Fire Testing Insulation Materials

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  • Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
  • www.drenergysaver.com | 1-866-607-0191
    In this 50th episode of the "On The Job" web series, Larry Janesky does something a little different. Rather than walking us through a recent project, he takes us to Dr. Energy Saver's National Energy Conservation Center - a 40,000 sq. ft. training facility at the company's headquarters in Seymour CT - to demonstrate how different types of insulation materials will behave in case of a house fire.
    Fire rating of insulation materials is something often overlooked not only in energy-efficient upgrades, but also in new construction. There are some code-mandated guidelines for using different types of insulation in different areas of the house, but at Dr. Energy Saver, we believe that the fire safety of homes and buildings can be greatly improved with the right choice of materials.
    This is not a scientific test. The purpose of this video is to demonstrate the significant differences in the way different insulation materials behave when exposed to fire.
    Using a propane torch, Larry put all the most common types of insulation to the test, including fiberglass (faced and unfaced), open-cell foam, closed-cell foam, open-cell foam with FSK paper, polyisocyanurate foam, fire resistant open-cell foam, expanded polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam, fire block foam, denim insulation, AirKrete injection foam, cellulose and Rockwool insulation.
    According to this demonstration, the best performing materials by far were AirKrete injection foam, cellulose and Rockwool, but Larry explains that this should not constitute grounds for avoiding the use any of the other materials, because each different material has its specific application. When it comes to green building and remodeling, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Smart energy-efficient retrofitting is about evaluating each home's features, energy consumption patterns and finding the best materials and techniques to achieve the most energy savings while making homes more comfortable, healthier and safer.
    Dr. Energy Saver dealers nationwide have improved the homes and lives of many homeowners across the United States and we'd love to help you too! Call us or visit our website to locate a dealer near you!
    Subscribe to our UA-cam channel for updates on new "On The Job" episodes!
    Contents of this Video:
    00:00 Introduction
    00:49 Material One: Fiberglass Batts
    01:17 Material Two: Blown Fiberglass Insulation
    01:47 Material Three: Cellulose Insulation
    02:48 Material Four: Sprayfoam/ Closed Cell Foam Insulation
    03:31 Material Five: EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam)
    03:58 Material Six: Open Cell Sprayfoam / Half Pound Foam
    04:58 Material Seven: Foamax / Polyisocyanurate Foam
    06:25 Material Eight: Open-Cell Foam with FSK Paper
    07:50 Difference Between Thermal Barrier and Ignition Barrier
    08:27 Material Nine: Fire-Retardant Open-Cell Foam
    09:32 Material Ten: EPS Insulation
    09:56 Material Eleven: XPS (Extruded Polystyrene Foam)
    10:48 Material Twelve: AirKrete Injection Foam
    11:07 Material Thirteen: Aminoplast Foam/ Formaldehyde Foam
    11:39 Material Fourteen: Close-Cell Sprayfoam/ Polystyrene Foam
    12:41 Material Fifteen: Denim Batt Insulation
    12:59 Material Sixteen: Fireblock Foam
    13:23 Material Seventeen: Rockwool
    14:00 Material Eighteen: Rockwool Canlight Cover
    14:20 Which Insulation Performed Best in the Fire Test?
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 586

  • @kenschleede9382
    @kenschleede9382 3 роки тому +139

    We used cellulose blown in on my Dad's home. After 10 years he tried some to see if it still was flame-resistant. It was not. It burned easily. The chemical retardant was degraded to the point it burned. You should show older cellulose tested. Thanks for the video.

    • @palmeralexj
      @palmeralexj 3 роки тому +12

      I wonder if it was possible that the old cellulose did not have the fire retardant in it? I believe the fire retardant is a boron based mineral fire retardant and I don't see why it would degrade.
      Did you test the cellulose with a fire test before installing it?

    • @tealkerberus748
      @tealkerberus748 3 роки тому +4

      cellulose can also be expected to rot if it gets wet, I reckon. And blown-in insulation settles over time.

    • @MikeJones-rk1un
      @MikeJones-rk1un 2 роки тому +6

      How did you determine the chemical retardant degraded? That seems very unlikely that this chemical, which has been around millions of years before it was mined, would degrade in ten years. Maybe you wanted it to?

    • @MikeJones-rk1un
      @MikeJones-rk1un 2 роки тому +2

      @@tealkerberus748 Dense packed cellulose, which is what you get when you blow it in, shows no signs of settling.

    • @gurgy3
      @gurgy3 2 роки тому +5

      A lot of “fire retardant” materials will tell you in the fine print they have to be replaced every 5 years or so. For insulation that is not practical obviously.

