Regal Cellulose Insulation

FIRE RETARDENCY OF CELLULOSE INSULATION VERSUS FIBERGLASS

The issue of chemical fire retardant permanency is important to the homeowner. It is very important to Regal Industries because we want to stay in business as we have been for over 25 years. We have spent much time and money to obtain the very best chemical formula for our products.

There have been many tests run by Oak Ridge Labs, ASHRAE, DOE, BTECC, private labs funded by the fiberglass industry, private labs funded by the cellulose industry, Universities, etc., to ascertain the permanency of chemical fire retardants. The problem is that there is no universally accepted laboratory test for determining retardant permanence. As stated by The Journal of Thermal Insulation (ISSN0148-8287) “Published data and observation often conflict and quantitative conclusions regarding permanency have not been achieved.”

Just recently, Regal Industries performed a test for fire resistance on some of our insulation manufactured in 1976. This was the same test required by Underwriters Lab (UL) to verify fire resistance of recently made product prior to delivery to customers. The 23-year-old Regal Industries cellulose insulation was 1 ½ times better than that required. So the question to the fiberglass industry is when is our product supposed to lose its fire resistance and where is your proof?

The fiberglass industry sometimes touts that “glass won’t burn “ as proof their product is better from a fire standpoint than cellulose. The truth is, anything will burn if it gets hot enough. Fiberglass does melt at temperatures experienced in a house fire. This melting can compromise fire containment by providing a chimney for heated air and smoke movement through the structure. As the heated air moves up through the fiberglass chimney, fresh oxygen laden air is drawn into the combustion area accelerating the fire. Cellulose insulation does not melt but stays in place forming a layer of extremely fire resistant char. Scientists at the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada did testing of identical building assemblies insulated with cellulose and insulated with fiberglass. The NRC report states “cellulose in the wall cavity provided an increase in fire resistance performance…glass fibre insulation reduced fire resistance because it melted quickly when exposed directly to heat.”

A potential insulating customer should get a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on fiberglass insulation before he decides which product to insulate his home with. The fiberglass MSDS contains the following numbered items:

1). Fiberglass wool (respirable size) and formaldehyde are regulated as carcinogens in California.

Comment: “Carcinogens are cancer causing agents.”

2). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in June, 1987, classified fiberglass wool as possible cancer causing agent to humans (Group 2b).

Comment: “This has gone virtually unnoticed by consumers.”

3). NFPA gives a flammability rating of 2 to fiberglass facing materials.

Comment: “Do fiberglass facing materials provide fuel for a house fire? Yes!

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9564 East 600 S - Crothersville, IN 47229
Phone: 812.793.2214 Fax: 812.793.3432
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