Testing The Burn Ability Of Insulation In Wall

[@ForTheBirbs]

I worked for 25 years in an Australian federal govt fire research laboratory. We did extensive testing of different insulation materials some years ago. Your tests basically matched up. Congratulations on this video. Great information and well presented.

[@dd-ow6pe]

Great confirmation comment .. thank you.

[@ErraticPerfectionist]

Back when the Australian government actually acknowledged scientific evidence...oh how we miss those days 😅

[@ForTheBirbs]

You got it in one. The fire testing group is the only one surviving at North Ryde, NSW. The site had over 1200 in my day, now 20 or so. They are under threat still, hopefully building a new facility out near new international airport site

[@felderup]

has austrialia gone very far in using sheeps wool as insulation? beyond 2000 did a bit on it a long time ago, i wondered if it'd ever make it here.

[@ForTheBirbs]

Wool is still available as a roof insulation as a blow in

[@djspx]

Rockwool is actually a molten rock byproduct, not fiberglass. Essentially rock fibers which is why it doesn't burn.

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

That's very interesting. I suppose same danger for inhaling a lot of it. Rock isn't very biodegradable. Maybe slightly better than fiberglass though? It sure was fire resistant. Even proof. Edit: Just found this info: "The dust from rockwool can irritate the skin and eyes if a person comes into direct contact with it. Gloves and goggles should be worn when working with rockwool. This is why rockwool is not as harmful to breathe in as asbestos. Because rockwool fibers are short and thick, the body can easily expel them." Rockwool FTW!! Seems well worth the price.

[@djspx]

@@terminalpsychosis8022 Nice info!

[@TDREXrx9]

@@terminalpsychosis8022 rockwool is way safer then fiber glass it also produces far less fibers during install (to the point only dust masks are required for install), the benefits and completely fire proof good sound blocking and in is vapor permeable. it is costly

[@simonquvang6073]

@@TDREXrx9 You gotta wear gloves too but otherwise yes.

[@peteysquirrelchaser9028]

Rockwool is used as steam pipe insulation. No question it's fireproof.

[@inastew1]

We have sheep's wool insulation (not rockwool ) in our roof. It has proved more effective than fiberglass. Because it is loose it can give complete coverage, unlike fiberglass that fits between the joists and can have thin gaps and fiberglass is also hard to install in tight corners at the edge of the roof. It will not burn, it sort of melts but only in intense heat and your house would be toast by that stage anyway. It can't sustain a fire in itself. The only processing sheep wool needs is to be sheared from the sheep, cleaned and treated to repel vermin. Currently the low price of wool means that many farmers now shear the sheep only for their welfare and leave the wool in the paddocks. Hence wool insulation would give a source of income for farmers and the cheapest, usually unusable, parts of the fleece can be used. ( in New Zealand ) Like many things in this world that are natural, cheap and sustainable they can not get a hold in the market because the big manufacturing companies have the resources to undercut and mislead through advertising that such products can't get into the market.

[@kimwells8395]

Thank you for writing this. I have done my research but my husband hasn't fully seen the benefits of sheep wool as good insulation. Between this video and your comment I might be able to get him to understand why I want sheep wool.

[@JessicaJLandi]

Wow, fantastic info. Sheep's wool. Somehow this doesn't even surprise me.

[@TheSwissChalet]

...and they love to kill off the little guy...in an indirect way. Thanks for this info. It could possibly save lives.

[@marti4689]

I love the idea of a grown insulation, I do. I had no idea the price of wool was down. I would much rather buy wool than all this fake crap, SMH!! HOWEVER, one thing about about wool concerns me (no doubt chemical companies use it to scare people) If I'm remembering school chemistry correctly... wool, hair, and silk (possibly feathers too) give off toxic gas when they burn (cyanide gas I think). We never did an experiment actually burning wool, so I can't say if it flames. They insinuated it flamed. And I had wool topped quilts stored when my garage caught fire, they definitely looked like they had burned. So, while I love the idea of grown insulation, I doubt a few of your statements. Maybe someone with more expertise can chime in.

[@richardmattocks]

Post 10…. Giving us the content we didn’t know we wanted but when we see it, we know we NEEDED it! Brilliant!

[@Justme-jt1ef]

Yep I second that. I wish I could hangout with this dude seems like a cool dude

[@Tazerboy_10]

@@Justme-jt1ef Yeah, I mean I would hang out with him because of vast interest/intelligence on different topics/subjects...

[@jattupardu1860]

Same here! He's a cool, interesting dude.

[@Typhyr]

Not all heroes ware capes, some just carry a camera and a rake.

[@richardmattocks]

@@Typhyr 👍

[@eliotness107]

In Swedish construction we use rockwool as the standard. If you use it for walls its extremely important you make perfect cuts with milimeter precision to not have any leakage that will cause condensation. Rockwool is fantastic material! but the rockwool mat you have in the video is for attics, you could use it on ventilation pipes aswell but usually the mats for ventilation comes with metal nets so you can put them easier on the pipes and keep the size on it. sorry for terrible explanation my native is swedish :D

[@himii100]

Rockwool/Fiberglass as standard, barley ever with the paper though

[@Jagggggg88]

If you use rockwool as wall / roof insulation, how thick do you insulate both? Cm?

[@mrpumperknuckles1631]

Honestly rock wool I would pay for a good manufacturing to be made in the United States. The fact your recycle literal slag from metal manufacturing is smart. People who claim that the disadvantage is that it’s not biodegradable is stupid because when your building houses. You should build houses that last long periods of time if possible over hundreds of years old. Who ever thought that we shouldn’t use Rockwool as a standard is stupid because we should build homes with quality and have these houses as fire proof as possible. Foam I heard good things but this changed my mind because honestly. Every year state regulators often change policy for what is put into the material and as a product of that foam is now flammable… it’s because multiple reasons. 1. When first implemented into the market it had a slower application time because the chemicals used were less flammable. The chemicals that made it more expansive so that you can use less of the material which made it cheaper. It’s still the more expensive option… 2. It doesn’t matter if Rock wall to cover the walls because it will still eventually burn through that than reach the foam. That’s why I believe rock wool should expand their markets all honestly.

[@eliotness107]

@@mrpumperknuckles1631 i think in this global recession its going to take a while before they would expand into the US. Our production costs here in Europe have skyrocketed due to diesel and electricity prices going to the moon, so construction business is suffering into next year. Im a professional who works alot with insulation and in two years time prices of rockwool has nearly doubled. Tho rockwool is very strong against fire it does eventually "get old" and cause extreme amounts of dust, and when you put your hand into 50 years old rockwool it breaks easily, but regardless of that fact. I think you get your moneys worth if something lasts for 50 years that at least should be cheap to buy in a normal environment with cheap electricity and diesel. But the best part about rockwool is not the fire resistance, no no.. its the noise cancelling and it keeps your house from leaking heat or taking in cold from outside. I onve built a small 10 square meter shed and used rockwool for it. It was 30 degree celsius outside but inside the shed it was 12 degree. I think these foams have more downside then rockwool so for me the choice is easy

[@jonothandoeser]

Oh... Swedes are always sticklers for millimeter precision!

[@cmdub97]

My house is insulated with fiberglass and that's what saved our bathroom this past summer. Our house caught fire and aside from spots where the insulation was chewed through by rats, nothing was damaged that wasn't attached to the plastic plumbing pipes. Thankfully it didn't cost much to replace.