  • @justinbailey6515
    @justinbailey6515 2 роки тому +28

    I had Cellulose insulation in my old house that was built in 2000. I can definitely say that after 15 years, it settles, burns and the entire attic was infested with silverfish. Going through training as a firefighter, I can attest to the difficulty in putting out fires in homes with cellulose insulation. Every time, we would have to rip down the entire ceiling (even if only one room was affected) because of the way fire can smolder and snake through the insulation. If you want to know which insulation is best, call your insurance company. They have to pay the claims and would know best.

    • @TheWhale45
      @TheWhale45 3 місяці тому

      Spray Foam.

    • @akanesoratobu8889
      @akanesoratobu8889 11 днів тому

      @@TheWhale45 spray foam actually burns easily too.

    • @TheWhale45
      @TheWhale45 11 днів тому

      @@akanesoratobu8889 The spray foam I used has flame retardant in it. It would actually give you another 10 minutes to get out of the house if it even caught on fire. This is some anti oil politics stupidity. You guys do what you want. My next REhab will be the same 2 inches spray foam with aluminum double bubble over the studs and taped off. 90% reduction in the heating and cooling bill like last time. everything woke turns to poop. also Bugs and Rodents hate foam.

    • @TheWhale45
      @TheWhale45 11 днів тому

      as for insurance companies. They will tell you a sprinkler system works best. There are some counties in the DC MD VA area that require it in the new homes and rehabs.

  • @BuildBreakFix
    @BuildBreakFix 8 років тому +219

    TY LARRY FOR GETTING LUNG CANCER FOR MY UA-cam VIEWING PLEASURE !

    • @David-yg8tf
      @David-yg8tf 8 років тому +14

      He'll more likely get lung cancer from handling the fiberglass.

    • @virtualstranger1299
      @virtualstranger1299 8 років тому +5

      I think you mean asbestos don't you? You can lay a baby in Greenguard certified fibre glass wool

    • @BuildBreakFix
      @BuildBreakFix 8 років тому +7

      LOL Sure Lay a baby in Greenguard fiber glass wool. Post a video of that on youtube rofl........ What size clothes you where post it below so they have your stripped pants ready at the local jail when you arrive LOL

    • @David-yg8tf
      @David-yg8tf 8 років тому +4

      Quoting from a website "Animal testing in Scotland and Switzerland proved" it. Like asbestos, the nature of sharp shards cutting your lung's internal is the problem. I make sure no holes/gaps are in my ceiling since the A/C will pull out these dangerous glasses.

    • @Jake_scootz
      @Jake_scootz 7 років тому

      Rich Morgenstein of all time

  • @SpiritBear12
    @SpiritBear12 8 років тому +70

    Watching this video and reading the comments below, I'm beginning to think that the Rock wool might be some of the very best stuff out there. Light weight, easy to install, doesn't burn, easy to buy at many home improvement stores.
    If I ever win the lottery and get a house built, I think I'll use that stuff in the walls.

    • @garystinten9339
      @garystinten9339 5 років тому +2

      SpiritBear12 hemp crete is also very good too

    • @RubenKelevra
      @RubenKelevra 4 роки тому +6

      It's actually what we use in Germany everywhere.

    • @arthurmaxham4556
      @arthurmaxham4556 4 роки тому +7

      Used it for the first time on a project. Easy to install. I like it way better than fiberglass. Will use it again.

    • @maakulad7504
      @maakulad7504 2 роки тому

      You could have aerogel put in for the best outcome

    • @streaky81
      @streaky81 Рік тому +1

      @@maakulad7504 that's not so much winning the lottery as much as owning the lottery. They never did manage to get the price of that to drop very much, though it would be the _perfect_ home insulation if they could..

  • @nelsonianb1289
    @nelsonianb1289 7 років тому +25

    this video should be shown in every architecture school. great way to learn why some is used in certain areas, mineral wood for stairs, batt insul in others.

    • @tealkerberus748
      @tealkerberus748 3 роки тому +2

      Why you use rockwool batts everywhere if you care about the people living in it.

  • @ericvanzeyl4483
    @ericvanzeyl4483 5 років тому +5

    Good demonstration. One reason I will be doing closed cell on the outside followed by Rockwool when I build my new house. Rockwool some good stuff. Excellent demonstration!

  • @tricia8727
    @tricia8727 4 роки тому +4

    THANK YOU for posting this! It was exactly what I needed to know and see for myself! Much appreciated 👍

  • @rbassrecording
    @rbassrecording 8 років тому +1

    Wow! Would've expected a different result. Thank you!

  • @VaidaWoodHouses
    @VaidaWoodHouses 7 років тому +1

    We build wooden houses and we get same questions about fire resistance in a wooden house. This video well proves, not everything burns so easy as we think. Happy to hear this about cellulose insulation. Thx for video.

  • @ateleskier7066
    @ateleskier7066 3 роки тому +5

    Although this is made in the US (and I am in Europe) this is still a _really_ useful review. The depth of knowledge on display is unquestionable; it's always obvious to me when someone has learned some technical jargon but doesn't really understand it. You obviously know exactly what you are talking about. So, even to someone in the UK (where available product ranges may differ) this is extremely helpful advice and very thought-provoking. Many thanks for sharing.

