According to Wikipedia, modern-day Fiberglass Batt Insulation (aka Glass Wool) was introduced in 1933 by a gentleman named Games Slayter in Toledo, Ohio. Many changes have been made to the formulation of the products over the past several decades to remove harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, to create more eco-friendly products. Some products carry high air-quality ratings from third-party testing companies, but in all cases, fiberglass batt insulation should be covered with an approved thermal barrier or other covering to prevent glass spun particles from becoming air-borne.

Fiberglass Batt insulation is manufactured in many thicknesses and widths to fit virtually all applications. Typically, the thicker the insulation, the better the R-Value. R-Value, which measures a product’s resistance to heat gain, requirements vary by region, and we will make a recommendation based on your local code requirements to ensure you meet energy requirements.

One of the biggest downsides of fiberglass batt insulation is it’s air-permeable properties. This air-permeability status means that the batts cannot stop air from passing through. Convective heat transfer, or the movement of air, is one of the main sources of heat gain in a building. Because Fiberglass Batts are air-permeable, the heat will move through them via the movement of air. The insulation will slow the movement down, but unfortunately the heat transfer will happen. The rate at which the movement of heat is slowed down is tied directly to the R-Value and the quality of installation.

With all that said, each building insulation product (including fiberglass batts) is manufactured with one or more specific applications in mind. Just because Fiberglass Batts are not considered air-impermeable products, doesn’t mean they aren’t good. When choosing insulation products, consider the good, better and best option for your application. We’re happy to show you how!