6 Things to Know About Sheep’s #WoolInsulation
When it’s time to update your home’s insulation, consider what sheep’s wool has to offer.
By Alexa Erickson, Mar 24, 2021
"Sheep’s wool insulation uses a natural fiber base.
Among the most popular insulation materials today are #fiberglass and #rockwool (also known as mineral wool). Both consist of man-made fibers spun from, as their names suggest, molten glass or minerals such as basalt or diabase. While these insulation types are considered safe by institutes such as the U.S. National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, they do contain synthetic, hairlike fibers that can break off and become airborne during installation. They also contain #formaldehyde, which is known to release volatile organic compounds (#VOCs) into the air. Both airborne fibers and formaldehyde can irritate the skin and lungs, and long-term exposure to formaldehyde may cause some types of cancer. Even spray foam insulation can be especially dangerous due to the high level of VOCs that off-gas into the air during installation and before it cures completely.
Sheep’s wool insulation starts as sheared wool that grows naturally on sheep—often wool that is deemed too coarse to make into clothing or other fabric. It is important to note, however, that it is common manufacturing practice to treat sheep’s wool insulation with additives such as boric acid to repel insects and further reduce flammability. Ammonium sulfates may also be added as a fire retardant. So while the base material is inherently natural, the sheep’s wool insulation end product is also not completely free of toxins. Both additives are considered poisonous if ingested and can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Moreover, boric acid is classified as a reproductive toxin by the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation in Europe. [Boric acid does not pollute like #PFAS though]
When installing any type of insulation in your home, always use caution and wear the protective gear recommended by the insulation manufacturer."
Learn more:
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/sheeps-wool-insulation/
#SolarPunkSunday #Insulation #AnimalProducts #Wool #SprayFoamAlternatives #FiberglassAlternatives #SyntheticAlternatives