[@andhen12]

I work as house builder and rockwool is the only insolation that is approved to use in my country because of its great fire resistance. Its also very easy to work with.

[@xman7695]

Same here in ours. It's not fun to work with that stuff though (i mostly used glass fiber from a few decades ago that we still had though, which was no fun to work with eighter)

[@Gaecci]

@@xman7695 rock wool or basalt wool (the brown one) are better to work with than glass wool. Also, just make the building open for water wapor with vented facade and you get the most out of timber construction without being worried of condensation and mold.

[@ClockworksOfGL]

And it’s a great sound insulator.

[@CyberLord5G]

Euro

[@martymiller9788]

I loved how easy it was to install it.

[@frankthatuknow4291]

Safety Inspector and Safety Instructor I wish people here in Florida made as much sense as this man here

[@post.10]

you are the safety inspector? That means a lot coming from you

[@misanthropyunhinged]

LMAO FLORIDA

[@dustyc324]

@@misanthropyunhinged I came to comment exactly that. Just saying Florida is a joke by itself. Hilarious.

[@1carus63]

Damn everyone here hating on Florida.

[@Ay-xq7mj]

@@1carus63 Its as mismanaged as China. Look at the sink hole with acidic radioactive waste going into it like a water fall.

[@andrewmangini9004]

Rockwool is used as a fire stop in commercial construction. It is actually rated for it.

[@Cardel34]

Yea and it sucks when your the apprentice who has to go around and stuff and fire caulk it all.

[@racoonbreath]

how know not asbestos that grey wool looking stuff old 50's homes

[@philipdove1705]

Rock wool is a joy to handle and use It doest itch as bad as fiberglass

[@ViggaTron]

In Denmark its used for both residential and commercial. Its just a great product,

[@dethmaul]

​@@philipdove1705 I just built a house with it, it was so easy. Made me sneezy because dust kills me and i was kicking it up everywhere. A LITTLE itchy, but not really. Inwore a tyvek suit and gloves and was keen.

[@ml9867]

As a Firefighter and fan of shows like This Old House, this is very enlightening.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I'm glad to see he's ignited, your intrest in residential construction.

[@jeffreyjohnson6584]

lol then forget what you learned here and go look at the proper chemicals tests, nobodys can foaming a whole house

[@CR-zh8xj]

As a 40-year veteran of the fire service, thank you for the demonstration. But, the other consideration: when spray foam is applied, Sheetrock is then applied over the insulation. This limits the amount of air (ventilation/flow) which can enter the space and reduces the opportunity of fire spread. Leaving your test space open is not a true test of applicable conditions. While it is true that Fiberglas and rock wool insulation offer better safety from fire, in an open application, the spray foam may give you a higher R value for a lower cost, in a closed-space application. Might be worth another test. Especially if you can simulate an electrical short behind the Sheetrock. (And, of course, I just found your 2nd video on this same topic. Still, it how’s the wall space open, not closed up.)

[@renatewoodmansee4203]

@@CR-zh8xj 9

[@humanbeing-001]

He burning great stuff foam out of a can, not closed cell spray foam which doesn't burn. Huge difference. This test is flawed.

[@connorbeattie1962]

I’ve sold a lot of the rock wool before and not only is it nearly fire proof but it’s also very good at sound proofing, enough so that you can barely hear the other person on the other side of the bundle

[@jameslastname9171]

Well, it is made of rock so…

[@stefan-ox8qs]

@@jameslastname9171 so its rocksolid for the job.

[@CoasterCrazyy]

Couldn't agree more! Sound proof your bathroom walls with this stuff and no one will hear that toilet flush!

[@derekeuchner1800]

As someone looking into houses I can fix and improve, this info just made the list. Thank you for the info.

[@FJB2020]

Fiberglass has nearly the same STC rating as rockwool and costs a lot less.. plus it isn't made with formaldehyde binders..

[@pawsnclaws2115]

I hope you realize by making this video you probably saved many lives. We owe you a deep hearted thanks

[@billrobbins5874]

Think would prefer the old fiberglass insulation. Those foam sprays scary. Thanks Post. 👍👍

[@FuImaDragon]

yeah, i was thinking of insulating the wall between my condo and the next with spray foam. Not going to do that now.

[@fabr5747]

Or you read research on the topic and get proper information...

[@TheStabbyMedic]

I agree! I was so excited about the new spray foam insulation, because it’s quicker to install.. but sounds like there’s a reason that we use what we use.

[@gregnajar]

@@FuImaDragonlol you think if your wall catches fire the insulation will stop it or something? Y’all are so dumb.

[@SuperZytoon]

This comes at an ironic moment. My smoke detector batteries started beeping during last night. They needed replaced, which I did immediately. Then, your demo this morning. Thank you, Post! I downloaded this demo to keep and study. You go out of your way to keep us informed and protected.

[@guineapigwarriors2453]

Haha mine does that to

[@kouwearie5302]

What a twist.

[@paulguimond7548]

Fire Department arrives on scene: "What the heck is going on here?" Post 10: "It's my science project".

[@gypsetsalon2585]

Sorry to correct but I’m a builder in the northeast and we use R30 Rockwool insulation in any vaulted ceiling we build. It has to be 2x10 so there’s a space for ventilation. I prefer not to build that way I make double roofs instead. Rockwool is overall the best rodent pest resistant fire retardant water resistant also. A great combo is 2” of spray foam for air sealing then Rockwool. Great video

[@gonsalomon]

Doesn't the foam catch fire too quickly? I'd be a bit reticent to use synthetic materials (that is, petrol derived)

[@bill-o-visionstudios1310]

Awesome!

[@DZ_Sparty]

His foam must have been off ratio, I’ve sat there with a blowtorch on our foam and it only burned the outside

[@mohammedrahman308]

No spray foam period

[@agrisea.original]

Rock wool is not a type of "glass insulation", it is spun rock with a much higher melting point, doesn't allow mold to grow in it if it gets wet, critters can't use it for nests, readers sound, and cuts very easily.

[@seeqr9]

Glass is essentially melted rock so he’s not wrong.

[@GoldenBoy-et6of]

@@seeqr9 yep, rocks are made of silica while glass is also made of multiple types silica like borosilicate or pyrex which is a different silica compound. Also glass refers to when chemicals arent able to crystallize because of differentiating solubility keeping Crystal's from being able to form which usually ends up being perfectly clear with Lil impurities. All slag and all obsidian and all basalt is technically glass and rock wool is made from basalt specifically which is volcanic rock and Idk if you've noticed but volcanic rocks weigh nothing because their made of glass that's all puffed up like foam. Basalt refers to the foamy type glass from valcanos while obsidian refers to the very pure silica glass produced by valcanos. Also rock wool and fiber glass and asbestos all cause the same problem from breathing them in but the difference is that rock wool and fibre glass are made in a way that the fibres are at controlled thickness which keeps them from being as small as asbestos so u are less likely to die from glass fibre or rock wool but both rock wool and glass fibre are very equally bad for your body and both should be handled with gloves and when using rockwool for insulation in homes your supposed to use a face mask just like with glass fibre but when using rock wool in the garden you dont really need a face mask. Also rock wool has a much higher melting point then fibre glass and is made from naturally occurring minerals and silica while glass fibre is made from pure recycled glass so it's pure silica and is very inert while rock wool can contain random minerals and animals like rats are less likely to use rock wool for bedding or nests while they are very likely to use fibre glass because of it being inert and basically they cant tell it's not just fur while with rock wool it can smell funny and Harbor bacterias because of the natural minerals in it and volcanic rock is naturally good for bacteria because its rich in minerals that bacteria love!

