Rock Wool, Mineral Wool, & Slag Wool Building Insulation Identification

MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL INSULATION - Characteristics of mineral wool, rock wool, slag wool used for building insulation
- Photo guide to identification of different building insulation materials
- Properties of different building insulation products
- List of current suppliers of rock wool or mineral wool insulation products
Questions & Answers about Rock Wool mineral fiber insulation
References

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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

This rock wool insulation article illustrates and describes mineral wool or rock wool and slag wool insulation materials. Rock wool insulation is also called mineral wool and slag wool though there can be differences among the components of these insulations. This document assists building buyers, owners or inspectors who need to identify various insulation materials in buildings by simple visual inspection. We provide photographs and descriptive text of various types of mineral wool insulation and describe its properties, how it is made, health and maintenance concerns, and its insulating values.

MINERAL WOOL or ROCK WOOL - Mineral wool or "rock wool" or "slag wool" building insulation is not asbestos

Mineral wool insulation, developed in the 1850's, patented in 1875 in the U.S. and this material, also called rock wool insulation remained in popular use in the U.S. up to the 1950's, and is still in use today (2008) in some new construction, in manufactured housing, and in special applications such as the insulation of low-slope roofed cathedral ceilings and scissors-truss roofs.

What is Rock Wool Insulation?

Just to add to the confusion about what to call this insulation, the insulation industry calls a range of products "mineral wool" and includes under that name: fiberglass, slag wool, and rock wool.

Rock wool is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber that looks like chopped white cottony material. (It may have originally been formed by wind blowing across streams of lava from erupting volcanoes.)

Rockwool is currently produced in the U.S. in Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington State. We list some current producers of rock wool or mineral wool insulation at Reviewers, below.

As you can see in our photo at left, mineral wool insulation is not necessarily stark white. In an attic rockwool is typically about 1 1/2 pounds per cubic foot in density. In building walls this material is installed in more dense sprays of four to five pounds of material per cubic foot.

At roughly 1.2 pounds per cubic foot, rockwool or mineral wool has an R-value of R-30 (heavier than fiberglass).

Rock wool as a building insulating material remains in active use in the U.S. and has been reported in application in the Southern U.S. in the mid 1980's and continuing at least into the mid 1990's. [Home Energy Magazine Online, July/August 1997]

Modern rock wool is a manufactured product comprised of a mix of limestone, slag waste from steel blast furnaces, and basalt or diabase. Rockwool is about 3/4 steel slag and 25% basalt rock. Some rockwool producers use nearly pure recycled steel slag.

Similar to the production of fiberglass, rock wool is manufactured by heating these materials and spinning them into fine fibers that are then often applied in a sprayed-on chopped fiber form.

Airborne particle characteristics of Rock Wool Insulation

Our photo (left) shows the original branding of Gold Bond™ Rock Wool, insulation observed in a 1920's home built in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Because it is more dense (about 1.2 pounds /cubic foot) than some other insulating materials such as fiberglass (about 1/2 pound per cubic foot), some writers point out that rockwool is less likely to become airborne.

This is a confusing view unless supported by more specific data. Most air movement in buildings is upwards and outwards through the building attic. We have identified some conditions in which air moves down from building attics into the occupied space, such as when a whole house fan is inadequately vented to the outdoors (and the attic is both pressurized and its dust stirred up by the fan).

A fiberglass batt provides less total volume of small particles to be stirred by an attic fan than does granular insulation such as vermiculite, rockwool, blown-in cellulose, or even chopped fiberglass (used in blown-in installations).

We'd also need to consider the average particle size and weight when evaluating the ease with which a material becomes airborne.

So particle density or density of an insulation material per cubic foot is not the whole story.

What is Slag Wool Insulation?

Slag wool is a manmade vitreous fiber made by spinning slag into insulating fibers. Some rockwool producers use nearly pure recycled steel slag.

Do Rock Wool, Slag Wool, or Mineral Wool Insulation contain asbestos fibers?

Mineral wool insulation, slag wool insulation, and "rock wool" insulation would not be expected to contain asbestos fibers - We have been unable to find reports indicating otherwise.

How to Avoid Moisture & Settling Problems when Spray Applying Mineral Wool, Rock Wool, Slag Wool Insulation

Because these mineral fiber insulation products are often applied by spraying as a wet slurry onto building surfaces or into building cavities, they should not be covered by a vapor retarder barrier until the insulation has dried.

