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09-07-2017, 03:02 AM #1
Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation
Had this issue turn up in at several homes in one particular area that I inspect in, but this has bugged me & I want to get what thoughts are here on this.
I sometimes see the loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam beads used as attic insulation. I have been told that the styrofoam often comes from the FED EX facility in nearby Memphis, TN. But my question would be is this suitable as attic insulation? I know that the loose styrofoam has a low R value per inch, so it really isn't that great as far as insulating factor, but are there other issues? It looks to me that the stuff would melt/burn readily and I am unsure if there would be any added risk of any toxins in the products of combustion. Oh, and yes I did see and report the broken vertical support. 4 hours to go through this one, nearly every system or component had issues...
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09-07-2017, 02:13 PM #2
Re: Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation
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09-07-2017, 04:04 PM #3
Re: Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation
Take a handful of the beads and put a lighter or match to it ... show your client how it burns.
It's not just that it burns, it gives off toxic fumes too, as I recall.
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09-08-2017, 03:34 AM #4
Re: Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation
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09-08-2017, 07:21 AM #5
Re: Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation
Insulation is a critical component of buildings.
Loose fill polystyrene is a hazard.
Your images show mechanically crushed EPS polystyrene.
Recent concerns have been raised about the brominated flame retardant HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane for the organic chemists among us)—see Flame Retardant Used in Polystyrene to be Banned by EU—that is found in all polystyrene insulation, both extruded (XPS) and expanded (EPS). HBCD may not (yet) be a household word like bisphenol-A has become, but it's been raising plenty of concern.
What happened when your tryed to ignite the material?
Behaviour of EPS in case of fire.
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