[@FJB2020]

I had some rockwool laying around in my carport after a remodel and field mice and birds made nests in it. When I went to clean it up, it broke down in pieces and made a huge mess..

[@eh_bailey]

@@seeqr9 he is really wrong. Mineral wool and fiberglass look and install similarly, but that is where it ends. There are huge differences in different kinds of rocks and huge differences in the qualities and performance of these to insulators.

[@LackeysLack]

@@seeqr9 All rocks started out as melted rock. More specifically though, the glasses are rocks that cool so fast, minerals do not crystallize separately. Because different minerals have different melting points (which also means "freezing" points when it goes from liquid to solid), the slower molten rock cools, the more time given for the different minerals to separate and crystallize out of molten solution, aggregate, and form microscopic and then visible crystals. This is why you can visibly see individual crystals in granite, but surface formed basalt has much smaller crystals, and you will see maybe the occasional isolated crystal in glass when looking at it with a microscope. Because granite is formed in huge formations underground where its heat is insulated and it can cool over thousands of years compared to surface lavas which can cool from nearly instantly to a few days.

[@t-yoonit]

Before you tore into the foam, you could see the velocity of the smoke exiting the top, that means there is still massive amounts of heat and thermal energy stored within a void space that is lacking enough oxygen to burn. When you poked holes in it, you reintroduced oxygen and caused a flashover in the void space. Fire science is fun!

[@ilyastambolic33]

Technically a backdraft

[@ilyastambolic33]

But yes fire science is fun

[@lylawaters6345]

Thank you for saving lives. This should be required viewing for all home builders.

[@JCZ2601NL]

🇳🇱rock wool is the best and is well resistant to heat and fire, it is used to make fireproof safes, among other things, greetings from hans from the Netherlands.👍👍👍🍀

[@lordjaashin]

how tall are you? i heard northerners in Netherlands are crazy tall

[@JCZ2601NL]

@@lordjaashin 1meter95

[@lordjaashin]

@@JCZ2601NL impressive. you're literally as tall as a giant

[@eustache_dauger]

Is it a common insulation material in NL?

[@sFde46]

@@eustache_dauger mineral wool and expanded polystyrene EPS insulation board are one of the most common insulations all around europe

[@PingMe23]

Adam Savage quoting an expert he worked with: "The difference between science and screwing around is the act of writing it down." You are a science man.

[@txgunguy2766]

Mythbusters looked like a REALLY fun place to work, just too bad it was in San Francisco.

[@KDill29]

@@txgunguy2766 why is that bad?

[@MegaBrokenstar]

@@KDill29 look at his username. He’s a right wing nut, pissed that SF is insufficiently racist.

[@KDill29]

@@MegaBrokenstar lmao. True that homie

[@FelixUmbra]

@@MegaBrokenstar "He’s a right wing nut, pissed that SF is insufficiently racist." Since when are guns racist?

[@lanaskywow]

3:04 I wish this was talked about more, a lot of people would be more cautious if they knew. Thanks for the video!

[@violetm8110]

👀 how do I tell if my outlet is rated correctly? I have a little space heater I use frequently.

[@terrygoyan]

As a contractor, I'm surprised there are not more fire codes concerning the type and usage of different insulations. I really feel for fire fighters entering buildings using foam insulation! So scary....

[@itoibo4208]

I had read this is the reason we cannot have plastic panelling in houses. It is too bad, too, because the plastic looks really nice in some settings.

[@willthomsen7569]

How bout all the pvc trim and plastic board and fake siding full of glue? What about big heavy glue-lams held up by new growth spruce or engineered crap? Not a good setup for anybody, least of which firefighters

[@mungo7136]

Locally, firefighters enter building in closed-circuit breathers. In modern buildings there is simply too much plastic and other materials that smoke and gases produced in fire are too toxic to take risks. It is not just carbon mono/dioxide etc. is in days long gone. You are entering space filled with cocktail of many chemical compounds that can poison you for the rest of your life.

[@dvader3263]

Even worse, there's the vinyl floors, polyester fabrics in clothing and vinyl and fabrics in window coverings, polyurethane sponge in the furniture, mattresses and bedding along with nylon and polyester carpet and padding making a hazardous stew of toxic chemicals during fires. Polyisocyanurate solid board insulation performs well for fire resistance during fire exposure.

[@chebonlee3544]

Everything in modern homes is made out of petroleum, that's why legacy construction gave you about 30 minutes until flashover, modern homes give you about 3 minutes from ignition to flashover

[@juicenozzle2575]

the spray foam hiding an inferno was legitimately terrifying

[@MrMustangMan]

yes.!!!!!

[@Justme-jt1ef]

This is the reason firefighters use hooks and axes fire can hide just remember where there’s smoke there’s fire.

[@samuelmellars7855]

Up until 13:21 I was wondering what you were talking about... Yeah, that's pretty terrifying!

[@planestrainsandthings]

Nightmare fuel fr

[@schueltar]

Alot of them use propane as the propellant.. so you have a bunch of propane bubbles inside of the foam.

[@johnh1001]

As you spoke of "Spray foam Insulation" , I thought back a few decades ago to a type of insulation called "Urea formaldehyde foam insulation" it was sooooo dangerous . It was such a terrible fire trap . It would go up just like your burned out test frame work , or even worse . It's something else to stay away from when insulating .

[@RiskyVentureMinerals]

Urea is an oxidizer, pretty insane that they would use that as an insulation. Basically installing accelerant into homes!

[@Rubysrescue]

After seeing how the left panel burned I can now understand how a home can mysteriously catch fire after it was believed to have been thoroughly extinguished the first time!

[@t-yoonit]

This is why we tear up houses as much as we do even for small fires. Smoldering Hot spots can be hiding in so many little spaces and reignite hours later.

[@dragonfireproductions790]

That's the reason why we firefighters do overhaul, we literally break open walls and check through thermals to find embers

[@lukasvondaheim]

Overe here it is common practice that two or more firefighters stay at site for a few hours afterwards in case something reignites

[@jollybee5220]

Now hes teaching us informative stuff, is there something this man can't do in regards to construction industry stuff

[@robinlaszlo]

I consider the drain unclogging informative also as I didn't know it was such a big issue but I am also not very savvy when it comes to subjects like that or this.

[@ghfjhloudz7607]

What about HAY, i read that does not burn well...why the heck did you not include hay in this?

[@eh_bailey]

Maybe teaching with some accurate facts?

[@mmercier0921]

Build with steel stud framing. You make up the material cost through reduced labor cost... if you have a good crew.

[@Nunya-gk9fr]

@@ghfjhloudz7607 because most people don’t live in a wigwam & insulate their walls with hay. & hay will most definitely burn idk who told you that but they are very wrong

[@dansan-l2x]

There is like 10 different types of spray foams. The one I used is called Polynor made in Europe. Does not catch fire because inside the foam all the bubbles are made of Co2 which will actually put out a fire if melted or torched.

[@P4hko]

Having a hard time finding exact details but by that logic it's not fireproof but does better then other types but it's still fuel for the fire.

[@eng3d]

its a retardant but it is not fireproof

[@UTubePhoenix]

@user… prove it by testing it on a section of your home. Don’t forget to film that for KZbin!!

