Chemicals in Insulation

Chemicals in Insulation

Cavity insulation provides an essential function in retaining heat, while also contributing to good environmental practice in the home. Good home insulation has been shown to have a positive impact on quality of life for individuals with asthma and allergies¹. There are several types of insulation available, and for those with asthma and allergies, it can often be difficult to determine which type is best.

The main types of insulation are:

1. Blown Mineral Fibre
   • These fibres are mainly fibreglass or mineral wool that are forced into the cavity by compressed air or placed manually.
2. Polystyrene Beads/Granules
   • Beads made of polystyrene may be blown into the cavity using compressed air. They will stick together naturally, or may also be supplied with a light sticky resin.
3. Polyurethane Foam
   • Two chemicals, isocyanates and polyols, are mixed together on site prior to application to the area to be insulated².
4. Urea Formaldehyde Foam
   • Urea and formaldehyde are injected and mixed simultaneously to form the foam which expands to fill the cavity.

Chemicals and their function in insulation

Table 1. Flooring ingredient classes

1. Isocyanate

Methylene bisphenyl isocyanate, is a type of isocyanate used in urea formaldehyde and polyurethane foam. It is very reactive and can be used in a range of coatings and foams. It can cause breathing difficulties, can irritate the skin and may cause skin allergy. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of isocyanates are produced every year, with methylene bisphenyl isocyanate being the most benign of this family of chemicals⁷.

2. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is both a naturally occurring and industrial chemical. It is used in a range of consumer products including paints, cosmetics, dry cleaning chemicals and paper products. Exposure to higher levels of formaldehyde can result in respiratory difficulties in addition to skin contact dermatitis. While skin contact with urea formaldehyde foam can be generally limited, release of formaldehyde during curing of the foam can occur. In addition, over time the foam can degrade, releasing formaldehyde into the home breathing environment⁸.

3. Hexabromocyclododecane

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is a brominated fire retardant; one of its main uses is in thermal insulation⁶. Environmental data has shown persistence of HBCDD in the environment and animal studies have demonstrated detrimental impacts on liver, thyroid and reproductive organs. In 2016 the European Union implemented a ban on HBCDD, and the EPA is currently reviewing this chemical⁹. However even if a global ban is implemented, this would be phased, meaning that HBCDD could remain in use for many more years.

Benefits of Home Insulation

Home insulation has been shown to have positive benefits for both the environment and human health¹⁰. Less energy is required to heat the home leading to positive environmental impacts. Dust mites and mold require relative humidity levels in excess of 55% in order to be able to flourish. Effective insulation leads to more effective control of the indoor environment, reducing relative humidity and damp conditions.

The selection of an insulation product must be made carefully. Spray polyurethane foam has been shown to induce asthma^11,12. Formaldehyde, while an economically important chemical, is also classified as a human carcinogen. Sixty-five percent of formaldehyde produced globally is used in resins such as urea formaldehyde, phenol formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde and these are often used in the construction sector¹³.

While mineral fibres are not classified as a skin irritant, it may cause some temporary skin itching due to its physical structure. For this reason, you should wear appropriate protective equipment when handling mineral fibre insulation¹⁴. In addition, appropriate respiratory masks should be worn by anyone installing mineral fibres – the particle size of these fibres can be small enough to reach the lung and may be cancerous. If leaks are present in home heating systems, it may also be possible for these particles to be distributed around the home.

Due to the flammability of polystyrene, any insulation made from this material will contain fire retardants. These fire retardants, such as HBCDD, can cause risk to health through inhalation, and are listed by the European Union as a ‘substance of very high concern’¹⁵.

It is easy to see how the home environment is becoming more and more of a problem for those suffering from asthma and allergies¹⁶.

The importance of insulation selection

A recent tragedy in England highlighted the importance of selecting the right insulation. The Grenfell Tower residential block caught fire following a fridge freezer malfunction. The cladding on the exterior of the building used a polyethylene core, covered by aluminium. While this should have been sufficient, once the polyethylene ignited, the fire escalated rapidly and 72 people lost their lives. Mineral fibres, while capable of catching fire, burn much more slowly and can give valuable time for people to exit the building¹⁷.

What insulation should you select?

