Insulation Tips | What to look for  

Insulating attics, knee walls, basements, and crawlspaces are important steps to take while improving the overall efficiency of a home. However, insulating these areas without using the proper materials and procedures can cause major health and safety concerns. Before insulating, it is important to look for flue pipes, chimneys, non-IC-rated can lighting, and any other heat generating elements that can be potential fire hazards. According to the Building Performance Institute’s (BPI) Technical Standards for the Envelope Professional, all heat generating items listed above should be dammed to provide a 3”-6” minimum clearance from insulation. Sheet metal and rock wool are both acceptable materials to use while damming around heat generating elements. 

Another potential health and safety concern to look for while insulating a home is active knob and tube (K&T) wiring. BPI standards recommend insulation not be installed where active K&T wiring is found.  According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, “Knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring was an early standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, in common use in North America from about 1880 to the 1940s”. This time frame can help you determine if the home you are working in potentially has active knob and tube wiring.