We recommend using a long-probe moisture meter such as models made by Delmhorst™ to assure that the rock wool sprayed into building cavities has dried to ambient indoor humidity before the wall or ceiling is covered with a vapor retarder or enclosed.

Mineral wool insulation is used by some manufactured home and possibly some mobile home manufacturers. Because these structures are later transported to their ultimate building site the insulation is exposed to vibration that can cause settling of the insulation within building cavities.

Wet-process blown-in mineral wool insulation thickness can decrease by up to 16% in this case, according to Graves and Yarborough. What the study did not examine, and which may be still more important, would be the development of gaps at the tops or sides of vertical wall sections if settlement moves the wall cavity insulation. ["An Evaluation of the Settling of Loose-Fill Rock Wool Insulation in the Attics of Two Manufactured Home Units", ASTM, Graves RS, Yarbrough DW, January 1990. ]

What is the insulating value of mineral wool?

This is a good insulating material and has a better "R" value and more sound-reduction ability per inch than some fiberglass. Rock Wool insulating Batts have an R value of about 3.14 to 4.00 per inch. Blown-in rock wool or mineral wool insulation such as that shown in our attic photo above, has an R value of about 3.10-4.00 per inch.

Other sources we researched indicated that slag wool loose-fill insulation had an R value of about R-2 to R 3.3 and one source claimed an R value of 4.1 per inch for rock wool. [Home Energy Magazine Online, July/August 1997]

A safe rough estimate is to assume mineral wool made of rock or slag has an R value of about 3.35 per inch in batt form and an R value of about 2.25 in loose fill installations.

To compare insulating material R-values see our Table of Properties of Insulating Materials

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about rock wool or mineral fiber building insulation

Question: Old Rock Wool Blankets Residential Home - contain asbestos?

Do old Rock Wool blankets contain asbestos? The blankets are quite heavy, filled with what looks like reddish brown dirt and tiny pebbles and tiny pieces of fiber, paper covered with a blue or black manufacturer's label box framed picture of a house on the right and instructions on the left that states Rock Wool above it. I'm not sure of the date it was installed. My father and uncle could have installed it in or after 1975 when my mom and dad and my uncle's family purchased the place, or it was installed by the original owner. I'll have to check the deed to see when the house was built. My sisters and I inherited the summer home which is in Espyville, PA.

About four years ago I got permission from my family to begin remodeling. I was so excited to do the job that I began pulling the paperboard ceiling and walls on the second floor without thinking and out plopped one of these blankets that broke open spewing dust into the air. I stopped immediately. After returning home, I tried to find this insulation on the Internet. I did find an old homes and historic homes site that had an exact picture of it and the manufacturer's label that looked identical and it stated that this type old insulation does not contain asbestos. I found another site that stated some old Rock Wool insulation did contain asbestos, but this type was only used in high heat applications on hydronic piping, and not likely in residential attic/wall applications.

I convinced myself that I would be ok for I was anxious to remodel and my brother in law and I continued the job wearing only paper masks. It sure was a dirty job. The second floor only has two bedrooms, but I was surrounded in dust. I did open the florida windows and placed a fan inside for ventilation, waited for some dust to dissipate out of the windows, took frequent breaks to fresh cool outside air when the heat and dust got to be too much. also doubled up on the paper mask when I noticed dust was getting below a single mask and frequently changed masks, but I don't know what good those paper masks did for me if at all. It took us two (6 hr days) and one (4 hr day) to complete removing the wall and ceiling boards and insulation (only one bedroom had this insulation).

Then my sister and I went there the following weekend to wash things down and place fiberglass insulation (6 hr job). All and all I would say I exposed myself to about 12 min. to 18 max. hours to Rock Wool dust using only paper masks. Now I'm worried sick from seeing Mesothelioma commercials making me check more sites on the net and found sites that state some old Rock Wool blankets can contain asbestos.

What to do? Please help with any knowledge of old Rock Wool. Meantime I'm going to see if I can find some of it on the first floor and have it tested. I don't have any health symptoms, but I am going to make an appointment with my doctor anyway and get a ct scan for peace of mind. Thank you very much for your help, J.C.

Reply:

It would be unusual for a residential home to have rock wool insulation containing asbestos - to know with absolute certainty I'd have a sample of the insulation tested.

A more immediate concern is doing any construction demolition involving lots of dust and debris without wearing adequate HEPA-rated filtered respirators. Acute exposure or chronic exposure to many if not most dusts can lead to lung and eye irritation and adult onset asthma. And of course if the building dust was contaminated with bird droppings, rodent droppings, or similar, there may be bacterial or viral hazards too.