Insulation plays an important role in the home in creating a comfortable warm environment, which has positive health impacts¹. This should be balanced against the potentially harmful effects that it may have. Mineral fibres may have a detrimental impact due to their particle size and polystyrene beads, urea formaldehyde and polyurethane foam may have a detrimental chemical impact. What you should determine is how much each of these may affect you, and how likely it is to happen. Certification marks can play a role here in providing independent testing on insulation.

How do you identify healthier insulation products?

GreenGuard logo

Greenguard

Greenguard certification is primarily focussed on promoting  healthier indoor environments and was first established to assist EPA purchasing decisions. Certification for insulation is as part of the building materials certification standard and focusses predominantly on chemical emissions, including VOCs and formaldehyde¹⁸.

Green Seal logo

Green Seal

Green Seal certification is based on architectural insulation materials and certifies products that meet their standard. There are five main testing areas within the standards and these include: reducing global warming impacts by using low GWP blowing agents; reducing waste through the use of recycled materials; protecting human health by meeting chemicals limit levels; demonstrating stewardship through reduction of hazards on installation and having an effective performance¹⁹.

asthma & allergy friendly® logo

asthma & allergy friendly^®

The asthma & allergy friendly^®  Certification Program is operated by Allergy Standards Ltd in collaboration with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Asthma Canada (AC) and is also operated internationally through a global certification mark. Insulation is tested against specific parameters relevant for healthy indoor air, these include constituent review, evaluation of release of airborne particles during installation and disturbance, evaluation of insulation’s ability to support fungal growth and VOC emission testing²⁰.

What should you do next?

Insulation is not something that is immediately obvious in the home, for the most part it should be safely sealed within the home. However under certain conditions, chemicals and physical particles can be distributed around the home.

1. Be familiar with triggers for your asthma or allergies and select an insulation product accordingly
2. If you are going to instal the insulation yourself, ensure that you use the proper protective equipment
3. If you choose insulating foam, ensure that you remain out of the home environment until it has cured appropriately
4. If you choose mineral fibres for insulation, try to ensure that they have been tested for particle release in the home
5. Chemicals used in insulation can be quite harsh, they are used because they are effective. Balance your need for insulation and the health benefits gained from this, against use and exposure to these chemicals
6. Where appropriate, use Certification marks to guide your selection.

The most important thing is to educate yourself – you need to take personal responsibility for your allergies or sensitivities to chemicals. Understand what you react to and take steps to avoid it. If you wish to use certification marks as signposts for products that are more suitable for you, make sure that you understand what their certification is based on.

About the author 

Dr. Tim Yeomans photo

Thanks to Dr. Tim Yeomans for this insightful article.

Dr. Tim Yeomans is the Centre Manager for Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, a collaboration between two third level colleges in Ireland. Tim holds a PhD in Microbiology and postgraduate qualifications in Technology Commercialisation and Innovation Management. Tim has worked in research and development for 20 years, both in industry and academia. In his role in Shannon ABC, Tim is responsible for the scientific direction of the Centre, intellectual property management and business and technology development.

Keywords

chemicals, insulation, formaldehyde, hexabromocyclododecane, isocyanate, healthier home, indoor air quality, indoor environment, allergy, asthma, asthma & allergy friendly® 

References

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11. Tsuang, W and Huang, YCT (2012) Asthma Induced by Exposure to Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation in a Residential Home. J Occ and Env Med 54 (3): 272–273
12. Huang, YCT and Tsuang, W (2014) Health effects associated with faulty application of spray polyurethane foam in residential homes. Env Res 134: 295-300
13. Tang, X, Bai, Y, Duong, A, Smith, MT, Li, L and Zhang, L (2009). Formaldehyde in China: Production, consumption, exposure levels, and health effects. Env Int 35 (8): 1210-1224
14. European Insulation Manufacturers Association [online] https://www.eurima.org/about-mineral-wool/health-safety.html accessed September 2018
15. European Chemicals Agency [online] https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table/-/dislist/details/0b0236e1807d8e7e accessed September 2018
16. Franklin, P (2007) Indoor air quality and respiratory health of children Paed Resp Rev 8 (4): 281-286
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20. Asthma and allergy friendly [online] https://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com/USA/insulationaccessed September 2018

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