  • @david6chevy
    @david6chevy 5 років тому

    Far and away the best video on this subject. Thanks.

  • @SamanthaFrancis
    @SamanthaFrancis 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks so much for this video and taking the time to put this video together!!! This is one of the most informative videos so far and saved me lots of research! Really appreciate how much this helped me! ✨

  • @SupaNautica
    @SupaNautica 8 років тому +16

    Thanks for the info, this helped me figure out all the things I need to cover and what type of insulation I need. Rockwool ticks all the boxes and is 5 times cheaper than the Foam I was originally looking at.

    • @mesta9997
      @mesta9997 5 років тому

      www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2711883/

  • @agikhan8185
    @agikhan8185 9 років тому

    Thank you Larry for uploading this video its been a a great help.

  • @goshodim
    @goshodim 7 років тому +3

    Very educational! Will be very nice if you add and the specification for each foam you are testing(thermal resistance, moisture resistance, acoustic performance, fungi resistance etc.). Thank you!

  • @shaajz
    @shaajz 6 років тому

    Nice to see the detailed video about the NON-resistant insulation Materials. Thanks

  • @joehunter692
    @joehunter692 9 років тому

    This is a great video. Thanks for posting it.

  • @DjDioxis
    @DjDioxis 6 років тому

    Very nice video. Thanks for posting.

  • @Xfolium1
    @Xfolium1 6 років тому

    Very good testing, informative. Thanks!!!

  • @PlumbDrumb
    @PlumbDrumb 7 років тому

    Great video.
    Our Coloroado home was built in 1969 and was lacking A LOT of insulation in many areas.
    Though, upon remodeling, I found the walls had 2.5 inches of rockwool inside. I was happy to see that, even though its OLD rockwool (I'm sure the tech for that stuff has advanced somewhat).
    I decided to keep it in there, peel the face off (don't want two vapor barriers), and put 3.5 inches of faced fiberglass insulation on top of it.
    There's 5-6 inches of insulation in there now! I would have loved to use the newer Roxul brand rockwool on instead of the fiberglass on top, but I'm not very wealthy (that Roxul is $65-$70 a pack).
    So, unfortunately I don't have a fire retardant insulation UNTIL the fire melts through the fiberglass first, haha, but it's better than nothing.
    I did manage to get Roxul in the ceilings for soundproofing though. Boy is that stuff easy to work with.
    It's going to be toasty in the basementg this Winter!

  • @mistersparkle522
    @mistersparkle522 2 роки тому +1

    great and informative video... was always worried about GPS foam... especially knowing how direct flames affect EPS...

  • @garrimic3
    @garrimic3 5 років тому +5

    I have researched many insulation types and crunched every number possible and Roxul is by far the best product. Cost, r value and ease of installation.

  • @johnr.timmers2297
    @johnr.timmers2297 6 років тому +2

    Really cool stuff
    Oh and as I geology major I can confirm rock wool is amazing stuff and great use of what would otherwise be thrown out.

  • @toanlam8805
    @toanlam8805 4 роки тому

    Hello Dr. Energy Saver, It is a great video.

  • @robertocorradi6318
    @robertocorradi6318 6 років тому

    Good & informative . . . Appreciated , thanks Larry .

  • @davidwebb2318
    @davidwebb2318 6 років тому +4

    Brilliant video. Really useful to see the difference between the materials. Thanks.

  • @VipasbestosremovalsydneyAu
    @VipasbestosremovalsydneyAu 7 років тому +1

    Your video makes me feel a lot better about my insulation. Great

  • @creativeideascarpentry
    @creativeideascarpentry 5 років тому

    Great video and information!

  • @taofikialimi8402
    @taofikialimi8402 9 років тому

    Nice demonstrations.

  • @JasonKench
    @JasonKench 2 роки тому

    Great video. Thanks

  • @motolarry1
    @motolarry1 10 років тому

    This is a very useful video! There is nothing like it! Excellent!

  • @DrMelBisson
    @DrMelBisson 11 років тому

    Love that ROXUL! Thanks for sharing!

  • @TheDigitalslayer
    @TheDigitalslayer 5 років тому

    This is the video that convinced me to buy a few bats of mineral/rock wool to add to my new room addition in my house. One thing I learned when I put in rock wool is that it has a little more higher R value per inch than fiberglass.