If you are having respiratory distress you'll want to go to your primary care physician, discuss your concern and case history, and most likely the doctor will refer you to a pulmonologist for some simple lung tests, or to a doctor specializing in environmental medicine.

Question: Does the R-value of mineral fiber insulation deteriorate with age?

What about R-value deterioration of rock wool as it ages? - Fabian Jennings fjenn@telus.net

Reply: No, except insofar as the loose fill insulation may become compacted or unevenly distributed due to disturbance

Rock wool does not deteriorate in R-value except, as would be the case with any loose fill insulation, if it is disturbed so as to no longer be uniformly distributed, or if it is packed by being compressed from storing items on top of it or walking on it or something similar

Question: Should I remove old rock wool batts when adding insulation to my attic?

I am planning to have the attic of my house. built in 1950 covered with blown-in fiberglass (up to R-45). It currently has old rock wool batts with paper on the top and bottom. Should I have them removed first? Is there a fire or moisture hazard if I keep it and put the fiberglass on top? - Gabe

Reply: old insulation can be left in place if clean; don't create multiple vapor barriers when adding more.

Gabe, if the old insulation is clean (not full of mouse pee, etc), you can leave it in place; The moisture hazard won't be changed by adding blown-in fiberglass as that addition won't add another moisture barrier; If the moisture barrier (kraft paper) on the TOP (attic up side) of your existing bats is not already perforated you could slash it to be sure it does not continue to form a potential moisture trap;

Question: Some mineral wool insulation is falling into my bedroom from a small hole. Is this harmful?

I recently had a carpenter in my older home (built 1981) fixing an issue in the attic and much to my disappointment made a hole in the attic and all of this (i'm guessing rockwool insulation) came tumbling down in my master bedroom covering everything. Some of the things it landed on are non washable. Is this insulation harmful to me and my family's health???? Please respond ASAP major clean up in the process. - Geniah Melendez

Reply: Generally not in small amounts; It depends ...

Rockwool is a mineral fiber product, and of course it could contain dust from the attic: insects, debris, etc. If you HEPA vacuum up the dust and launder what can be laundered or dry cleaned you should be OK. It's not radioactive and it's not asbestos. Heroic measures should not be needed.

Additional reader comment from Debra Monte:

You should be more concerned with dust from the walls and ceilings, which most likely contained lead paint. Get your blood work done and get tested for lead content in your blood. The likelihood of asbestos in home insulation is very low. However, there may have been a combination of insulation types, such as rock wool/mineral and vermiculite. Vermiculite that was mined in Libby, Montana does contain a small amount of asbestos.

Follow-up:

Debra
At the article titled VERMICULITE INSULATION (link at Related Topics ) you will find US EPA and other authoritative sources that help separate opinion from fact about asbestos and other environmental hazards.

I agree that lead hazards are ubiquitous in older homes in many areas and are an important concern. We have published extensive information about lead hazards in buildings and in water supplies, found through our page top and page bottom major topical link ENVIRONMENT

Question: I'm looking for mineral wool to insulate the exterior of a slab

looking for mineral wool that is for exterior slab insulation made in washington state - Warren Powell

Reply: Fiber-based insulation is not the best choice for the exterior of building slabs and foundations

Mr. Powell in my OPINION mineral wool would be an inappropriate insulating material to place on the outside of a concrete slab. Even if you constructed something to hold the mineral wool in place against the slab edges, the water would promptly penetrate the insulation leaving it's R-value virtually nil. You could construct an absolutely waterproof container to hold the mineral wool, but I would be left wondering why such a labor intensive and costly slab insulation method was preferable to solid foam insulation. What am I missing?

Question: history of the requirement for building insulation

Was the insulation "Optional" when building a house back in the 50's or was there a minimum requirement to meet? - Horacio

Reply: general building insulation was not code specified in many U.S. jurisdictions before the energy crisis of the 1970's but some codes requiring insulation date back at least to the 1920's in the U.S.

Horacio.

When researching national building insulation standards II suspect we'll find some early references in HUD and VA housing legislation and standards, the history of building codes, and much more recently the model energy codes.But what was required locally in your immediate area could be a very different story. Keep in mind that building codes and standards vary in different countries, states or provinces, and smaller jurisdictions.

