Hello all,
I came across this yesterday. I have not seen this type of insulation before. At least in this form. I imagine this is fire friendly and some digging around seemed to back this. I am definitely going to comment on it. My question is, How often do you all come across this? When, and was this common? Seems like a bad idea. Very few comments I have read take the stance the drywall/plaster on the ceiling below is the fire separation and this is not a big deal. Either way, I’ll comment on it but would like your thoughts.
Morning , David.
Seem a product like this many years ago.
Expanded perlite comes to mind. Perlite provides a quick, inexpensive and permanent method for insulating masonry walls. EPS would be my second guess. although I have not seen clumps. It could have been a rigid sheet broken into small clumps.
Lets see what others have to say.
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whats the age of the home? expanded polystyrene pellets were popular as insulation in the 50s and 60s because it was cheap, easy to install and had good R value. It fell out of favor because it is flammable and gives off noxious fumes when it burns,and is susceptible to water damage.
modern foam insulation is treated with a flame retardant but can still burn which is why some manufacturers call for a thermal barrier or ignition barrier to cover foam insulation
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Not sure about the styrofoam-like material ( have never encountered it in an attic) but the fibrous, grey looking material (beneath the pile of dead wasps) may contain asbestos (possible ACM). I hope you were wearing at least an N95 respirator while in that attic.
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Thanks for the info, Robert.
Built in 1948. Thanks for the info!
Thanks, Russel. I didn’t enter this attic due to safety concerns. I do wear my mask in every attic. Even the new ones. I observed from the ladder on this one. First attic I have had with gable access, so that was different.