Exposed fiberglass insulation

[Inspector 102]

A municipal buildng has a storage garage which is heated, normally unoccupied, Type III construction, used for storage of recovered bicycles, overflow storage, nat. gas generator, fire protection riser but no vehicles. The ceiling is uninsulated and above that is another storage area. The entrie area is protected with sprinkler, with the second floor being an antifreeze loop. Are they allowed to place unfaced fiberglass insulation in the floor joist space to limit the amout of heat loss in the lower portion. Batting will be wired up to hold it in place, but exposed to the area below.

 

[steveray]

Without looking.....should be OK.....the facing is usually the issue.....or to make it look a little nicer, they could cover it with FSK paper....

 

[kilitact]

Can they show that it meets the flame and smoke requirements?

 

[Architect1281]

Use unfaced or exposed side of fiberglass insulation as it meets all the right properties, Flame spread Smoke and fuel but it is really irritating to skin and lungs and becomes airborne easily - some notes from BIG PINK http://www.owenscorning.com/comminsul/documents/thermalbatt_eng.pdf but when I use this in areas where it is exposed overhead or even wall there is a reall great product that is used in many other ways tah has a Smoke and flame spread rating of 15 that is relativly cheap and readily available"Tyvek" or its many knockoffs... http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Weatherization/en_US/assets/downloads/K-05031_HW_Prod_Prop.pdf and solves the issues.