Using Seattle WA building code history as an example we noted that some insulation requirements date as far back as 1927 (heating duct insulation). But the Seattle building codes did not specifically require insulation until 1974, and the city's model energy code was not adopted until 1980. [1]

As we introduced above, insulation was probably "optional" in the 1950's in at least some building jurisdictions. One would need to research a more specific history for your own location.

...

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Seattle Energy Code, Seattle Energy Code History, web search 12/6/2011, original source: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/history.asp
3/07: thanks to Gary Randolph, Ounce of Prevention Home Inspection, LLC Buffalo, NY, for attentive reading and editing suggestions. Mr. Randolph can be reached in Buffalo, NY, at (716) 636-3865 or email: gary@ouncehome.com
06/07: thanks for photographs of transite asbestos heating ducts, courtesy of Thomas Hauswirth, Managing Member of Beacon Fine Home Inspections, LLC and (in 2007) Vice President, Connecticut Association of Home Inspectors Ph. 860-526-3355 Fax 860-526-2942 beaconinspections@sbcglobal.net
ThermaFiber, Thermafiber, Inc., 3711 Mill Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992, Toll Free: 888-834-2371 (U.S. & Canada) ; Phone: 260-563-2111, is a current manufacturer of mineral wool insulation products. http://www.thermafiber.com/ Web search 07/28/2010, quoting:
Thermafiber manufactures and customizes mineral wool insulation for commercial buildings, industrial applications and residential construction. We specialize in high-rise construction - that's why we developed Thermafiber Insolutions™, a systematic approach to help you precisely plan and install insulation on time and on budget.
Rockwool International (PDF document on rock wool sustainability), Rockwool International A/S · Hovedgaden 584 · 2640 Hedehusene · Telephone (+45) 46 56 03 00 · Telefax (+45) 46 56 33 11 , website: http://www.rockwool.com/, is a current manufacturer of mineral wool insulation products used for fire insulation, sound insulation, and building insulation.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

"The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report," Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
"Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
Access Ramp building codes:
- UBC 1003.3.4.3
- BOCA 1016.3
- ADA 4.8.2
- IBC 1010.2
Access Ramp Standards:
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
- ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
- ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
America's Favorite Homes, mail-order catalogues as a guide to popular early 20th-century houses, Robert Schweitzer, Michael W.R. Davis, 1990, Wayne State University Press ISBN 0814320066 (may be available from Wayne State University Press)
American Plywood Association, APA, "Portland Manufacturing Company, No. 1, a series of monographs on the history of plywood manufacturing",Plywood Pioneers Association, 31 March, 1967, www.apawood.org
Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Asbestos: How to find and recognize asbestos in buildings - visual inspection methods, list of common asbestos-containing materials
Asbestos HVAC Ducts and Flues field identification photos and guide
Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on Asbestos, Its Industrial Applications, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print).
Asbestos Identification and Testing References

Asbestos Identification, Walter C.McCrone, McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, IL.1987 ISBN 0-904962-11-3. Dr. McCrone literally "wrote the book" on asbestos identification procedures which formed the basis for current work by asbestos identification laboratories.
Stanton, .F., et al., National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506: 143-151
Pott, F., Staub-Reinhalf Luft 38, 486-490 (1978) cited by McCrone

