Another option is to replace the fiberglass insulation with foil-faced insulation. If you do this, then you could cover any exposed areas using aluminium tape. Foil-faced insulation is a type of insulation lagging that has a reflective foil layer laminated to one or both sides.
One quick and effective way to cover exposed insulation is by using plastic sheeting. This method is simple and can be done with materials readily available at stores like Home Depot.
Fabric panels are a cost-effective way to cover exposed insulation. They're an alternative to traditional wall materials and can help improve the acoustics in a room. Any kind of permeable fabric will work and they're easy to install. Stretch fabric over a wooden frame or directly on the wall surface.
Immediately wash the exposed area with warm water and mild soap and wipe with a washcloth to remove the glass fibers from your skin. Take a shower as soon as possible to wash off other traces of fiberglass that may have touched your skin.
Seal the gaps with caulk or expanding foam. When complete and dry, push the insulation back into place. Fill wiring and plumbing holes with expanding foam. Caulk around electrical junction boxes, and fill holes in box with caulk.
If the insulation is ever disturbed, it can cause many health problems that are otherwise easily avoided. Breathing in fiberglass particles can irritate your eyes, lungs, and skin. This health risk is probably the best reason you want to cover your fiberglass insulation.
Don't worry about that one. But with that strong air stream, breaking up of fiberglass strands and moving them around is a cause for concern. So, buy Tyvek, and use it to cover the insulation; staple it to framework. It is not a vapor barrier, so it is OK to put over the insulation.
OSHA treats fiberglass as a nuisance dust and has set the permissible exposure limit at 5.0 mg/m3 for respirable dust and 15.0 mg/m3. Manufacturers have been recommending an exposure limit of 1 fiber/cm3.
Direct contact with fiberglass or breathing airborne dust containing fiberglass may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The symptoms of irritation are often nonspecific, temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing.
Air Leakage
Fiberglass insulation is less dense than other types of insulation and does not create an airtight seal, which means air can travel freely through the insulation. This is called air leakage and it's one of the most common sources of energy loss in a house.
PIB (Polyisobutylene) can also be used over fiberglass insulation. PIB is a type of vapor barrier that is designed to prevent moisture from penetrating through walls, ceilings, and floors.
You would think that insulation and vapor barrier plastic go hand in hand, and in most cases it does, but in some cases combining the two together can create a moisture problem. However, leaving insulation exposed is never a good idea.
It is also important to note that some fiberglass insulation products may be damaged if they are compressed. Damage to the insulation or sheathing can make it less effective, as well as reduce the longevity of the insulation.
Fire retardant vapor barriers like 6 Mil White Dura Skrim Reinforced Plastic Sheeting can be a beneficial choice for covering ceiling insulation.
Many people lay plywood over insulation on an attic floor for a variety of reasons - maybe they want additional storage space or maybe just to make it easier to move through the attic.
ECOCELL Blankets can be left exposed or even painted. Unlike other insulation materials, ECOCELL does not have to be covered with gypsum board. Leaving ECOCELL exposed is another reason ECOCELL is the cost effective solution for insulating basements and crawlspaces.
Any exposed skin area should be washed with soap and warm water to remove fibers. Clothing worn while working with fiberglass should be removed and washed separately from other clothing. The washing machine should be rinsed thoroughly after the exposed clothing has been washed.
In general, the color of insulation doesn't equal better performance over another color. Whether it's pink, white, brown, or yellow—color doesn't influence dependability, reliability, or the products effectiveness.
Like asbestos, fiberglass poses some health risks, but these are less serious than those associated with asbestos. Asbestos is widely recognized as a carcinogen and a leading cause of mesothelioma. Whether or not fiberglass is carcinogenic has been debated for decades.
A fiberglass rash typically looks like a patch of small blisters with dry, flaky skin. On pale skin, the inflammation will be red. If long glass fibers get stuck in the skin, a person may see them protrude from the surface.
The standard, which was adopted from ANSI Z49. 1-1967, Safety in Welding and Cutting, clearly states that cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors shall be replaced.
Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA Filter
To ensure thorough cleaning and removal of fiberglass particles, use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA air filter to vacuum the entire bed and bedroom. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can effectively remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, including any remaining glass fibers.
Tyvek® is made up of continuous fibers that provide inherent microbial penetration resistance—preventing hazardous materials including asbestos, mold, fiberglass and lead from passing through the material.
How long should Tyvek® WB be exposed before it is covered with siding? Tyvek® HomeWrap® and Tyvek® StuccoWrap®, Tyvek® DrainWrap™ and Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ should be covered within 120 days (4 months). Tyvek® CommercialWrap®should be covered within 270 days (9 months).
You can use plastic if you put polyethylene between your drywall and the wall studs. This way, you should get a tighter wall without trapping moisture inside the exterior walls. If you are framing out a below-grade basement, however, do not use plastic as a vapor barrier.