  • @roman2011
    @roman2011 5 років тому +1

    i love this. concise and to the point

  • @chrisgreen8539
    @chrisgreen8539 9 років тому +4

    I am a big fan of Roxul mineral- or rockwool insulation, and of other Roxul products. Nice to see you've included these in your tests.
    These materials, as far as I know, are made from basalt mining wastes. Basalt is a volcanic rock that can cover valuable ore bodies in some locations. At least in the Roxul plant in B.C. they're using mining waste.
    Don't know about the others around the world.
    Maybe some of them are using iron smelter wastes.
    I hadn't heard of Aircrete before now. Will look it up.

    • @chrisgreen8539
      @chrisgreen8539 9 років тому

      I had previously know Aircrete or Airkrete (US) as Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

    • @gg-gn3re
      @gg-gn3re Рік тому

      besalt & slag as he said, but like 90%+ besalt

  • @mccallumcra
    @mccallumcra 5 років тому

    Best explanation about heat exposure to insulation that I've seen yet. One thing to keep in mind though is that even in a fire, if the insulation is kept away from oxygen it may only melt instead of burning so the smoke might not be as bad but that doesn't mean that the chemicals have become inert. Quite the opposite, you may just have a puddle of ignition ready goo left after the fire.
    Excelant video though. Maybe you should wright an ASTM test based on it. These are important things to know about any building material.

  • @cloudjc22
    @cloudjc22 9 років тому

    excellent video comparing all types of insulation.

  • @VTV-Live
    @VTV-Live 9 років тому +70


    I worked at a cellulose insulation factory years ago, we took recycled papers ground them up and sprayed them with fire retardant chemicals. The jets that sprayed the chemicals clogged several times daily. Meanwhile countless bags of untreated cellulose / ground up paper was bagged and loaded into trucks.
    We took grab samples every 15 minutes and held a propane torch flame directly on the insulation for 20 seconds for testing if the insulation caught fire we knew the jets were clogged. As I said countless bags of cellulose insulation were bagged and loaded into truck. We never unloaded the bags.
    I'd bet anyone that there are millions of homes that have highly flammable ground up paper crammed in attics ready to catch fire.
    I would NEVER put this product in any space such as and attic that was exposed to high heat or around electrical wiring.
    Even worse I would be willing to bet that after time the chemicals sprayed on the papers breaks down or dissipates. If you have cellulose in your home I would test it annually.
    So glad that was only a temporary job to get me through school and that I knew better than to put this in any areas of my home exposed to high heat.

    • @Virtual-Media
      @Virtual-Media 9 років тому +5

      Hoefledorf My honest opinion, don't put shredded paper in your attic or walls, regardless if you put boric acid in it. At some point it will break down and you'll have highly flammable material lining your attic and walls.
      Please understand this is a promotional video, their trying to sell you their product.

    • @Virtual-Media
      @Virtual-Media 9 років тому +3

      Hoefledorf I don't want to come off as an authority on fire safety. I just know the experience I had as a college student working in a factory that manufactured cellulose insulation. It's not regulated so unfortunately anything goes with profit being the main objective.
      It's sounds to me you're being very cautious and I think with what you've just said you should be okay, I would flame test every bag before blowing it in. And just to throw this out there, after my parents had passed away we cleaned their home and found a lot of old newspaper in the attic, never had a house fire. Add to that there are millions of homes that have cellulose, if it were a major problem it would have been widely known by now.
      I just get a bit edgy when I see ads like the one above make unsubstantiated claims.

    • @pipersson9258
      @pipersson9258 8 років тому +2

      +VTV // reply // Why does Cellulose insulation smell. It's because they add a sweet smelling sterilizing agent to it to reduce the former waste paper bedding smell (its mostly sold for animal bedding), when collected from waste paper warehouses and dumpsters behind shops it can contain germs, ants, insects, mice, rats and wildlife droppings, so for public safety reasons it must go under the squirted on liquid sterlizor spayor . Too much sterilizor can go in in one area because the conveyot belts stopped for a paper jam, and other areas can go untreated. Its waste paper called Cellulose a trade name to improve its image and value. Now you know.

    • @garrimic3
      @garrimic3 5 років тому +10

      This is why I am re insulating my entire home with roxul insulation. Spray foam will kill you because of the amount of smoke. Fiberglass as you have seen does nothing. Improper factory products such as you have stated will burn your ass.
      Roxul is good up to 2100 degrees, because it’s made of basically rock. It also has great r value per inch.

    • @MichaelMantion
      @MichaelMantion 5 років тому

      This is why you shouldn't buy american made stuff.

  • @frnkjones40
    @frnkjones40 10 років тому

    Thanks for uploading.

  • @joopbronswijk3178
    @joopbronswijk3178 Рік тому +2

    Try this test on a thick piece of wood, lightning it from the top and the result would be the same. Most of these insulations burn like crazy. In our area we had a lot of pur and pir fires. Pir was also used in Grenfell Tower in London.

  • @daviddicicco171
    @daviddicicco171 3 роки тому

    Thanks for this! Super helpful!!!