[@dansan-l2x]

I can prove it because I did my research before buying so I know it works. I've tested it on open flame it lights but within seconds the flame dies. You should c02 and fire maybe you'll learn something too@@UTubePhoenix

[@Jeffindsm]

So the small little itty bitty bubble bursts and lets loose a little itty bitty amount of CO2 “once” The fire continues.

[@stevelake3541]

We had an horrific incident here in the Uk a couple of years ago at a high rise block of flats called Grenfell tower where a brand of foam insulation was attached to the external of the 1960s era concrete structure and covered with aluminium decorative panelling ,one of the flats caught fire and the insulation burned very rapidly between the panelling and the original structure causing an inferno which claimed the lives of over 70 souls ,various people have been blamed for bad practise and dubious decision making but nobody has been truly held accountable for the events of that night

[@asilver2889]

The Grenfell fire was created by the CLADDING infill of very flammable polyethylene PLUS the chimney effect of the gap between the insulation and the cladding. Not helped by plastic windows held in place by foam, polystyrene, and rubber. The insulation was not suitable either, can burn as in this test, but the combination with the cladding and air maximised the inferno. Grenfell was far from the only building with this construction, turns out the UK was riddled with hundreds of similar buildings. The inquiry has JUST ended (Nov 2022) report yet to come, and criminal investigations are now able to be progressed.

[@laughingone3728]

@@asilver2889 A great example to show why too much foam, plastic, and rubber-like stuff is a bad idea on any building.

[@cedriclynch]

In the UK I get lots of phone calls from firms trying persuade me that I should have my glass-fiber insulation removed and replaced by plastic foam.

[@M13x13M]

No one is being blamed because the eco political issues were met and werecmore important than any other issues. considerations.

[@Islacrusez]

Bay number 2 reminded me of exactly that. Uncomfortably flammable material in a vertical arrangement, chimney draft, and we’re off to the races.

[@IL_801]

Post is a water bender, earth bender, and now a fire bender...my god 😳

[@letsgoblue9596]

D E A R G O D

[@jaymespenner3441]

"Previously, on the last Avatar, Post 10 drained a culvert, and today, he battles the Fire Of The Doors"

[@RichardLeslieWhereat]

Isn't he a sparkie? He was always a lightning bender

[@ms.pirate]

Next he needs to bend air Bonus points if he starts doing metal, lighting, ice, and control someone from blood

[@IL_801]

Rake bender too haha

[@TrainerAQ]

I'm about to be a first time homeowners, and there is SO MUCH INFORMATION out there! GOD! It's a firehose of information! So many materials! So many projects, so many things thangs that can happen to a house! How do people track all this stuff. I feel like I'm gonna miss something and the house is going to crumble to the floor!

[@jstoney6471]

Rockwool/mineral Wool does not burn. 25 years as a Construction Inspector!

[@raven4k998]

the electrical outlet is like I'm melting I'm melting

[@masterenos]

@@raven4k998 that outlet was also nowhere near the roxkwool

[@humanbeing-001]

Neither does closed cell. This test is not accurate, he used Great Stuff out of a can.

[@ImOnlySIeeping]

​@@humanbeing-001where's your video

[@rayw3294]

I hope someone gives you a medal, because you have certainly earned in my book. Thanks mate.

[@lordjaashin]

then send him a medal if he earned one in your book

[@ms.pirate]

@@lordjaashin he might not have a PO box

[@rayw3294]

@@lordjaashin I live in Scotland and we only have blue Peter badges.

[@beaner2907]

Great video! As a homeowner, this kind of info is pure gold, thank you!

[@ms.pirate]

I'm glad my house is full of that fiber glass (we saw when our neighborhood was still being built). This video actually brings more security to me as i get easily paranoid. thank you so very much for this video!

[@Oatmealism]

Here I am, a resident of eastern washington going "You got insulation?" My apartment buildings were built on a budget in a desert like environment, but we get super hot summers and super cold winters and not a lot of moisture - yet I don't think there is an ounce of insulation in these walls. Ice can form on the walls in the winter, heat just radiates through the wall in the summer. If I could I'd take someone to court over this.

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

I learn more practical stuff from this channel than I have from my 3 college degrees. The Post 10 School of Practical Engineering totally rocks! This is super cool! 😊

[@eh_bailey]

I'm sorry your college failed you so badly...

[@leo959]

The world needs to see this. I bet u are saving lives right now with this information.

[@smittys19daytona]

Just got the break down from an insulation estimator, rock-wool is made from Lava rock melted down literally turned back into molten lava, which then through the process turns into to this cotton candy like material good to 5000 degrees, fiberglass same process but made from sand pretty interesting

[@mattcurr9931]

yep, basalt (lava rock)

[@laughingone3728]

Mostly Correct! The difference is temperature. Glass melts at a much lower temperature than rocks. Glass even burns in many building fires when the fire is hot enough. That means the "mineral wool" made from rocks is, by far, the best and safest in most applications.

[@Pantology_Enthusiast]

@@laughingone3728 true. rockwool is painfully expensive but it's the most heat resistant. The only thing better than rockwool is asbestos... I'll stick with the rockwool😅

[@Gargoyle364]

@@Pantology_Enthusiast Not only that but rockwool is VERY water resistant, the basalt is already resistant but the oil used in it's manufacture improves it further. Fiber glass holds water quite well, making it easier for mold and mildew to form this trapped moisture can also cause corrosion and damage to wires and outlets, increasing the chances of fires.

[@Pantology_Enthusiast]

@@Gargoyle364 oof, big time. Fiberglass is like a sponge.

[@povang]

I swear by rockwool insulation, great stuff; imo the best insulation. Sure there are more environmentally friendly options like corks, cotton/denim, sheepwool but none of them provide the fire resistsance and moisture resistance of rockwool. In fact, the environmentally friendly insulations are often the worst kind of insualtion, zero fire and moisture resistance.

[@markpeterson9808]

Rockwool, aka mineral wool is literally made from rocks, cant get more environmentally friendly that that

[@sheilastewart3953]

How toxic was that

[@highlandestate3853]

I’d be interested to see a fire test on wool insulation. I remember seeing one on wool carpet vs nylon and the wool just smouldered and then went out

[@rob214]

It's also bug and rodent resistant

[@davidv5510]

@Unknown Alien yes it is, the fibers come loose while insulating and they go really deep in your lungs. Even when wearing a face mask it wil remain in the air for quitte a while. And the insulationvalue isn't that great

[@chucknthewild]

I’m about to build an off grid home in Southern California. I NEEDED to see this video! Thank you so much!!

[@jacquelerock6938]

It’s good to see you uploading a video like this Post. It brings to light the inherent downfalls of certain insulations. It teaches people who may not know or realize these dangers. I would however like to bring something to your attention about a big difference between Rockwool and fibreglass. Fibreglass holds water like a sponge when it’s wet, thereby losing all of its insulating properties. Rockwool on the other hand, allows water to pass straight through and doesn’t lose its insulating properties. This is only one of the benefits of Rockwool over fibreglass. I won’t get into the issues of fibreglass sagging over time and creating voids in your walls. That’s a whole other can of worms.

[@DizzLexic]

I'm about to install a bunch of Rockwool today at my cottage. I feel much better about it now. haha

[@bradley3549]

I love the stuff, it's far better than fiberglass. Instead of just stuffing it into a space and hoping it fits, the rockwool can be cut to fit intricate cavities with no air pockets. The fire resistance is just a bonus IMO. It's a superior insulator as well.

