATION Vs. CELLULOSE INSULATION

Presented by: Benson Raju C708 BMCE 2

INTRODUCTION
Building insulation : low thermal conductivity material to reduce:

building heat loss & gain

noise transmission Commonly used types of building insulations are

Cellulose Insulation
Fiberglass insulation
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What is Cellulose Insulation?

Cellulose insulation : Plant fiber contains cellulose cells that have natural insulating power Made by:

Shredded paper + Borate (fire retardant chemical) Paper is converted into cellular fibers to provide
insulation
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What is Fiberglass Insulation?

Fiberglass : Fiber reinforced polymer made of plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass.

Properties:
i. Lightweight ii. Extreme strength iii. Robust Fiberglass Insulation : Insulating material made from fiberglass arranged into a wool similar texture Made in rolls or in slabs,with different thermal & mechanical properties.
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FIBERGLASS INSULATION

CELLULOSE INSULATION

CELLULOSE Vs. FIBERGLASS INSULATIONS

A comparative study done by NAIMA* based on the aspects: Thermal Resistance R-VALUE Resistance to Corrosion Settling & Loss of R-VALUE Water vapour Sorption Convection

Air Infiltration
Sound Control Use of Recycled Material

The Impact of Weight

Fire Safety

Installation
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NAIMA* : North American Insulation Manufactures Association

R-VALUE
A measure of thermal resistance used in construction

R value insulation ratings are used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow Higher the R-value, greater the insulating power

Expressed as thickness of material divided by thermal conductivity

Thermal Resistance R-VALUE

R-value of fiber glass per inch varies depending on density Homes generally require insulation of R-value around 38

Fiber Glass Insulation

R-value of standard fiber glass insulation 3.0 per inch Need insulation about 13 inches thick to reach R-38 R-value of fiber glass does not deteriorate over time Cellulose Insulation

The R-value of cellulose insulation 3.8 per inch

Need insulation about 10 inches thick to reach R-38 The R-value of fiber glass deteriorate over time
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 Has vital role in insulation product selection as it directly relates to the installed thermal performance over time Fiber Glass Insulation Properly installed fiber glass batts & rolls do not settle.
Some loose-fill insulation may settle over time ( 1%) This does not alter (R-value) From installation procedure it maintains thermal performance Cellulose Insulation Settles over time Settling rate is about 20% Alters thermal performance with R-value
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Settling & Loss of R-VALUE

 Generally, insulation loses Rvalue when wet Water vapor sorption properties impact installed performance Fiber Glass Insulation Not an absorbent & if exposed,it will not wick up& hold water It resists any permanent loss of R-value If it becomes saturated due to flooding like events, it is removed & replaced
Cellulose Insulation Made of shredded newspaper & will absorb moisture. If soaked, cellulose will mat down Thermal performance permanently reduced Fire retardant chemicals may wash away

Water vapour Sorption

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 A form of heat flow in which heat is transmitted by air currents Heated air expands, it becomes less dense & moves upward Fiber Glass Insulation

Convection

Some lighter density loose-fill fiber glass affected slightly in

extremely cold weather environments. Loose-fill fiber attains improved thermal performance as temperature in an attic drops If further drop occurs light density loosefill fiber shows

reduction in performance
Cellulose Insulation

No impact on thermal performance due to its high density 12

The Impact of Weight

Insulation above ceilings impacts weight of ceiling structure Fiber Glass Insulation Light in weight. Based on U.S. Gypsum weight limit recommendations: Can install insulation upto R-70 over 1/2 ceiling drywall with framing spaced 24 on centers without causing sag Cellulose Insulation Heavier than Fiber Glass Insulation In same case, when cellulose is provided, ceiling drywall may sag at values above R-30
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Fire Safety
An important attribute of any insulation material
Fiber Glass Insulation Fiber glass from sand and other inorganic materials which are melted and then spun Permanently noncombustable Requires no further fire-retardant chemical treatments Acceptable fire stop in residential wood frame walls Cellulose Insulation From shredded newspaper which is naturally combustible Treated with fire retardant chemicals prior to installation Even properly treated cellulose will burn at about 450F 14

Resistance to Corrosion
Fiber Glass Insulation

Fiber glass insulation is not corrosive

Contains no chemicals that can corrode pipes and wires

Cellulose Insulation Certain chemicals applied as fire retardants cause corrosion of pipes & wires under some conditions Eg. Sulfates
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Air Infiltration
Uncontrolled leakage of air into and out of a building By wind,temperature change,HVAC system induced pressure

Reduced Air Leakage = Increased Energy Efficiency

Fiber Glass Insulation 2-3 times rarer than cellulose insulation Air infiltration will be maximum Cellulose Insulation Cellulose insulation 38% tighter & required 26% less energy Wet-spray cellulose eliminates air infiltration
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 STC ratings : measure of effectiveness of a given partition construction in reducing airborne sound transmission
Density of insulation has little effect on STC Insulation thickness, has more significant effect on STC Fiber Glass Insulation

Sound Control

reduces sound transmission in wall,ceiling & floor assemblies

First inch increase STC value by 3-4 pts in some constructions Each additional inch insulation increases STC value 1-2 pts

Cellulose Insulation More effective soundproofing than fiberglass 17 Good against unwanted sound in wall & ceiling assemblies

Use of Recycled Material

Environmental concern increased recycling & recycled products Manufacturers use recycled materials in manufacture & packaging of products

Fiber Glass Insulation Use rapidly renewable than recycled materials

Insulation plants use up to 40% recycled materials

Packaging materials used by manufacturers can be recycled Cellulose Insulation Use more recycled materials Made up of about 80% recycled newspapers
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Fiber Glass Insulation

Installation

It has to be installed carefully If no protective equipment, small fibers may wound Cutting is needed to fit around wires,electrical boxes & pipes Difficult and time consuming Cellulose Insulation
Need special equipment Eg. Cellulose insulation blower Flows around obstrucles & penetrates odd shaped cavities Mixed with water & can take from 72 hours-1 year to dry

The drying time depends on: i. installation mix ii. moisture retarder iii. Temperature 19 iv. climate v. Time when drywall is installed

Advantages
Fiber Glass Insulation
Non combustable & requires no chemicals for fire retardation Nonabsorbent & will not hold water

Use recycled glass materials & rapidly renewable like sand

Doesnt settle much over time & maintains R-value with age Reliable, tested insulation material, energy saving benefits Cellulose Insulation More recycled materials are used, so eco-friendly & green No adverse health effects High resistance to air flow and fluctuations in temperature

Chemicals used are safe & repel rodents, insects & mold20

REFERENCES
The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA),Facts 32 : Comparing Fiber Glass & Cellulose Insulation, February 2002 Bill Smith, Deciding The Best Insulation For Homes, USA,2012

Wet-Spray Cellulose - Questions About Drying, Energy

Design Update, July 1989

Edition, p.1. Effect of Wet-spray Cellulose on Walls,

Energy Design Update, October 1989, p.3.
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THANK YOU
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