  • @emiliogarazgos6552
    @emiliogarazgos6552 10 років тому +3

    Thanks for a very informative demonstration. It would have been nice if a sample typical of strawbale construction (ie densely packed and encased in plaster ) had been demo'd.
    There is a great deal of interest world-wide due to straw being touted as a green/sustainable material, that interest perhaps being greater in Europe than North America where it is being used in urban high-rises .
    At the densities recommended for building,,when exposed to open flame,the straw simply smoulders rather than bursts into flame as one might expect.
    However, the straw is typically protected by wet-applied plaster typically to a thickness that provides a multi-hour (ie 3 or more) fire rating as per ASTM.

  • @volkan760
    @volkan760 8 років тому

    great video, thanks.

  • @ELICONSTRUCTION
    @ELICONSTRUCTION 9 років тому

    Great video...

  • @mattnielsen6793
    @mattnielsen6793 7 років тому

    Thanks for the video.

  • @boomer622g
    @boomer622g 9 років тому

    Great video.

  • @larryjanesky8185
    @larryjanesky8185 10 років тому +6

    Recently a barn (more like a house really) that I built in 2005 with closed cell spray foam burned and was mortally destroyed. Amazingly, the 3/4" knotty pine that I had lined the entire inside of the structure with burned away completely, yet there was not one hole in the roof sheathing or wall sheathing due to the closed cell spray foam! A REAL fire test! I was impressed. It didn't melt into a liquified mess and provide fuel to the fire - it insulated the framing and sheathing instead.

  • @MrMafiJozo
    @MrMafiJozo 9 років тому

    great video very helpful

  • @superimran2005
    @superimran2005 10 років тому

    THanks awesome works!

  • @george8873
    @george8873 6 років тому

    Glad to know that about blown in cellulose insulation. Have it in my house.

  • @sissymurphy9620
    @sissymurphy9620 9 років тому +11

    I am really happy now that i went with roxul rock wool insulation .Great informative video

    • @mr.wizeguy8995
      @mr.wizeguy8995 7 років тому

      Look video how rockwool works with water and for sure you get second thought.

    • @gakkenost
      @gakkenost 7 років тому +2

      sissy murphy i think the fire (smoke) will kil you faster then the water. Rockwool has a superb quality when it came to fire, sound and heat insulation. Glava is a cheaper alternative but it has som problems. a smal fire wil cause the foam to fill the house with life-thretening gasses. Rockwool, nope..

    • @brothyr
      @brothyr 6 років тому

      Mr. Wizeguy I tried looking for videos where rock insulation performed poorly with water but I couldn't.

    • @thatsunpossible312
      @thatsunpossible312 6 років тому

      I think Mr. Wizeguy was confusing the blown-in cellulose in the video with rock wool.

  • @progirlgamerz9510
    @progirlgamerz9510 3 роки тому

    Thanks
    It was very nice and informative

  • @boedillard8807
    @boedillard8807 2 роки тому

    Amazingly complete video! Can you add that steico stuff?

  • @formerevolutionist
    @formerevolutionist 7 років тому +2

    I used to work for an insulating company when I was a teenager. I learned that cellulose was a really good fire retardant and insulator when sprayed in unfinished walls, but it loses its fire-retardant qualities when blown dry into finished walls.

  • @rosskestle6316
    @rosskestle6316 10 років тому +1

    In Australia we don't have fibreglass with Kraft paper bonded to it so that's not a fire problem for us.
    There have been an occasional problem in the past with cellulose burning or smoldering, but this is because it was not manufactured to the correct standard. Cellulose has been covered by a standard since 1986. The product has changed since the 50s and the additives have changed and are much better.
    We have fire tested old cellulose that was installed probably in the 80s that had been saturated with rainwater from a roof leak. The fire test was still perfect.
    People should start looking at effective insitu thermal ratings rather than labelled insulation ratings as this is an important consideration when looking at insulation products. All Australian products have a zero spread of flame if manufactured correctly.
    Effective insulation is the labelled R rating adjusted for climatic and installed conditions. All insulation has effective R ratings lower than their labelled R ratings some products there is only a small difference and some products there is a huge difference especially if high insulation ratings are required.

  • @mr.doityourselfandsave4369
    @mr.doityourselfandsave4369 6 років тому

    Thanks excellent information.

  • @MRGTi5
    @MRGTi5 4 роки тому +5

    I became interested in Rockwool from watching a channel where a guy built his house pretty much by himself and he installed Rockwool, saying that its fireproofing qualities are so good that if an outlet or switch was to catch fire inside the wall, the fire would actually snuff out because the Rockwool won't burn.
    I don't know how true that is, but if this video is anything to go by, it seem like Rockwool is far superior to fiberglass insulation. The only thing I'm wondering is how fiberglass insulation with its paper backing can possibly be legal to use in buildings since it lights up like a campfire.