[@ScottALanter]

This was not only fascinating to watch. It was extremely educational. Wow! Good experiment.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

This is very important! My father early in my life taught me about plugging in device's when they are too much load for the socket. My late husband and both my boys had been trained professionally. But non of my girlfriends can answer any questions about electricity. Many have suffered fires and I have put out one electrical issue fire as I was visiting. Yes I believe in having ABC extinguishers available at home. Fire takes over much faster that a person can imagine. Thank you Post 10. I'm sharing this with a few friends. Keep these great videos coming. Take care..

[@kirkyorg7654]

you are so right if you haven't experienced a real fire the average person has no idea how fast a fire spreads it can engulf a room/car/rv in seconds

[@somecunninglinguist]

Your chanel is the most random but enjoyable topics ever

[@brencrun5068]

You can smell his perfume?

[@15secofFame]

I'm glad you posted this test! I just canceled my foam installation project in the attic...just bought rockwool instead.

[@dompal9070]

Spray foam won't burn like that. He used great stuff which is a different type of foam. You canceled a job for no reason because of wrong information.

[@chimerasofhafgufa]

Hope the rest of your house is insulated well. /gen

[@elaexplorer]

He has mislead you. The spray foam has a fire rating of class 1, the safest class. This guy has fear mongered you into substandard insulation.

[@PSNDonutDude]

​@@elaexplorerI'm finishing our basement, and the idiots who owned the place before me spray foamed our stone foundation. It is causing it to stay saturated and rot. I've spent around 200 hours removing spray foam. Just using regular fukin insulation. Spray foam is trash, don't use it, regardless of it's fire retardent ability.

[@johnwicksfoknpencil]

@@elaexplorerMake a video yourself to prove him wrong. Otherwise people believe what they can see with their own eyes

[@lutchiewiens5788]

Thank you for your demonstration and for all the info, including those in the comments. In the region where I live, some houses are still built with mud insulation in the ceilings due to hot weather in the summer time. Only in the last 6-7 years has rockwool/mineralwool/fiberglass become available in the market here. I was very glad when my hubby agreed to having miner al wool installed in the ceiling of our new addition to the house.

[@midgard8550]

What region are you in?

[@ian2372]

Having my new house under construction, one of my major decisions was open cell spray foam or rockwool. I live in north Texas. Here in the south, humidity is a huge factor. Thanks for this.

[@zacd7094]

I also live in Texas, they did open cell in my place two days ago

[@hillaryclinton2415]

Open cell spray foam loves moisture and growing stuff in it

[@krisw8419]

closed cell spray foam if you can afford is an effective vapor barrier and is also has a class 1 fire rating.. meaning it is self extinguishing. it will only burn in the presense of constant flame exposure.. do not fear spray foam.. do the research .. my home burned 2 years ago, traditional insulation, on rebuild i opted for closed cell and did the whole house.. i made this decision as an active firefighter as well..

[@napa1617]

Get nice closed cell spray foam. Having R7 insulation, inert AND blocking, and structurally supporting burning stuff is great, along with being a physical barrier. I work with rigid closed cell foam professionally (as high performance foamcore-carbon fiber composite longboards). The stuff doesn’t mess around if you get the right stuff. The lil can you can buy is nothing like the two-part polyol/isocyanate rigid spray foam that is applied. That stuff (spray foam) is used in fire safe buildings for a reason. It is REALLY good at taking a fire. If it’s between open cell and rock wool, picking rock wool is the easy choice. If it’s between a nice rigid closed cell foam and rockwool, picking closed cell foam is the easy choice. Anyways both work very very well and it’s a matter of the one you have is the one you want if you already have one of them.

[@bp8652]

I got to see testing like this at underwriters labs years ago on a school field trip. They burnt a 2 story house inside a giant warehouse. Also, they tested how fast flame spread Horizontally for most material.

[@paulk3681]

I hope this video goes viral. The fact that people are entrusting their lives to these dangerous products is terrifying. Thank you.

[@post.10]

I made this video because I've seen other demonstration doing the same thing but never involving spray foam. I used spray foam in a lot of my projects when I do home repairs in flip houses the stuff is completely safe as long as the electrical system is good, as an electrical worker I always oversized the wires to prevent the hazard

[@tomaszmuza1957]

@@post.10 a man of many talents

[@PhilowenAster]

I just shared it on Facebook to hopefully help get things going on the viral bit.

[@Hyratel]

@@post.10 as an Apprentice-looking-for-work, I salute you for that. #12 might cost more, but it's worth the safety and peace of mind for 15A circuits, especially places that are likely to have space heaters used (this is why I have a 20 A Single-outlet circuit for A/C and heater, NOTHING ELSE goes on that circuit)

[@rsmith02]

Spray foam has excellent resistance to heat transfer and closed-cell blocks moisture. It is flammable so if a fire starts, get out. Follow codes when installing it that require an ignition barrier (drywall generally). With fiberglass on a roof you may well rot out due to moisture intrusion.

[@tubehunter66]

Fire 🔥 and moving water 💦 are my two favourites and Post 🔟 has both covered. Cheers Kind Sir 👍🏽👍🏽

[@AWARHERO]

I'm glad i picked rockwool for my garage insulation.

[@bryansprecher]

As an hvac contractor I've been advising people to use rock wool instead of spray foam ever since I heard about the product.

[@humanbeing-001]

Na, spray foam is far superior and not the same as Great Stuff out of a can , this test is flawed.

[@bryansprecher]

@@humanbeing-001 Unless you live in a humid environment and your Air conditioner goes out and you can't get the part for a couple weeks because the shitty economy and your entire house becomes a breeding ground for micro organisms. Or if you have a small leak in your roof or wall that incubates rot. I've seen many spray foam jobs gone wrong. Never have I seen or heard anything wrong with rock wool. A far superior product.

[@markusford6585]

@@humanbeing-001 exactly! Home insulation has boron (or something else Inert) added to it to make it less flammable. For just sealing windows and doors great stuff doesn't need it

[@markusford6585]

@@bryansprecher As an electrician dealing with wires that are spray foamed is a pain in the ass.

[@MichelLinschoten]

@@humanbeing-001 I think your eyes and comprehension skills are flawed ...

[@justind202]

From a fire service perspective this is a great training tool, thank you for making it!

[@barryb8850]

I am a licensed Architect and that is why you have building codes. Paper or foiled back insulation is required to be protected by sheetrock or other sheathing as well as the other spray foam insulations or boards. Only the mineral wool or noards that are fire rated for exposure can be left exposed. I see it all the time where contractors leave paper backed or spray foam insulation exposed in a basement or attic and I tell them they have to cover it. You thought the fiberglass would do better than the mineral wool? I specify mineral wool as sound insulation and it makes an ordinary wall a one hour fire rated fire stop. It not only wont burn, it also keeps the other stuff in tbe wall from getting hot enough to combust. My formula on a 5.5 inch wood stud wall is 3 inches of closed cell spray foam- 2" gives you a vapor barrier, and 2.5" of mineral wool so you dont have to shave the stuff to put in your electrinal boxes. This wall wont burn...

[@racoonbreath]

do you call out metal welded ariund 10 foot wide doors to backyard

[@dompal9070]

Thermal barrier paint is painted on exposed foam insulation. Ignition barrier paint can also be used depending on the area.

[@brianblithe2271]

is mineral wool rockwool ?

