Exposed Facing on Batt Insulation in Crawlspace - InspectionNews

phil kaznowski · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 07:40 PM

How do you call out exposed facing on batt insulation installed along a cripple wall in the crawlspace (paper or older foil type)? The newer type has the warning label concerning fire, the older or foil type does not. Instead of being replaced, can it just be flipped around where the facing is against the back side of the siding or shear? Will this create a moisture problem?

Interested in your thoughts.

Thanks,

Phil K.

Matt Fellman · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 08:03 PM

Should be unfaced if there is no heated space. If/when it's an older type that doesn't have a warning label I'll usually just say the facing on most insulation is not supposed to be left exposed. Realistically, it's not the end of the world.

John Kogel · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Fellman

Realistically, it's not the end of the world.

No, but it's not far from the center of the universe.

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil kaznowski

How do you call out exposed facing on batt insulation installed along a cripple wall in the crawlspace (paper or older foil type)? The newer type has the warning label concerning fire, the older or foil type does not.

Think of that like book matches ... the old ones never said "Close cover before striking" like the newer ones do ... does that then mean the older book matches were safe without that wording on their cover? Or was it because it became acknowledged that the unsafe condition existed and the wording was added?

Does that therefore mean that an old book matches does not need to have the cover closed before striking to be safe?

phil kaznowski · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 06:22 PM

I like that better than tearing off a piece and lighting it with a match to prove the point to a client (that was given by another inspector).

Thanks for the insight.