    • @Mr_Wh1
      @Mr_Wh1 3 роки тому

      If you don't know why it has the paper face, then you should be commenting on what should and shouldn't be legal.

    • @clarencek3658
      @clarencek3658 2 роки тому

      It’s paper faced for vapor barrier qualities but the more i see how it reacts to fire.. i think i will use Rockwool mixed with a plastic vapor barrier

  • @sthomas7263
    @sthomas7263 2 роки тому

    Good Information !!!

  • @pwdrhrn
    @pwdrhrn 2 роки тому +2

    I wish you had also tested expanded cork and compared it to foams for fireproofness and smoke. Some of those fumes are deadly, you should have had protection on.

  • @clarenceteo6833
    @clarenceteo6833 8 років тому +124

    "dun worry the smoke helps the fireman get to u faster as it acts as a beacon" said most spray foam salesperson. 😂😂😂

  • @huntingkc1
    @huntingkc1 10 років тому

    wow, thanks for posting, great information.

  • @rozchristopherson648
    @rozchristopherson648 4 роки тому

    Very informative !! 👍

  • @account4info
    @account4info 5 років тому +1

    The old insulation in my attic was blow in wool insulation. Highly flammable so I burned it in my fireplace to dispose of it when I put in new insulation.

  • @gg-gn3re
    @gg-gn3re Рік тому +1

    rockwool isn't from "slag" it's part of that, majority of it is besalt which is very abundant on earth as it is volcanic rock.. found all over. A small part of slag is mixed in for the process of rock wool

  • @stevelebard5698
    @stevelebard5698 5 років тому +1

    Based on this video I bought Greenfiber insulation from Lowe’s for my wood fired oven enclosure. I had already insulated with perlite but ran a little short so I finished filling the enclosure (made of steel studs, cement board walls and a 14 gauge steel roof) making sure to keep the Greenfiber 6” away from the double wall stainless steel stove pipe. After cooking my first pizza In the oven the enclosure began to smolder and has been doing so for three days now. There is very little ventilation in the enclosure so all day yesterday I keep a canvas tarp over the enclosure and keep it wet all day hoping to smother out the fire. I took it off last night and smoke still poured out of the venting areas. Using this crap was a big mistake on my part I should have just added more perlite which is made from volcanic rock. Now I’ll have to wait until it quits burning, remove the the roof, remove the burnt Greenfiber and add perlite. What a PITA!

    • @gt40f
      @gt40f 5 років тому

      Never do anything based on a UA-cam video

  • @johnbecich9540
    @johnbecich9540 6 років тому

    My compliments on Larry's easy-to-take delivery. He's thorough and accurate. He ought to take up a night job as an MLB radio broadcaster! Keep up the great work, Larry. But I worry about any smoke you might inhale, during your demonstrations. Rumor has it that isocyanurate turns to cyanide gas at high temperatures.

    • @chrhadden
      @chrhadden Рік тому

      if that were true than i have an extremely high tolerance to cyanide.i have had to scrape structual fireproofing out of the web of i beams many times to weld this or that.nothing would be scraped from the other side or any where else i wasnt welding so the far side of the web would be just uner 2000 f roughly.its not pleasant smelling ,sometimes it will make you hack and cough but i havent died yet.one thing i know will kill you is welding steel that has lead based paint on it.take my word on that one.

  • @Healthyhomebuilders
    @Healthyhomebuilders 10 років тому

    Helped a lot.

  • @mgjjr4
    @mgjjr4 11 місяців тому

    Very much appreciate your video, one option I didn't see you test was cellular glass insulation (eg Foamglas). Do you think you could redo your video with a quick same test of that type of insulation?

  • @taradead
    @taradead 5 років тому +3

    THAT is one thorough information video! Everything i wanted to know, thank you.

  • @Danger909
    @Danger909 5 років тому

    I have a question for you. I blew in atticat in my attic but I forgot to cover the water hot lines, should I be OK for the insulation won't catch fire! Thanks

  • @zealthsteel7542
    @zealthsteel7542 5 років тому

    Good video

  • @trevormatthews7981
    @trevormatthews7981 4 роки тому +1

    Next time can you do vertical testing. I'm thinking of the Grenfell tower block in London that went up in flames with many deaths.

  • @lisacarey4951
    @lisacarey4951 9 років тому +7

    This is great to see what happens in a fire! I too wanted you to have a mask on. But what I really am disappointed about is that you didn't show sheep's wool!!!!! Wool is the least toxic and maybe the most un-flammable. I can't get my felted wool to burn at all!!! It does not ignite, let alone give off incredibly toxic smoke. This is what I will use in my tiny house!! Thank you for your demo!

    • @aion2177
      @aion2177 4 роки тому

      that sounds like an amazing material for what we need. Does it have any disadvantages besides the fact you need a heard of sheep to insulate a house?