[@ariananeedham8771]

This video really helped my husband and me to figure out the best insulation to put in our attic. We live in Texas and our house isn't well insulted. Thank you for posting this at the right time. Love watching your videos❤

[@humanbeing-001]

You seriously think spray foam insulation burns like this? The dude that made this video used canned foam.

[@markthompson4225]

I guess that’s why they use rockwool to insulate ovens and other high heat applications... it is not fiberglass, it is rock spun like fiberglass.

[@FJB2020]

They use ceramic wool..

[@johnelliott7375]

Pretty much as I expected expected the foam board rolled slower up than I thought it would. Thanks for sharing your work with us today.

[@michaelace4739]

Actually to give you a little info, I build houses in Texas and all we use is foam. We have had two homes in our town catch fire and nobody knew until the homeowners showed up. The foam houses are so tight that there was not enough oxygen for the fire to keep burning. Fire damage was minor.

[@1636patriot]

Great info...makes sense....fire needs air to run and spread...I just built a hoise in New England and did spray foam exterior walls and fiberglass bats interior and cielings

[@anthonyman8008]

Other ways to tighten home 😆 Probably nothing worse than spray foam though

[@kirksatterwhite2473]

@@anthonyman8008 ​ Why do you say that? How about some evidence to back up that claim. At least elaborate on why you think there’s nothing worse than spray foam.

[@anthonyman8008]

@@kirksatterwhite2473 learn to internet

[@_Tao__]

@@kirksatterwhite2473 just look the video

[@nikkivanduyn931]

Lumber prices are stabilizing. I am an accountant for a lumber company. The mills are still a bit backed up, but the costs are starting to come down. Gonna take a bit longer to work through the supply chain.

[@ni1469]

I only use the rock wool insulation with an exterior wrap and rodent mesh inside on both interior and exterior sides of the outside walls now, and foam in the corner gaps and eves (hard places to seal with rolled insulation).I like it because it’s easier to put up and I’m glad I used it in my shop after seeing this. I keep pests from tearing up my farm equipment and keep it in a lot warmer temperatures in winter which is nice not worrying about freeze damage and thawing out equipment after snow removal. It’s also got a big wood burner in the corner off it that I have a lot of safety measures in place but now feel better about my choices

[@04williamsl]

Reminds me a bit of Grenfell. Pay for the cheapest materials, they burn quicker, if it's just a few cents cheaper per metre (or whatever they base it off), builders will use it sadly. Doesn't mean much if it burns quicker and more likely to spread and kill so long as they shave off some pennys

[@rsmith02]

Fiberglass is the cheap and low-performance one

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

Grenfell Tower burnt down due to the fire spreading through the exterior walls via the cladding that was installed not via the insulation and the inside walls but yes they did use one of the cheapest cladding materials which was also not rated for the building height. The Building was constructed in the late 1960s so it's likely that either Asbestos was used as the insulation or at some point was replaced with another low-cost material such as Fiberglass..

[@threeshocks5769]

A great presentation Young Man. As a 35 Plus year veteran in the business. Nothing out performs the fiberglass or wool batt. As long as it's installed properly. Foam products too.!! Have there uses /do & don't. It's truly a science that requires a well trained Tech. Coming from a BPI,SST, certified Master installer, in my honest opinion nothing outperforms the fiberglass batt.

[@angelartistic3056]

This is the type of testing that saves lives! Thank you. Rockwool is the Best !!!

[@richardp5920]

In my experience, “fire-resistant” materials are only resistant to a certain temperature. Over said temperature, they are extremely flammable.

[@southernrebel9081]

Agreeed

[@henrybyers5557]

definitely looks like what happened with the insulation board. at the beginning it didn't do much and the spray foam sealing the edges did most of the burning. eventually the temp got hot enough and the wood started burning, and the insulation board started to burn too, which is when it really took off.

[@717dash_cam]

But getting to and maintaining the heat required for some of those to take off is the key factor. If the fire can't maintain the temperature needed for the fire to stay light and spread under its own presence... it's just going to burn itself out. The two that burned are petroleum based.

[@sFde46]

mineral wool is made out stone. How do you imagine rock burning? Will it melt? Yes. rockwool states temperatures up to 1000c.

[@JKSSubstandard]

Flammability and combustability are two different properties. Normally this material is behind non flammable plaster and gypsum board so flammability isn't a big issue until the building is already lost. Meanwhile, the combustion point of the foam should be high enough that the wire insulation and wood are also close to combusting themselves

[@thelongview9373]

Not content with meeting the state DOT officials, Post 10 aims to meet the state fire marshal as well. ; )

[@andrewcarr2431]

In our area (Great White North) Great Stuff (open cell) is no allowed for cavity style wall installation, more for sealing draughts in small quantities such as the perimeter. The closed cell is approved for this type of installation and has different properties. Rigid Board is used for draught sealing/heat loss in conjunction with Rockwool/Pink Fluffy batts as the fire barrier. I did a basement reno recently and used a combination of all 3 materials that passed fire and building inspection, as they were installed correctly. That being said, a lot of "foam in a can" is used by diyers for various projects without reading the label nor knowing what products are suitable for which purpose.

[@DamienDarksideBlog]

You aren't lying when you say that it is a science project. You had a hypothesis. You came up with a test. You tested the hypothesis (quite well mind you) and in the end you can draw a CLEAR conclusion. This absolutely is 100% a science project. Now the implication is that it's for high school or college. That's on them for assuming, you didn't say anything about school. It was a project in the pursuit of science, a science project.

[@MegaBrokenstar]

Yep. The difference between this small science experiment and a full publishable study is doing it several more times and probably recording the temperature of each. An integral analysis of the time spent above 250°C, with a resulting value measured in degree-minutes, would imo be a good proxy for how “dangerous” each insulation is. Control against some variables by lighting every insulation with a fuse or other identical pyrotechnic device placed identically in each wall cell. That way ignition technique isn’t a factor. This could become a whole study on the fire risk of various forms of insulation.

[@wallalo]

the test does not make sense because in reality the wall is not made as in the test, so the conclusions have nothing to do with a real scientific method

[@DamienDarksideBlog]

@@wallalo Read the previous comment on this thread. That's how you properly do it.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

Most walls would be enclosed by drywall, which would limit the air intake and reduce the ability to burn. Less air means a lower burn temperature, which can cause the fire to die out before it even gets started. That is why places like UL will make a complete wall assembly to test the product. Still a good test, though. Good job!

[@5084204]

Indeed, but often some nutters invent cladding which is barely enclosed in air containers and then: google "Grenfell inferno" - giant block of flats burned like a straw. Investigations are ongoing.

[@joshuacriswell5032]

While this is true. The oxygen exposure conditions were the same between the samples so the test is still somewhat valid as the variables were kept as similar as possible.

[@5084204]

@joshuacriswell5032 not entirely, foam normally should not be exposed, as even UV will cause its degradation.

[@LargeMarge8671]

I'm late to seeing this, but THANK YOU!! We are about to start the official "planning" for our new place and we have been researching every possible aspect. Your video is straight up helpful.

[@Project_Renovation.one.75]

I’m starting out planning soon. Do you have any notes to share?

[@mthiessen134]

Great demo. One thing to note… In most cases. commercially applied spray foam is a different formula that includes fire retardant. Different than what comes in a can.

[@tommytuner452]

Fire foam that we use around piping and other things is red coming out of the can

[@tommytuner452]

Sorry ,also known as fire stop

[@humanbeing-001]

@@private8559 Great stuff out of a can is not fire retardant. You are spreading misinformation. Closed cell insulation does not burn like this.

