Cellulose Part 3 - Health and Safety

The final installment on Cellulose - Health and Safety - hopes to clarify some misconceptions in the world of insulation.

Cellulose fibers are classified as "nuisance dust," that is, dust which while possibly irritating and unpleasant, is not a health hazard. Cellulose insulation fire retardants are also well-characterized and regarded as nonhazardous. The toxicity of boric acid, a common fire retardant in cellulose insulation, is virtually identical to that of table salt. However, do not salt your french fries with Boric Acid. Just another helpful tip from The Energy Guy.

Official statistic: A 2001 health hazard evaluation report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that the highest concentration of respirable airborne fibers and particles released during cellulose insulation installation was five times lower than the federal OSHA exposure limit. NIOSH concluded that a common N95 dust mask provides adequate worker protection.

A recent installation job our Energy Guy Crew performed was on a home of a person with severe asthma. As a precaution, we asked this person to leave during the sidewall installation due to not knowing if there were any gaps in the interior walls that may leak dust. We also had the windows open (not a great practice during the frigid winter months.) At the end of the day the client returned and upon our arrival the next day this person stated that they had no ill effects. It's always better to be precautionary than to have one angry client.

Mold is the hot topic these days...following carbon monoxide, lead based paint, etc... With this being said, there is no documentation provided relating cellulose to mold - UNLESS the cellulose comes in contact with water (such as a roof leak). If this were to occur, the wet cellulose should be removed and fresh cellulose applied in its place.

Next Topic: Kneewall Attics Part One - Description