Which Type of Insulation Is the Most Fireproof?

When choosing the right insulation material, the various properties of that material and how well they fit with your home’s needs becomes very important. You naturally want to make sure that the insulation will be effective enough to contribute to the overall energy efficiency of your home, but there are other characteristics that might not get as much attention that are equally important. As insulation’s whole purpose is to blanket your house to provide a barrier against heat transfer, selecting insulation that is also fireproof is vital. Take a look at some of the most common options for fireproof insulation in Sacramento, CA:

  • Fiberglass: Made of glass that is spun into fibers, then combined with plastic polymers, fiberglass insulation is naturally fire resistant. However, although the fiberglass itself will not burn, you will need to be careful with batts that are backed with paper or foil, as these materials can burn quickly.
  • Mineral wool: With a high melting temperature, mineral wool is an insulation material that’s a great fit for thermal applications because of its superior fire-resistant properties. In fact, whether the mineral wool is composed of recycled iron and steel byproducts, or from actual mineral rock itself, the material is naturally non-combustible.
  • Fibrous mats: Fibrous mats are one of the most common types of insulation used in the home, and are made up of a group of various minerals that as a unit are referred to as asbestos. The potential health risks of asbestos are well known, however there are very few replacement resources available at this time, and asbestos therefore continues to be one of the leading materials not only in insulation composition, but in shingling and even car parts as well. Asbestos is a very strong material with high heat and chemical resistance that doesn’t conduct electricity, which also helps to lower the fire risk for the insulation.
  • Cellulose: While cellulose insulation isn’t totally fireproof, there are flame retardants that can be added to help the material resist combustion. When treated with these fire-resistant chemicals, cellulose can withstand temperatures of up to 300 degrees before potentially catching on fire. Cellulose that is composed of foam material is even less easily combustible, as it’s able to withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees.

When it comes to finding insulation that is fireproof in Sacramento, CA, there will be several options available to you. However, you will need to make sure that whichever one you choose is a good overall fit for your home, and that’s where our team at 5 Star Performance Insulation, Inc. comes in. Having installed fireproof insulation for more than 20 years, you can count on us for help identifying the best insulation product for your home, with the fireproof characteristics needed to keep your home protected in the event of a fire emergency. For high-quality fireproof insulation that you can rely on for years to come, make sure you give us a call to schedule your consultation. We look forward to working with you soon!

Leave a Reply