Insulation Comparison
Insulation Comparison Chart
| Feature |
Cellulose (dense pack) |
Fiberglass (batt) |
Spray Foam (open cell) |
Notes | |
| R-Value per inch |
3.8 |
2.1-3.2 |
3.6 |
||
| 100% Green |
YES |
NO |
NO |
(‡ foot note) | |
| Recycled Content |
Over 82% |
<5% |
None |
||
| Install w/o gaps, voids |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Fiberglass has gaps, Foam has voids in bulk installations | |
| High Performance |
YES |
NO |
YES |
Sops air infiltration, fills voids and gaps. | |
| Stops Air Infiltration |
YES |
NO |
YES |
||
| Off Gases |
NO |
YES |
YES |
Fiberglass - formaldehyde, Icynene - isocyanates | |
| Fireproof Class "A" Rated |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Cellulose has no burn rate, no smoke when exposed to flame | |
| Fill Gaps and Voids |
YES |
NO |
YES |
||
| Low Embodied Energy |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Manufacturing energy costs. Cellulose is less than 1% of fiberglass or foam. | |
| Potentially Hazardous |
NO |
YES |
NO |
Fiberglass contains formaldehyde, arsenic and other irritants | |
| Hygroscopic† |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Absorbs and wicks moisture away from other building materials. | |
| Easy to Remove |
YES |
YES |
NO |
||
| Settles/Sags |
NO |
NO |
NO |
(* foot note) | |
| Closed Cavity Install |
YES |
NO |
YES |
Foam products require numerous install penetrations. | |
| Vermin Proof |
YES |
NO |
NO |
||
| Insect Proof |
YES |
NO |
NO |
||
| Mold/Fungus Proof |
YES |
NO |
NO |
||
| Perfect Fit |
YES |
NO |
YES |
5% gappage will increase energy usage by 52% | |
| Easy to retrofit (wiring/plumbing) |
YES |
YES |
NO |
||
| Distorts Jambs/Framing |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Expanding foams force on areas of installation. | |
| Zero Waste Factor |
YES |
NO |
NO |
||
|
Stops Convection |
YES |
NO |
YES |
Convection is the heat transfer by movement of air | |
|
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