    • @xXDESTINYMBXx
      @xXDESTINYMBXx 2 роки тому

      @@aion2177 expensive

    • @MJTVideos
      @MJTVideos Рік тому

      Burning wool can release cyanide believe it or not

  • @Engineer9736
    @Engineer9736 6 років тому +1

    Lol at that background music while putting a dozen kinds of insulation on fire indoors 😂

  • @bradseager9893
    @bradseager9893 9 років тому +5

    I had a radiant ceiling heat short out in my attic last night and start a fire. The electrical connection which was the source of the short was buried in cellulose. The cellulose burned consistently but slowly. The burning materiel smelled a lot like nail polish remover and I thought the kids had spilled some. However when I went looking, I found the insulation int he attic smoking and when I pulled it up it was had red hot coal clumps burning which were actually difficult to extinguish. A lot like a sponge burning from the inside would be hard to put out. The parts of the material that were not burning prevented the water from reaching the parts that were burning. It was absolutely NOT self extinguishing. One shorted wire for a few seconds was enough to start a fire that was smoldered for hours spreading using the CELLULOSE insulation as a fuel. I was lucky i caught it early before much damage could be done. My insulation is about 30 years old and I suspect the flame retardant chemically broke down over that time. I tried some experiments with some fiber glass insulation and the cellulose insulation from my attic. With the cellulose, the fire spreads once the torch is removed but with the fiberglass the fire goes out once the torch is removed. Also since the fiberglass melts and opens up, any water sprayed on it would go right to the fire instead of preventing the flow of water like the cellulose.
    I am pulling all the cellulose out of my attic and replacing it with a material that , over the years, I have confidence will maintain its properties and consequently is a superior material in the long run considering safety. I should also note that there have been a few other house fires in my area recently. I suspect that since all the houses were built about 30 years ago by the same builder using the same materials, that the insulation in those homes also caught fire after the radiant heat failed.

    • @pipersson9258
      @pipersson9258 8 років тому +2

      +Brad Seager ?? Why does Cellulose insulation smell. It's because they add a sweet smelling sterilizing agent to it to reduce the former waste paper bedding smell (its mostly sold for animal bedding), when collected from waste paper warehouses and dumpsters behind shops it can contain germs, ants, insects, mice, rats and wildlife droppings, so for public safety reasons it must go under the squirted on liquid sterlizor sprayer . Too much sterilizor can go in in one area because the conveyot belts stopped for a paper jam, and other areas can go untreated. Its waste paper called Cellulose a trade name to improve its image and value. Now you know.

    • @hotrodder62
      @hotrodder62 7 років тому +1

      thats one WAY BS claim right there folks! ^^ "sweet smelling sterilizing agent"???? bwhahahahaha! .."ok" sheesh

    • @johnbecich9540
      @johnbecich9540 6 років тому

      Thank you for contributing your interesting story. Rarely is any study conducted on old materials; rather, only on new materials that are currently being sold. So you have me wondering about my borate-treated cellulose attic insulation. I never dreamed that such a simple fire-retardant could deteriorate (it also deters termite infestation of the insulation itself), and I remain skeptical but respectful of your essay.

    • @gavin1342
      @gavin1342 6 років тому

      Was cellulose insulation fireproofed 30 years ago? Maybe not. Seems unlikely that borate would deteriorate in this way.

  • @DivineMisterAdVentures
    @DivineMisterAdVentures 6 років тому +3

    Boy I really learned a lot - probably a lot to learn!

  • @davidhazen2394
    @davidhazen2394 5 років тому

    Nice video but I wish he had mention where to get the heat thermal barrier foam that expands that seem like a the best one for me.

  • @MsKizilay
    @MsKizilay 10 років тому

    very informative i was asking myself the same question what iff it burns???

  • @pawelolender3709
    @pawelolender3709 3 роки тому

    Awesome vid man! Love the goggle marks! Is it from burning all the time? ;)

  • @keithmahler4236
    @keithmahler4236 Рік тому

    What do you recommend putting around a thimble plate in the wall for a pellet stove exhaust vent ?

  • @PBS-nm1uu
    @PBS-nm1uu 6 років тому

    thank you for all this info better than the government !!!

  • @beammachine4525
    @beammachine4525 Рік тому

    thanks. very interesting

  • @chawnslopoke2619
    @chawnslopoke2619 4 роки тому

    Do you by chance know if the pink fiberglass gives off any harmful fumes when burning? Ive been using it as a wick in an alcohol stove because it doesn't seem to burn ( 1qt paint can, stuffed full of pink insulation, filled with rubbing alcohol till it's saturated) you light it and it makes a great little heater.... IF IT IS SAFE. Found this video while researching this question. Thank you.. good info

  • @paulcrouser2898
    @paulcrouser2898 6 років тому +1

    Curious if there are any insulation experts out there. I am wondering about the safety of the foam insulations. In the video, he shows that most of the foams self extinguish when the heat is removed. My questions is, if you don't have an electrical-caused fire in a bad box or something in a wall, then presumably, you have an already burning fire that has reached the insulation. In a case like that, the heat source would never be removed since the damn house is on fire. Shouldn't that variable be considered? A fire origination outside of the wall and working its way in? That foam lights up, man!

