Loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam as attic insulation

[Alton Darty]

Had this issue turn up in at several homes in one particular area that I inspect in, but this has bugged me & I want to get what thoughts are here on this.

I sometimes see the loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam beads used as attic insulation. I have been told that the styrofoam often comes from the FED EX facility in nearby Memphis, TN. But my question would be is this suitable as attic insulation? I know that the loose styrofoam has a low R value per inch, so it really isn't that great as far as insulating factor, but are there other issues? It looks to me that the stuff would melt/burn readily and I am unsure if there would be any added risk of any toxins in the products of combustion. Oh, and yes I did see and report the broken vertical support. 4 hours to go through this one, nearly every system or component had issues...
http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/attachment.php?attachmentid=33637&stc=1http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/attachment.php?attachmentid=33638&stc=1

[Jim Luttrall]

Had this issue turn up in at several homes in one particular area that I inspect in, but this has bugged me & I want to get what thoughts are here on this.

I sometimes see the loose fill polystyrene/styrofoam beads used as attic insulation. I have been told that the styrofoam often comes from the FED EX facility in nearby Memphis, TN. But my question would be is this suitable as attic insulation? I know that the loose styrofoam has a low R value per inch, so it really isn't that great as far as insulating factor, but are there other issues? It looks to me that the stuff would melt/burn readily and I am unsure if there would be any added risk of any toxins in the products of combustion. Oh, and yes I did see and report the broken vertical support. 4 hours to go through this one, nearly every system or component had issues...
http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/attachment.php?attachmentid=33637&stc=1http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/attachment.php?attachmentid=33638&stc=1
Unless it is listed with a flame/smoke index then it is not allowed. No label means it is not approved unless they can produce the document specifically allowing it or a letter from the AHJ.

[Jerry Peck]

Take a handful of the beads and put a lighter or match to it ... show your client how it burns.

It's not just that it burns, it gives off toxic fumes too, as I recall.

[Alton Darty]

Take a handful of the beads and put a lighter or match to it ... show your client how it burns.

It's not just that it burns, it gives off toxic fumes too, as I recall.

That was exactly what I did.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Insulation is a critical component of buildings.
Loose fill polystyrene is a hazard.

Your images show mechanically crushed EPS polystyrene.

Recent concerns have been raised about the brominated flame retardant HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane for the organic chemists among us) (https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/avoid-polystyrene-insulation)—see Flame Retardant Used in Polystyrene to be Banned by EU—that is found in all polystyrene insulation, both extruded (XPS) and expanded (EPS). HBCD may not (yet) be a household word like bisphenol-A has become, but it's been raising plenty of concern.

What happened when your tryed to ignite the material?

Behaviour of EPS in case of fire (http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/codedevelopment/pdf/wgfsbim/EUMEPS_FireBehavior.pdf).