Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde-free, exclusively from Johns Manville - from the JM site.

Smarter Products for a more comfortable environment
Johns Manville's new formaldehyde-free products provide the same great performance you've come to expect from us - only without the formaldehyde - so you have one less thing to worry about. So why are we taking formaldehyde out? Because we listen to our customers. While there have been no problems with our traditional product, we just want to eliminate any concern about formaldehyde. And quite simply, because it's the right thing to do for our customers and the environment. This change reflects JM's dedication to offering the most advanced products available.

It looks different because it is
Removing formaldehyde from the insulation binder is a simple idea that makes sense, and that's the approach that we've always taken with our products. JM ComfortTherm® encapsulated insulation reduces itch and dust during installation. And we made installation faster and easier with JM EasyFit™ perforated insulation. JM products have a difference you can see. And with the only complete line of formaldehyde-free insulation products it's a difference in performance and quality that you'll get only with JM.

Better Insulation, Better World
At JM, we're dedicated to building both. By eliminating formaldehyde from emissions during manufacturing and in the production work environment, we are doing our part to make the world a better place. Our insulation is certified by Scientific Certification Systems to contain a minimum of 25 percent recycled glass, which eases the load on our nation's landfills. We've also invested considerable time into engineering our manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impact. And, when insulation is installed to specification, less energy is required for heating and cooling homes and buildings, which helps reduce pollution and strain on our environment.

Blown Fiberglass - from Home Energy Magazine

Overblowing or fluffing can be a significant problem with blown fiberglass. To verify that a specified R-value has been delivered, a contractor or inspector not only must measure the amount of product in inches, but also must take a core sample to verify density. In an interview, former ICAA president Larry Helminiak said that overblows of 25% are common in the industry, with some reaching 50%. Independent research performed by McGrann & Associates for ICAA indicate the problem is not as bad as Helminiak suggests; however, I've also heard enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that the fluffing of blown fiberglass insulation is common. I've had fiberglass manufacturers representatives openly admit to this problem in classes I've taught on attic insulation and cheating.

To verify the proper R-value has been reached with blown fiberglass, a core sample must be taken to determine density. Core sampling is time-consuming, and in the process of taking the samples a large amount of blown fiberglass is compressed, compromising the R-value of the insulation. However, an insulation quality control program that does not include core sampling of blown fiberglass in attics is not addressing one of the most fundamental issues with blown fiberglass in attics.

Why are fiberglass manufacturers producing a product that can be tampered with? In my opinion what fiberglass manufacturers have done is shift the responsibility from themselves to the installing contractor. This is why ICAA has demanded that manufacturers produce a product in which inches of insulation equal R-value. To the best of my knowledge, no such fiberglass product is being sold today.

One manufacturer who tried to comply with the "inches equals R-value" rule learned an unfortunate lesson. In the mid-1990s, Johns Manville designed and produced a blown fiberglass for which the company guaranteed that the inches would equal a specified R-value. They did this by increasing the minimum thickness, so that virtually all blowing machines would deliver at least the correct R-value at the minimum thickness. The company found that very few insulation contractors or builders saw much value in this guaranteed R-value. In the competitive construction market, maximum coverage, not R-value, was in demand.

In the end, Johns Manville couldn't justify the higher product cost; after about three years, they gave up and changed back to a more standard product design without the guarantee. The marketplace did not value the leader who was trying to do the right thing.

It is also my understanding that some manufacturers of blown fiberglass insulation for walls require core samples. If they require core samples on walls, then they can require it in attics. As an inspector, I much prefer an insulation product whose R-value can be verified with a measuring tape. For this reason, I support ICAA's demand for products in which inches equal R-value.

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