[@slatsgrobneck7515]

@@private8559 Well, that Great Stuff in this example burned pretty hot, so there is that.

[@user338jdn]

I've used the red firestop stuff successfully as tinder in a fireplace.

[@mikejones1141979]

I burned a Hollow Core bedroom door (found in most homes); the fire was incredible. I couldn't get within 15 ft of my fire pit. THAT would make a cool video!!!

[@Yeentenology]

all the interior doors in my house are hollow...

[@Intel-i7-9700k]

Very, very scary how relatively small the panels were and how fierce the fire and big and dark the smoke plumes were. Can't imagine how that effect would multiply with more material to burn.

[@Pantology_Enthusiast]

foam can burn so intensely, it can stop burning due to smothering itself. ... until it gets air again... then it erupts right back into it.

[@EliasCalatayud]

Already happened at least twice

[@KoalaProductions]

You're doing a great job with thumbnails and expanding out your content into more interesting territory recently. I expect a rise in views soon. Never be afraid to go in depth into whatever weird thing you find that interests you, so long as it IS what interests you. With works of passion the interest will escape the niche and the appeal will be seen by a wider audience.

[@thomaswarner3060]

Amazing video.! this confirms my suspicions about how volatile this foam is. Everyone around here is now using closed-cell foam though the entire home. The energy efficiency and cost savings is truly amazing. Unfortunate for the contents of the structure but when the firemen find out the place is filled with spray-foam from top to bottom they will switch to defensive mode, sit back and pretty much let the whole thing go.

[@NewEnglandWildlifeAndMore]

Most spray foam that actually goes into your house is fire retardant oh, I can literally put a blow torch up to it and nothing happens. This is not fireproof foam

[@krisw8419]

as a firefighter.. closed cell spray foam in a home is Class 1 fire rating. meaning its self extinguishing - it will only burn in the presence of continuous flame.. IE, the gypsum or other wall covering has failed and exposed the foam to the fire of the contents and structure burning itself. Spray foam alone will not push us defensive, as an agressive interior attack will be quite effective to cool the room as it actually can and will stay contained to the original room longer than with other insulation materials.. the down side.. the foam does a very good job holding the heat in making the time to flashover less than other forms of insulation

[@christopherhorne8665]

Closed cell foam has a fire retardant. Some brands are meet class 1 and some meet class 2.

[@Morpheen999]

Thats what insurance is for.. its just stuff.. it can be replaced

[@onecrazywheel]

They almost could make it code to have a Foam Signage to show firemen that there is foam in the building. Similar to the "R" or "F" fire fighter signs.

[@cjextreme]

So my self built house uses T studs with aircrete filler and 5.5" Rockwool between studs. This contains the wood and doesn't allow any cyclonic action to materialize inside. I hadn't ever tested sprayfoam but it never was an option because of cost and not being DIY at the time. Thanks for proving my judgement was correct.👍

[@vickiamundsen2933]

i love the idea of aircrete, how do you like it?

[@cjextreme]

@@vickiamundsen2933 I love it! There are so many recipes that are great for different applications. I will never use straight concrete for anything again. If I do another house I will do a basement with foam blocks and styro-aircrete inside. There are lots of vids that show all sorts of uses.👍

[@knurlgnar24]

The current spray-foam zealotry has long bothered me for numerous reasons including the one you demonstrated here. Aside from specialized applications rock-wool or fiberglass is what you want. Spray foam will be remembered as a nightmare product 30 years from today.

[@historicalcucumber]

Spray foam will go down is history as this generations asbestos...

[@drooplug]

Spray foam 8nsulation has been around since the 1970s. The newest iteration uses fire retardants. Even prior to the fire retardants, the foam in the 1970s was able to prevent structures from catching fire fire the outside. The problem was when fires were on the inside. The foam performed so well at holding the heat in, the temperature in the building rose rapidly and reached very high temperatures. Even with fiberglass insulation, today's homes are going to burn hotter and faster because of their contents.

[@Flumphinator]

@@drooplug and fire retardants are really nice chemicals to breathe when the foam holds the heat in and burns the building hotter and faster. Nice job, it now burns faster and has smoke that’s *even more toxic*. Spray foam is a mistake. Full stop.

[@knurlgnar24]

@@drooplug Fire retardants mean very little in real life situations. What matters is the total combustible material available and how easily it ignites. Spray foam then and now ignites very easily and retardants slow their conflagration which allows time to quench the fire before it becomes an inferno. Much better is to use products that are not combustible in the first place. My primary complaints about spray foam are not fire related however. They are related to mold, rework, and and improper use. Spray foam is an absolute nightmare in real life.

[@JKSSubstandard]

@@knurlgnar24 mold is an issue with all insulation. It's actually far less of a problem with foams than Batts. One of foam insulations main uses is in below grade conditions where it resists molding and maintains its insulation value when wetted

[@andrewfosbinder2826]

By far this has got to be his best video ever very educational.

[@tsugal11]

GREAT VISUAL! I’m contemplating finishing out a workshop with insulation. This helped with my decision. Thank you!!

[@treyclark1]

I would like to see a simulation of an overloaded circuit and the burn rate on that. Not sure how you would rig that in a safe way but it would be interesting. Thank you for your informative collection of videos. I admire your awareness and effort to help the community as a whole to get out there and unclog drains and keep things out of the drains and clean in general. Great job and keep posting 10

[@shanehanson6013]

Something you didn't consider is air flow. Especially with the spray foam every pocket in a wall is going to be air tight, and once the oxygen is gone the fire will go out. I guess if the fire starts in the pocket that has an outlet receptacle I guess there would be more oxygen available, but once those toxic fumes fill the pocket they will starve the fire also. The other three will have better chances of air flow but you would be surprised how little air flow there is even in a wall with fiberglass insulation.

[@mrpumperknuckles1631]

Well yes and no. Spray foam has small bubbles in its fill… it is good for tight gaps and fill it’s material within each corner but the small holes inside the foam isn’t large enough to let heat escape when the foam expand it makes small pockets of air within itself because the chemical reaction that occurs. The surface however reveal 0 holes as in order to act as an insulator it must have some structure to it. Of course the foam today is nothing like what it was 50 years ago and many places in the world face major issues with more modern forms of foam than before but that’s probably because of poor application or bad mixture.

[@laughingone3728]

That's not entirely correct. Look at the reality of how fires behave in a building. The way the fire starts is an important factor. Also, it's rare for a stud bay to be perfectly sealed and air tight. In reality there are gaps where air can flow and sheetrock itself is usually covered in paper. Once tray paper gets damaged it opens a little more gaps. When the sheetrock gets damaged by the fire it will soon fall with no paper to support it and that will open the stud bay to much more airflow. Again, mineral wool made from rocks is by far the best for fire resistance for multiple reasons.

[@sonyad7723]

I could TOTALLY tell that first one (left side) was COMPLETELY ON FIRE burning underneath that black 'crust'!!!! THANK God you poked it with that stick!!!

[@Grantperkins1]

The most intetsting man in the world!

[@yukinoshita5788]

he doesn't always set fires but when he does they're educational

[@lordjaashin]

iirc, post10 main job is as an electrician. cleaning culverts is his side hustle as a hobby

[@mattiasotto1489]

Rockwool (green) is basically cotton candy but it's made out of molten rocks. It's water proof, very good at sound reduction, it doesn't burn either. It's also itch free. It's more expensive and you get what you pay for.

