Fiberglass is one of the most common insulation materials in homes, businesses, and industrial facilities all across Canada. This ubiquitous material is relatively inexpensive while significantly limiting thermal transfer between surfaces. That being said, fiberglass can cause serious irritation if not handled properly. In this week’s article, we are going to talk about the potential health risks associated with this seemingly innocuous pink fluff and how to handle it properly.
How It Works
As the name suggests, fiberglass is made up of numerous tiny glass fibers. Think of it like spun cotton candy, except the molten sugar is actually molten glass. The intersections of these fibers create tiny pockets of air that make it hard for heat to move through the process of conduction. This effectively stops, or at least slows down, heat escaping in or out of a space. Fiberglass insulation can come in two main forms: batts or rolls, and loose-fill. That being said, it is sometimes available in rigid boards or even duct insulation.
What Makes It Hazardous
What appears to be a soft cloud of material is actually millions of tiny glass shards fused together. You can probably guess that those minuscule glass fibers can cause serious irritation to three major areas:
- Skin. Bare skin against fiberglass is enough to loosen the fibers and embed them into your hand, arm, or whatever happens to have brushed past. This results in an itching or burning sensation to the exposed area, often followed by a rash.
- Eyes. Handling of fiberglass insulation can kick up the fibers and cause fiberglass dust to become airborne. Unfortunately, if this gets into your eyes it will cause much the same issues as would occur to your skin. However, you risk permanent damage to your corneas if not dealt with immediately.
- Respiratory Tract. As that fiberglass dust floats around you, breathing it in will cause significant irritation to your mouth, trachea, and even lungs. The tiny glass shards can travel surprisingly far and cause a lot of damage on the way.
Proper Protection
All that being said, fiberglass insulation isn’t an insidious entity waiting inside your walls to release its dust. The hazards are really only a concern in terms of installation and renovations. Handling this material is entirely possible and safe if the correct precautions are taken. For starters, the area to be worked in should be properly ventilated. Before working with fiberglass, wear the proper personal protective equipment, or PPE. This includes goggles, long socks, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a dust mask, and a cap to cover your hair. Any power tools used on the fiberglass should be equipped with a dust catcher. At the end of the project, remove your clothes and place them in a separate washing load. Any glass particles will easily be washed off.
Fiberglass insulation is a great material for a variety of applications, but it must be handled carefully to avoid skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. If you are not confident working in proximity with or installing fiberglass, our team at Westcal Insulation can do the job safely. Contact us today for a quote!
