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A major indoor air pollutant of concern is formaldehyde. A primary source of this VOC is pressed wood products, as well as fiberglass insulation. Formaldehyde is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and long-term exposure may cause cancer. But, formaldehyde is just one of the potentially hazardous substances that can be found in indoor air. Other indoor air pollutants include other VOCs such as tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chloroform, benzene, styrene, p-dichorobenzene, etc. <ref>http://www.oehha.ca.gov/multimedia/epic/2002reptpdf/Chapter3-2of8Air.pdf</ref> | A major indoor air pollutant of concern is formaldehyde. A primary source of this VOC is pressed wood products, as well as fiberglass insulation. Formaldehyde is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and long-term exposure may cause cancer. But, formaldehyde is just one of the potentially hazardous substances that can be found in indoor air. Other indoor air pollutants include other VOCs such as tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chloroform, benzene, styrene, p-dichorobenzene, etc. <ref name="oehha">http://www.oehha.ca.gov/multimedia/epic/2002reptpdf/Chapter3-2of8Air.pdf</ref> | ||
Currently, there are no programs in California that systematically collect quantitative data on people’s exposures to indoor air pollutants in schools, public buildings, and homes<ref> | Currently, there are no programs in California that systematically collect quantitative data on people’s exposures to indoor air pollutants in schools, public buildings, and homes<ref name="oehha"></ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:16, 23 September 2010
Introduction
This page describes VOC levels in fiberglass insulation, which is a standard United States of America home construction material.
U.S. material use: Fiberglass insulation is a very commonly used insulation material in buildings that is produced in two different forms: blanket and loose-fill. As a method of insulation, fiberglass is used to aide in controlling the temperature and sound in buildings. It is less commonly used to insulate appliances and equipment such as: pipes, roofs, walls, floors, cars, refrigerators, cooking appliances [1].
U.S. material consumption: DESCRIBE HOW MUCH IS USED. ??OTHER USES??
Regulatory VOC limits
At present, there is no generally agreed upon standard for formaldehyde concentrations in residential settings. Several different governmental agencies and other organizations have established occupational definitions and levels for formaldehyde. Regulatory levels differ significantly among agencies.[2]
-OSHA Set Permissible Exposure Limit-
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has set legal permissible exposure limits (PELs) to regulate worker exposure to formaldehyde in occupational settings. A PEL is usually given as a time-weighted average (TWA) over an 8-hour period, although it can also be given as a short term exposure limit (STEL). OSHA sets the PEL/TWA as 750 ppb in air for formaldehyde.
The PEL/TWA may not capture high exposures during brief periods of time so OSHA also has established PEL/STELs. PEL/ STELs regulate the concentration to which workers can be exposed continuously for a short period of time (15 minutes) without suffering health effects. OSHA has set the PEL/ STEL at 2000 ppb in air for formaldehyde.[3]
-NIOSH Set Permissible Exposure Limit-
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) uses the same definition for TWA, but its levels differ. NIOSH defines the TWA as 16 ppb. Since the IARC reclassified formaldehyde as a carcinogen, NIOSH recommends limiting exposures to levels below the limit of detection.[4]
VOCs
A major indoor air pollutant of concern is formaldehyde. A primary source of this VOC is pressed wood products, as well as fiberglass insulation. Formaldehyde is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and long-term exposure may cause cancer. But, formaldehyde is just one of the potentially hazardous substances that can be found in indoor air. Other indoor air pollutants include other VOCs such as tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chloroform, benzene, styrene, p-dichorobenzene, etc. [5]
Currently, there are no programs in California that systematically collect quantitative data on people’s exposures to indoor air pollutants in schools, public buildings, and homes[5]
DESCRIBE THE COMPARISON TABLE AND ITS UNITS OF COMPARISON.
This comparison table [6] illustrates the attributes of common residential insulation materials. The materials and their physical form that are considered are as followed: Fiberglass [blanket], Cellulose [blown], Mineral Wool [blown], and Cotton (Denim) Batts [blown]
Costs are displayed in relation to sq. footage, and may vary, depending on the thickness used. Installation costs are not displayed in this table.
The R-Value describes the rating given to a material based on the materials' heat retainment capability.
COMPARISON TABLE OF PRODUCTS AND THEIR RELATIVE VOCS (ANYTHING ELSE? COSTS MAYBE?). MAKE THIS TABLE SORTABLE (SEE Help:Tables)
| Materials | Costs (sq. foot) | R-Value (per in.) |
|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $0.70 | 3.7 |
| Cellulose | $1.20 | 3.5 |
| Mineral Wool | $2.40 | 3.1 |
| Cotton Batts | $1.20 | 3.7 |
??TABLE THAT REPRESENts VOC REGULATIONS BY STATE??
Alternatives to Fiberglass Insulation
-Cotton Batts (Denim): UltraTouch is a company that produces this product. It is made almost entirely from 100% recyclable natural denim and cotton fibers, and compared to other types of insulation, it requires a minimal amount of energy to make. It contains no VOC's or chemical irritants and needs no carcinogenic warning labels. These recycled cotton batts are fire-resistant because it is treated with natural fire retardant, that also acts as a pest, mold and mildew protector. Not only is it a better alternative for the environment, but it still maintains a high R-value of at least 8. [7]
-Mineral Wool
-Cellulose Loose fill: It is sprayed into closed walls and places that aren't easy accessible, for example, it works well in existing walls that you don't want to open up completely. A negative quality of this is that it tends to settle, which leaves some areas uninsulated. [8]
-Sprayed Polyurethane Foam: Spray in place foam that is sticky and expands to fill the entire wall cavity. It is more costly than the other types of insulation, but has a much higher R-value because it expands to all the little nooks in the provided area. Avoid Foam with CFC's. [8]
-Recycled Newspapers: Paper has superior insulating properties to fiberglass and mineral wool if it is protected from dampness and properly treated with borax to make it fire and insect resistant. It can be installed by hand filling or spray blowing it into place. [9]
-Soy-based Foam: Foam insulation that is made from soy and is much healthier than spray foam, but has all of the same benefits of it. [8]
-Rigid Foam Board- Stiff boards of insulation used at edges of concrete slab used in tight spaces. It is more expensive, but rigid boards get higher R-value. Avoid products with formaldehyde [8]
Do VOC's From Insulation get into Indoor Air?
Materials that contain fibers such as fiberglass composite materials or insulation can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract when disbursed in the air and/or inhaled.[10]
See also
- LINK TO THE OTHER VOC IN STANDARD CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL PAGES
VOCs in carpet and carpet pads
- A FEW LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT SITES OR INFO
http://www.bondedlogic.com/documents/UltraTouchComparison.pdf
References
- ↑ http://www.naima.org/pages/resources/faq/faq_fiber.html
- ↑ http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2008/cdc_formaldehyde_exposure.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2008/cdc_formaldehyde_exposure.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2008/cdc_formaldehyde_exposure.pdf
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.oehha.ca.gov/multimedia/epic/2002reptpdf/Chapter3-2of8Air.pdf
- ↑ http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/techinv/insulationalternatives_techspec.pdf
- ↑ http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch-cotton.htm
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Green Building and Remodeling for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2008.
- ↑ Eco-Renovation: the Ecological Home Improvement Guide, Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1999.
- ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/ConstructionIEQ.html