[@beattheheatindustriesinc5700]

What the hell are you talking about? Rockwool is the itchiest insulation of all. Just ask any insulation installer what type they hate the most.

[@techheck3358]

If you ever get to do this again, I’d love to see how rigid PIR insulation fares! Here in the Uk 🇬🇧 it’s pretty standard along with rockwool Speaking of the wire - I do LV work, there’s specially coated cables (plenum/LSZH) we have to use when working in ventilated (plenum) spaces, the gasses they give off are not so toxic

[@lowrads3653]

I knew rockwool was superior simply based on end of life characteristics. However, you've made a pretty powerful demonstration of its lifetime value.

[@birdlady2725]

Keep an eye on your pine trees after this. Supposedly they are like a canary in a coal mine regarding air quality and pollutants. If they start looking brown, you will know how bad the fumes from this were for them (and us). Great Info! Thank you.

[@catawampuslife]

I am a little late to the party, but thank you for this project, I have always been team rockwool, so this just validated. You rock dude this was epic.

[@blipco5]

It's pretty shocking that building codes allow spray foam insulation. I had no idea it was so flammable. Good vid, Post. 👍

[@evanrobinson7657]

I mean it also allows blown in cellulose.

[@fluffygodzilla]

The spray foam is supposed to be covered with intumescent paint or drywall, this would have prevented the fire.

[@imzjustplayin]

@@evanrobinson7657 cellulose doesn't burn easily because it's treated with borax.

[@JKSSubstandard]

Two things. The combustion point of foam is formulated to be quite high. If your wires are hot enough to combust foam insulation, it's likely also hot enough to start burning wood and wire insulation. Second, these insulation would normally be protected from open flame by the gypsum or plaster wall finish which should protect the insulation from direct flame for the first 30 minutes

[@doitrightcmrs3373]

Wow. How horrible. 🤔 code also allows u to build with wood, plywood, paint, carpeting, and wall paper numb nutz.

[@doug8525]

In a year or so I’m building a camper van from scratch. I was considering spray foam for easy installation but not after seeing this. No way!

[@leveragelifestyle8581]

I'm thinking of doing the same in the future but I watched videos that said the reaction from the spray foam heats up the sheet metal of the van and you can get warped panels that can be seen externally but I'm definitely not doing it after seeing this video either.

[@brandonn6099]

Inb4 you use something even more flammable...

[@randybobandy9828]

Why not? There is no reason why it should ever catch fire inside a metal van.

[@Hansen710]

you can get fire risistant foam that works up to 1000 celcius like rockwool both of them can burn in a serius fire, but so can metal

[@1over137]

If you have a 15A wire you put a 15A breaker on it. You use wire which is rated for 15A without it's temperature rising more than a few degrees. So, if you then put 30A through it, it is still like to remain under 60C. You would need to put 40 or 50A through it to get it to combust. There are charts for most "code" wiring which show the range of limitations is dependant on many things, like is the wire in free air, is it in an enclosed space, is it inside conduit etc. etc. Thermal Insulation of any kind will lower the heat loss of the cable so encourage it holding heat and thus reduce it's maximum tolerance before it exceeds 60C or it's thermal limits.

[@andrewg8303]

Rock wool is largely made out of recycled and processed slag, and usually some Sheetrock an other recycled materials which is the stuff that won't melt when you try and melt metal. It's the junk that you can't melt and just floats on the top. It's honestly much better than fiberglass resilience wise, insulation wise, and irritation wise. Fiberglass is like getting stabbed a million times microscopically and rock wool is just like an itchy jacket. It's also easier to manipulate and cut, and it's cheaper and thicker.

[@rychei5393]

Rock wool can stab you too, wear respirators when in stalling, but ya... it MUCH better.

[@rob214]

Are you sure you know what you're talking about research for knowledge

[@rob214]

That's why installers suits up in long sleeves gloves and wears a respirator

[@broncible]

Im an insulator and i can tell you everyone in the trade hates working with rockwool. Its harder to cut, it doesnt manipulate well so the cuts need to be a lot more precise, its much more irritating to skin, and nothing ruins a day like a big slag sliver breaking off in your skin. It does make less airborn irritants though. All that said, its definitely a better product once its installed in almost every way

[@andrewg8303]

Let me specify: easier to cut as in it is easier to cut clean. In my experience it was not as bad as fiberglass. Idk about all the time as I don’t do that for a living but that was my experience with it. Still would take either over the mess of blow in though. Had to do that in the same house as well and it sucked. Respirator did not help enough same with goggles.

[@tha073926]

Love your videos man. Thanks for this comparison. Just recently bought my first home and have been binging like crazy on diy and insulation videos.. I wish other diy and builder channels would do this kind of comparison. Also love all of your culvert draining videos. Been watching your videos for sometime now.

[@jasonhutchins9239]

Cool video! I only use rockwool these days. Fire proof sound proof and just a cozy feel

[@MonkeyJedi99]

To quote many fire experts, "All fires stop burning... eventually."

[@LostWhits]

There are underground coal and Peet fires that have been burning for decades and will continue for centuries.

[@jaras1969]

That's the fire triangle for you: To have a fire you need air, heat and a fuel. Remove one of those, and the fire dies out.... The last one will eventually solve itself at one point.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@LostWhits Ah, but they will someday stop burning. Eventually.

[@marcberm]

Mineral wool definitely seems to be the way to go these days. Nice mix of the good qualities of fiberglass and open cell foam.

[@TubeYou-o9u]

I truly am grateful for you men that does things like this. Much love... keep on exposing

[@Archisphera]

We typically apply an intumescent paint over spray foam to meet code requirements for a thermal and ignition barrier. Would love to see an updated video showing how the performance of the foam is affected.

[@tommytuner452]

Our building code requires it to be fire resistant type

[@Jonas_Aa]

Here where we have mostly cold weather (Sweden) we use fluffy Rockwool or Fiberglass (just different brands) and on the inside of that we put plastic foil as a condenser barrier, since hot air from inside meets the cold air from outside (at least most of the year). Has worked for decades.

[@Schlook]

Its kinda insane how high our standard in construction is in comparison to other countries, and for years.

[@nyrockchicxx]

What is plastic foil? Sounds like too different materials. And..do you put this layer between the outside wall and the insulation?

[@Jonas_Aa]

@@nyrockchicxx plastic foil. Like the aluminum foil you have in the kitchen but made of plastic and is thicker. It is used on the inside of the insulation here since we mostly have cold air on the outside of the house.

[@LackeysLack]

@@Jonas_Aa Mylar sheets?

[@ErraticPerfectionist]

@@nyrockchicxx In Australia, we call it sisilation foil, goes on the outside of the timber framing before bricks on the very outside. It's a separate condensation barrier designed to ensure the inside of the framing is kept dry.

[@earthsgard]

I'm a big fan of culvert work, but I'm very impressed by your information here, a man of many talents.. 👏 Edit: was watching it and heard you talking I was like that's post 10, low and behold when I checked the page cause Google brought me here, such a small world hey post, watching from Ireland 🇮🇪. Take care and God bless.

[@elderfarms]

There is a difference in the red fire foam. It’s rated for fire and is intumescent. It expands when it gets hot so as the fire try’s to burn a bigger hole, the foam keeps filling. Fire Caulk is the most common for top plates and bottom plates.