  • @VideoNOLA
    @VideoNOLA 6 років тому +1

    Nice! Next, I wanna see this test done with Roxul rock wool insulation batts. (EDIT: Yep, there it is starting at 13:25, thanks!)

  • @goddess7240
    @goddess7240 7 років тому +3

    That is true. If you FAIL to extinguish it, it will burn to the ground BUT I think the point here is this: If you have a quality foam that does not allow the fire to burn QUICKLY THROUGH the walls, then you technically have MORE time TO EXTINGUISH it. Holding back the spread of fire is a worthy calculation in choosing insulation...

    • @SeptrothFFXI
      @SeptrothFFXI 7 років тому +1

      Todays modern homes that are prefab balloon construction are basically "disposable", under fire conditions the floors and roofs collapse quickly, stairs are only rated for 5 mins under fire loads making them only good for escape. the truss members in the roofs and joists in the floors are made of laminates that are wood chips bound with epoxy and polyurethane resins that under elevated temps give up any structural property they had. insulation will help with escape times but it is unfortunately not going to help much with the extinguishing aspect

  • @Naturenerd1000
    @Naturenerd1000 8 років тому +8

    I would choose Mineral Wool. Such an awesome fire proof material.

    • @humansvd3269
      @humansvd3269 2 роки тому

      Like asbestos?

    • @Naturenerd1000
      @Naturenerd1000 2 роки тому

      @@humansvd3269 But safe and non toxic.

    • @humansvd3269
      @humansvd3269 2 роки тому +1

      @@Naturenerd1000 I just replied to a 6 year old comment, then got a quick reply. Lol.

  • @FREEDOM14U
    @FREEDOM14U 7 років тому

    This is just great for the old wind pipes.

  • @suggesttwo
    @suggesttwo 3 роки тому

    I remember a stove from the 1930s I took apart had a ceramic I think insulation around the oven. Put a torch to it. It got orange but wasn't burned at all.

  • @rawdino4052
    @rawdino4052 Рік тому

    Hi Larry, what is your experience with hemp insulation when it comes to fore safety.

  • @sugengsudjatmiko209
    @sugengsudjatmiko209 8 років тому

    is there any standard to provide fire rating durability for rock wool? in case we want to explain our rock wool can hold 3 hours on fire to our client. kindly advise

  • @joshuawiley7200
    @joshuawiley7200 6 років тому

    +Dr. Energy Saver, Have you fire tested vermiculite insulation in this same way? How did it compare to the Rock Wool If you have. Thanks for taking the time to view my question.

  • @patilkamlesh1991
    @patilkamlesh1991 4 роки тому

    Would have loved to see cellular glass insulation performance !
    (Foamglas perhaps )

  • @staresce
    @staresce 6 років тому

    Can you try to burn hempcrete ? It is supposed to be fireproof and is supposed to be a natural insulation material too. They build entire walls with it. Would love to know how it performs in this test

  • @psilicybin666
    @psilicybin666 10 років тому +7

    Not all cellulose can be judged the same. Cellulose has been used since around the 50's. The old house I live in recently had a fire start directly in the insulation by nothing more than a spark. This is just a warning for anyone that has an older house with cellulose, the older stuff has definite fire potential!!

    • @nathanoconnor421
      @nathanoconnor421 6 років тому

      I don't think it would be a good choice if you live in a termite prone area either.

  • @zannajoyce6698
    @zannajoyce6698 3 роки тому

    Wow, thanks!

  • @ajmAcd95
    @ajmAcd95 7 років тому

    Hey, may I know how degree centigrade fire tested on that insulation?

  • @chrise.851
    @chrise.851 6 років тому

    Good vid! Thx

  • @DanLekin
    @DanLekin 9 років тому +3

    Rock/Glass-wool is common in Germany. Rock wool performs much better during installation, because glass wool (especially cheap one) looses lots of tiny particals while moving which go in your lung. "Noobs" use polyurethane foam. :-) Polystyrene plates were THE trend of the last years (because of very agressive marketing campaigns), but it has too many disadvantages (in my opinion). I would definitely recommend rock wool.

    • @shaquedelilicss7849
      @shaquedelilicss7849 8 років тому

      +Dan Lekin yes! same thing in Holland... Its not the product but the marketing that has brought the "new cool thing"... rock wool is the best I have ever worked with till I bumped into Hemp.

  • @y2knoproblem
    @y2knoproblem 10 років тому

    Was the denim treated and rated class A fire rated? Just wondering.