ASHRAE resource on dew point and wall condensation - see the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, available in many libraries. The following three ASHRAE Handbooks are also available at the InspectAPedia bookstore in the third page of our Insulate-Ventilate section:
- 2005 ASHRAE Handbook : Fundamentals : Inch-Pound Edition (2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : I-P Edition) (Hardcover), Thomas H. Kuehn (Contributor), R. J. Couvillion (Contributor), John W. Coleman (Contributor), Narasipur Suryanarayana (Contributor), Zahid Ayub (Contributor), Robert Parsons (Author), ISBN-10: 1931862702 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862707
- 2004 ASHRAE Handbook : Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning: Systems and Equipment : Inch-Pound Edition (2004 ASHRAE Handbook : HVAC Systems and Equipment : I-P Edition) (Hardcover)
  by American Society of Heating, ISBN-10: 1931862478 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862479
  "2004 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Systems and Equipment The 2004 ASHRAE HandbookHVAC Systems and Equipment discusses various common systems and the equipment (components or assemblies) that comprise them, and describes features and differences. This information helps system designers and operators in selecting and using equipment. Major sections include Air-Conditioning and Heating Systems (chapters on system analysis and selection, air distribution, in-room terminal systems, centralized and decentralized systems, heat pumps, panel heating and cooling, cogeneration and engine-driven systems, heat recovery, steam and hydronic systems, district systems, small forced-air systems, infrared radiant heating, and water heating); Air-Handling Equipment (chapters on duct construction, air distribution, fans, coils, evaporative air-coolers, humidifiers, mechanical and desiccant dehumidification, air cleaners, industrial gas cleaning and air pollution control); Heating Equipment (chapters on automatic fuel-burning equipment, boilers, furnaces, in-space heaters, chimneys and flue vent systems, unit heaters, makeup air units, radiators, and solar equipment); General Components (chapters on compressors, condensers, cooling towers, liquid coolers, liquid-chilling systems, centrifugal pumps, motors and drives, pipes and fittings, valves, heat exchangers, and energy recovery equipment); and Unitary Equipment (chapters on air conditioners and heat pumps, room air conditioners and packaged terminal equipment, and a new chapter on mechanical dehumidifiers and heat pipes)."
- 1996 Ashrae Handbook Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment: Inch-Pound Edition (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 1883413346 or ISBN-13: 978-1883413347 ,
  "The 1996 HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook is the result of ASHRAE's continuing effort to update, expand and reorganize the Handbook Series. Over a third of the book has been revised and augmented with new chapters on hydronic heating and cooling systems design; fans; unit ventilator; unit heaters; and makeup air units. Extensive changes have been added to chapters on panel heating and cooling; cogeneration systems and engine and turbine drives; applied heat pump and heat recovery systems; humidifiers; desiccant dehumidification and pressure drying equipment, air-heating coils; chimney, gas vent, fireplace systems; cooling towers; centrifugal pumps; and air-to-air energy recovery. Separate I-P and SI editions."
- Principles of Heating, Ventilating, And Air Conditioning: A textbook with Design Data Based on 2005 AShrae Handbook - Fundamentals (Hardcover), Harry J., Jr. Sauer (Author), Ronald H. Howell, ISBN-10: 1931862923 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862929
- 1993 ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 0910110964 or ISBN-13: 978-091011096
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
Brick nogging used as soundproofing is mentioned in this article on Popular Forest
Brick Nogging, Historical Investigation and Contemporary Repair, Construction Specifier, April 2006. Historical use of brick in timber-framed buildings, drawing on the investigations of the Kent Tavern in Calais, VT. "Brick nogging is a European method of construction which was brought to the new world in the early-nineteenth century. It was a common construction method that employed masonry as infill between the vertical uprights of wood framing." -- quoting the web article review.
Photo of very rough in-wall brick nogging at an architects website
Building Research Council, BRC, nee Small Homes Council, SHC, School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, brc.arch.uiuc.edu. "The Small Homes Council (our original name) was organized in 1944 during the war at the request of the President of the University of Illinois to consider the role of the university in meeting the demand for housing in the United States. Soldiers would be coming home after the war and would be needing good low-cost housing. ... In 1993, the Council became part of the School of Architecture, and since then has been known as the School of Architecture-Building Research Council. ... The Council's researchers answered many critical questions that would affect the quality of the nation's housing stock.
- How could homes be designed and built more efficiently?
- What kinds of construction and production techniques worked well and which did not?
- How did people use different kinds of spaces in their homes?
- What roles did community planning, zoning, and interior design play in how neighborhoods worked
The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
"An Example of Colonial Paneling", Norman Morrison Isham, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 5 (May, 1911), pp. 112-116, available by JSTOR.
Dust from the World Trade Center collapse following the 9/11/01 attack: the lower floors of this building contained spray-on fire-proofing asbestos materials.
Energy Savers: Whole House Systems Approach to Energy Efficient Home Design [copy on file as /interiors/Whole_House_Energy_Efficiency_DOE.pdf ] - U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Whole-House Supply Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Supply_Vent.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11880?print
"Energy Savers: Whole-House Exhaust Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Exhaust.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11870
"Energy Savers: Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Natural Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Natural_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Energy_Recovery_Venting.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11900
