ALL OF THE BEST ATTRIBUTES OF INSULATION are achieved by using Dense-Packed Cellulose.
Cellulose Insulation is time tested insulation over the last 200 years. Simple research on the history and use of cellulose insulation is in Wikipedia so read for yourself, the telling story -The Wikipedia Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_insulation
Environmental attributes of using cellulose insulation are extremely high -SO MUCH SO, that when used in our PermaWall AND PermaRoof makes you the owner of one of the net LOWEST carbon footprints of ALL building systems. Over time the inclusion of ingenious products using hemp are more ways to further improve the environmental benefits.
This DATA From Europe:
Cellulose Insulation is time tested insulation over the last 200 years. Simple research on the history and use of cellulose insulation is in Wikipedia so read for yourself, the telling story -The Wikipedia Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_insulation
Environmental attributes of using cellulose insulation are extremely high -SO MUCH SO, that when used in our PermaWall AND PermaRoof makes you the owner of one of the net LOWEST carbon footprints of ALL building systems. Over time the inclusion of ingenious products using hemp are more ways to further improve the environmental benefits.
This DATA From Europe:
Fast forward from the early uses of cellulose, today cellulose is still performing with the latest improvement being "Dense-Packing". Dense-Packing more than doubles the density of the fibres to a level that actually delivers more insulation per inch and assures ZERO settling over time. The relaxed density of cellulose is about 1.6 lbs per cubic foot and delivers insulation at R 3.7 per inch thickness WHILE Dense-Packing takes it to a range of 3.5 to 4 lbs per cubic foot and R 4 per inch. Densities over 4 lb/ft3 will start to loose R value per inch. Precision Dense-Packing is achieved during the pre-fabrication stage when the frame is horizontal on the framing table where all of the dusting and handling is controlled and encapsulated away from the job site.
CELLULOSE INSULATION -Dense Packed ATTRIBUTES
-Zero settling over time
-High Fire resistance -thanks to the boric acid engrained into it / right up there beside rock wool
-High sound deadening -much higher than fibreglass batt
-Natural air tightening that dampens the passage of air through it -also an attribute in starving air to fires.
-Anti fungal -like no other insulation -Again thanks to boric acid
-Hydrophobic -Readily dries out if exposed to moisture
-High resistant to insects -Boric acid (Borate) infused into the fibres is the end of most insects that ingest it or try to nest in it.
-High R-Value -matching EPS and better than fibreglass batt
-A NET CARBON ABSORPTION PRODUCT -A net absorber of GHG and the lowest carbon contribution of all insulation products
-Cost competitive against ALL other insulation products.
-High Fire resistance -thanks to the boric acid engrained into it / right up there beside rock wool
-High sound deadening -much higher than fibreglass batt
-Natural air tightening that dampens the passage of air through it -also an attribute in starving air to fires.
-Anti fungal -like no other insulation -Again thanks to boric acid
-Hydrophobic -Readily dries out if exposed to moisture
-High resistant to insects -Boric acid (Borate) infused into the fibres is the end of most insects that ingest it or try to nest in it.
-High R-Value -matching EPS and better than fibreglass batt
-A NET CARBON ABSORPTION PRODUCT -A net absorber of GHG and the lowest carbon contribution of all insulation products
-Cost competitive against ALL other insulation products.
Cellulose and Fire performance
When Cellulose insulation is manufactured boric acid is added to it. Boric acid provides natural fire retardant as well as a pesticide. Boric acid is a stand out product in terms of low toxicity while working as a pesticide.
Fire resistant performance is supported by sources such as:
https://www.houleinsulation.com/fire.html
Canada National Research Council has also published multiple studies comparing fibreglass, mineral wool, and cellulose: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=8afbee94-909f-40e4-85d0-4c860a8533b6. It finds cellulose within 3% to mineral wool in fire performance while fibreglass insulation lowered fire performance 19%. In addition to the fire resistant nature of treated Cellulose, good fire performance also comes from the density of it which chokes off air supply to the fire. Keep in mind also -the embodied energy of creating Cellulose VS mineral batt are diametric opposites, with the mineral fibre being creating the largest energy demand of all insulation types.
It is the density and air stop of cellulose that also makes it a good natural vapour and air barrier. If building officials accept the use of cellulose without a poly vapour barrier -then do not use the poly vapour barrier. It actually interferes with the natural drying ability of the entire wall assembly and it hygro-matic properties. Hygromatic is a term likely generated in the science of building envelopes, that describes the ability of building materials to absorb and release humidity.
Steel studs VS wood studs are also exhaustively studied by NRC and demonstrate that wood performs exceptionally well in fire assemblies while the best steel stud fire wall is un-insulated. It looks like ALL failures of load bearing fire tests of either wood or steel relate to deflection failures. The other observation is once there are two layers of fireguard on the exposed side the type of insulation becomes a non factor in ultimate failure AND finally to that the resilient channel added on the exposed two layer side indeed has a positive effect on wood assemblies while on steel assemblies it actually worsens the performance.
When Cellulose insulation is manufactured boric acid is added to it. Boric acid provides natural fire retardant as well as a pesticide. Boric acid is a stand out product in terms of low toxicity while working as a pesticide.
Fire resistant performance is supported by sources such as:
https://www.houleinsulation.com/fire.html
Canada National Research Council has also published multiple studies comparing fibreglass, mineral wool, and cellulose: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=8afbee94-909f-40e4-85d0-4c860a8533b6. It finds cellulose within 3% to mineral wool in fire performance while fibreglass insulation lowered fire performance 19%. In addition to the fire resistant nature of treated Cellulose, good fire performance also comes from the density of it which chokes off air supply to the fire. Keep in mind also -the embodied energy of creating Cellulose VS mineral batt are diametric opposites, with the mineral fibre being creating the largest energy demand of all insulation types.
It is the density and air stop of cellulose that also makes it a good natural vapour and air barrier. If building officials accept the use of cellulose without a poly vapour barrier -then do not use the poly vapour barrier. It actually interferes with the natural drying ability of the entire wall assembly and it hygro-matic properties. Hygromatic is a term likely generated in the science of building envelopes, that describes the ability of building materials to absorb and release humidity.
Steel studs VS wood studs are also exhaustively studied by NRC and demonstrate that wood performs exceptionally well in fire assemblies while the best steel stud fire wall is un-insulated. It looks like ALL failures of load bearing fire tests of either wood or steel relate to deflection failures. The other observation is once there are two layers of fireguard on the exposed side the type of insulation becomes a non factor in ultimate failure AND finally to that the resilient channel added on the exposed two layer side indeed has a positive effect on wood assemblies while on steel assemblies it actually worsens the performance.
AND FINALLY.... More than anacdotal proof of cellulose insulation benefits:
One telling excerpt from Wikipedia link above: "The University of Colorado School of Architecture and Planning did a study that compared two seemingly identical test structures, one insulated with cellulose and the other with fiberglass. The cellulose insulation lost 26.4% less heat energy over time compared to the fiberglass insulation. It also was shown to tighten the structure more than 30%.[6] Subsequent real world surveys have cellulose performing 20–30% better at reducing energy used for heating than fibreglass."
One telling excerpt from Wikipedia link above: "The University of Colorado School of Architecture and Planning did a study that compared two seemingly identical test structures, one insulated with cellulose and the other with fiberglass. The cellulose insulation lost 26.4% less heat energy over time compared to the fiberglass insulation. It also was shown to tighten the structure more than 30%.[6] Subsequent real world surveys have cellulose performing 20–30% better at reducing energy used for heating than fibreglass."
