In times of economic uncertainty, the last thing you want to do is have extra zeros on your energy bills which is why it is all the more important to have your building efficiently insulated. According to the statistics, insulation can increase homeowners’ savings by up to 15%. However, barely 10% of the people in the US have their places sufficiently insulated.
People often worry about the expenses of establishing proper insulation, such as fire-resistant insulation but do not understand that without insulation, they are still spending extra money on heating and cooling costs.
Currently, the most popular and effective method of insulation is fire-resistant insulation. Fire-resistant or fire-rated insulation is gaining fame because of its various benefits other than lowering the energy costs of homes and buildings. This is why we have provided you with all the information you need to make the right choice before establishing insulation within your building.
What Is a Fire Rated Insulation?
Knowing about the chemistry behind fires is necessary to understand the concept of fire-rated insulations. Fires occur when there is a series of chemical reactions between fuel and oxygen, resulting in combustion. This combustion physically manifests itself as a visible flame. Fireproof insulation was created to prevent combustion from occurring inside homes. This insulation is created out of insulation materials that have little to no ability to act as a fuel source to start fires. Because of their inherent insulative properties, these materials have the ability to protect structures such as homes and buildings and significantly slow down the spread of fire.
Benefits of Fireproof Insulation
1- Protection Against Risk of Fire
As the name suggests, the biggest benefit of fire wrap insulation is that it prevents the risks accosted with combustibility. Standard insulation does not have insulative properties and can dry and burn easily. However, fire-resistant insulation creates a protective barrier against the wooden framework of the place to avoid severe damage occurring to the building. Fireproof insulation is known to reduce the possibility of fire by 95%.
2- Reduction in Energy Bills
As aforementioned, along with providing protection against fires, fire-rated insulation also aids in the reduction of electricity and gas bills. This type of insulation provides a more effective reduction in energy bills because of the materials that are used to design it. The insulation material used to create fire-resistant insulation has the capacity to trap heat during winters and keep the building cooler during summers way more than ordinary insulation materials.
3- Resistance to Mold and Bugs
While the primary advantages of fireproof insulation are reducing the chances of fires and reducing the cost of energy bills, another significant benefit added to the list is that it has the ability to be resistant to molds and bugs. Fireproof insulation is often airtight and does not have the capacity to hold moisture, which is why it leaves no space for molds and bugs to establish their colonies, ridding the place from pests and improving the indoor air quality.
Types of Fireproof Insulation
Once you have understood the advantages of fire wrap insulation, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the types of fire-rated insulations that exist. This way, you would be able to make the right choice while insulating your commercial building.
Whenever you intend to buy material for the purpose of insulation, you have to ensure that you do not compromise on the material quality; otherwise, the insulation would not be as effective as it should be.
1- Fibrous Mats
One of the most commonly used fire-rated insulation is fibrous mats. The material is made of asbestos which is a collection of different kinds of materials. The material does not conduct electricity which reduces the risks of fires started by electric sparks. It is able to handle temperatures up to 3000 degrees, making it a highly insulative material.
2- Fiberglass
Fiberglass, also known as glass wool, is the other most frequently used fire-resistant insulation material. The material is produced by the weaving of glass strands and gluing them together with resin. It is pretty easy in terms of installation since it is packed in slabs and rolls. The material is not only fire-resistant but also has the capacity to resist moisture, making it efficient against mold and mildew.
3- Reflective Insulation
A relatively new innovation, reflective insulation refers to a material that has the tendency to reflect heat. Reflective insulators are produced using elements such as aluminum and are ideal to use between rafters, studs, and joists of the roof. It can also be used as a surfacing agent to enhance the prevention of heat transfer. However, the effectiveness of reflective insulation is highly dependent on external environmental factors such as weather conditions.
4- Foam
Lastly, one of the most effective and environmentally friendly fire-rated insulation is foam insulation. The material is made out of recycled newspaper. Though it may seem counterintuitive to use newspaper, the material is a combination of various fire retardants such as cellulose or polystyrene. It is a wonderful material if you are looking for something that would offer resistance to fire and illustrate airtight properties as well.
Suppose you are looking for fire-resistant insulation manufacturers that would offer you the best fireproof insulation material for your commercial building. In that case, InsulaPack is the company that you are looking for. We are here to assist you with all your insulation needs. Contact us today or visit our website for more details.