"Energy Savers: Detecting Air Leaks [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Detect_Air_Leaks.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Air Sealing [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Air_Sealing_1.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438
"Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. "
Fiberglass: Indoor Air Quality Investigations: Health Concerns About Airborne Fiberglass: Fiberglass in Indoor Air from HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
Ice Dam Leaks in building attics and roof cavities, how to inspect for evidence of leaks, identify causes, and correct bad attic ventilation, improper roof venting, and these causes of attic mold or roof structure damage
"Insulation: Adding Insulation to an Existing Home," U.S. Department of Energy - tips on how to do your own check for the presence of absence of insulation in a home
Insulation: Selecting Insulation for New Home Construction, U.S. Department of Energy - "Your state and local building codes probably include minimum insulation requirements, but to build an energy-efficient home, you may need or want to exceed them. For maximum energy efficiency, you should also consider the interaction between the insulation and other building components. This is called the whole-house systems design approach."
Insulation Types, table of common building insulation properties from U.S. DOE. Readers should see INSULATION R-Values & Properties our own table of insulation properties that includes links to articles describing each insulation material in more detail.
Lighting, proper use of: proper aiming of a good flashlight can disclose hard to see but toxic light or white mold colonies on walls.
Mobile Home Inspections common defects unique to factory built housing, inspection methods
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (nee National Bureau of Standards NBS) is a US government agency - see www.nist.gov
- "A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the "Moist" Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ", George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NIS
Nogging: See this photo of exposed bricks on a building exterior on a building exterior in Canada. [Thanks to Carson Dunlop, Toronto - see References below].
Pergo AB, division of Perstorp AB, is a Swedish manufacturer or modern laminate flooring products. Information about the U.S. company can be found at http://www.pergo.com where we obtained historical data used in our discussion of the age of flooring materials in buildings.
Piquet Wall Construction: See this photo of piquet wall construction - involving timber-framed wall construction with long top girts, diagonal timber bracing, and small diameter logs placed vertically along with concrete chinking to fill in the wall plane.
Plank House Construction: weblog from plankhouse.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/plank-house-construction/ and where plank houses were built by native Americans, see
Large 1:6 Scale Plank House Construction / P8094228, Photographer: Mike Meuser
06/12/2007 documented at yurokplankhouse.com where scale model Museum quality Yurok Plank Houses are being sold to raise money for the Blue Creek - Ah Pah Traditional Yurok Village project.
Re-Bath, tub lining products is a bath tub relining manufacturer and distributor located in Tempe, Arizona - see rebath.com
Rubblestone Wall Filler: See this Lartigue House using exterior-exposed rubblestone filler between vertical timbers of a post and beam-framed Canadian building.
Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com and also from the InspectAPedia Bookstore (Amazon.com)
The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
What Mold and Allergens Look Like: mold identification photos to help identify mold - choosing what to sample in buildings
How to Clean Moldy Wood Framing & Sheathing How to clean/seal mold from/on exposed lumber or plywood subfloor or roof sheathing indoors - some suggestions based on our field and laboratory research
Lighting, proper use of: proper aiming of a good flashlight can disclose hard to see but toxic light or white mold colonies on walls.
Manufactured & Modular Homes: Modular Building Systems Association, MBSA, modularhousing.com, is a trade association promoting and providing links to contact modular builders in North America. Also see the Manufactured Home Owners Association, MHOAA, at www.mhoaa.us. The Manufactured Home Owners Association of America is a National Organization dedicated to the protection of the rights of all people living in Manufactured Housing in the United States.
Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens.
How to Find and Test For Mold in buildings A "how to" photo and text primer on finding and choosing the right spots to test for mold in buildings
Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
Simple Adhesive Tape Sampling of Moldy Surfaces - how to send a mold sample to our lab
Mold Sampling Methods in the Indoor Environment - In-depth article: detailed critique of popular mold testing methods - Is your mold test kit worth the bother?
Mold-Resistant Building Practices, advice from an expert on how to prevent mold after a building flood and how to prevent mold growth in buildings by selection of building materials and by anti-mold construction details.
Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com and also from the InspectAPedia Bookstore (Amazon.com)
Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
The Staircase, Ann Rinaldi
Common Sense Stairbuilding and Handrailing, Fred T. Hodgson
The Art of Staircases, Pilar Chueca
Building Stairs, by pros for pros, Andy Engel
A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding, George R. Christina
Basic Stairbuilding, Scott Schuttner
The Staircase (two volumes), John Templar, Cambridge: the MIT Press, 1992
The Staircase: History and Theories, John Templar, MIT Press 1995
Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
"The Dimensions of Stairs", J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American, October 1974.
"The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report," Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
"Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
Weaver: Beaver Board and Upson Board: Beaver Board and Upson Board: History and Conservation of Early Wallboard, Shelby Weaver, APT Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 2/3 (1997), pp. 71-78, Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), available online at JSTOR.
What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture, Rev., John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Wiley; Rev Sub edition (October 6, 2003), ISBN-10: 0471250368, ISBN-13: 978-0471250364
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