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Photograph of chopped fiberglass insulationFormaldehyde in Fiberglass Insulation

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about formaldehyde use in some (not all) fiberglass binder resins and adhesives, and possible formaldehyde off-gassing from those products.

Some fiberglass resins use formaldehde - is that an IAQ or health concern?

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Formaldehyde Use in Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass resin may contain and outgas formaldehyde (C) Daniel FriedmanFiberglass insulation fibres are bound together to form an insulating blanket, often using a resin that contains, among other substances, formaldehyde. An example of this resin is the greenish-yellow binder in the photo-micrograph of fiberglass insulation just below.

This microscopic photograph of fiberglass insulation (above) is discussed in more detail

at FIBERGLASS INSULATION IDENTIFICATION & PROPERTIES

Bottom line: while formaldehyde is used in some fiberglass insulation it would be unusual for that insulation to be identified as a significant source of indoor formaldehyde gas levels.

Fiberglass & Fiberglass Insulation Formaldehyde Hazard & Exposure Research

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-07-16 by InspectApedia Publisher

It's possible but not likely. The binder that is used in fiberglass insulation is a resin and some of those may contain formaldehyde.

There may be other formaldehyde sources, particularly some prefinished flooring, that can be much more significant, such as as chipboard and particle board.

If you use our on page search box for the phrase

formaldehyde in insulation

You will see a link to our article (you are now on this page)

FORMALDEHYDE IN FIBERGLASS INSULATION (you are now on this page)

and some of our PDFs on formadelhyde from fiberglass insulation link back to the page below

www.inspectapedia.com/indoor_air_quality/Formaldehyde-Sources-in-Buildings-Research.php

[Ed. note - this reader comment was originally posted on an unrelated topic page)

On 2023-07-16 by David

Is it possible that insulation installed just a year ago has formaldehyde?

On 2021-02-10 - by (mod) - formaldehyde off-gassing fro CertainTeed Fiberglass insulation?

Normally formaldehyde and so volatile that it off gases from mini products fairly quickly. Of course I can't know what kind of bags and seal of the insulation apply in your case.

I don't know for a fact but I suspect that if there was formaldehyde in your fiberglass insulation it may have been a product of the resin binder or adhesive that was used.

Before launching an expensive project you might want to simply have one bag tested.

The most extreme and therefore conservative case would be to have a test made of the insulation in the bag immediately after opening it. Do let me know what you find and if you can attach a photo of the bag and all of the labeling information I might be able to do a bit more research. You can post one photo per comment but of course as many comments as you need

On 2021-02-09 by Colby

Hello, I just purchased a bunch (55 bags) of old fiberglass insulation made by Certainteed, it was a barn find at auction. The year of manufacture is 2006 but the bags are still sealed.

The label states that Urea Formaldehyde is present in the composition of the product. I was unaware of the hazards of formaldehyde in insulation when I purchased this insulation. Should I find a new product or has there been ample time for the formaldehyde to off-gas and will therefore be safe to install? Thank you.

This Q&A were posted originally

at FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS

On 2018-07-20 by (mod) - Recommended exposure limits for small fiberglass particles at PM 2.5 and below:

Ken

Recommended exposure limits for small fiberglass particles at PM 2.5 and below:

As there is no specific standard addressing small sized fiberglass fragment exposure in air, I would consider these two reference points:

For analysis of settled dust such as might be collected using adhesive tape (as at DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Dust_Sampling_Guide.php ), the forensic or environmental lab should be asked to report these conditions:

- when fiberglass fragments are the dominant particle or at significant levels in the dust sample

- when fiberglass fragments PM 2.5 are frequent in the sample

For particles PM 2.5 and smaller, I'd use the US EPA standard permissible exposure limits given at PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ at https://inspectapedia.com/indoor_air_quality/Airborne-Particle-Size-Definitions.php

On 2018-07-09 by Ken - does fiberglass bonding resin contain formaldehyde?

What would you consider a level of concern related to the number of small fiberglass particles are found in dust samples from a residence (we haven't tested yet but have found that a portion of the HVAC duct system, which we are not currently running, contains fiberglass insulation inside the ducts)?

Put another way, if we collect dust samples per Inspectapedia guidance and small fiberglass particles are detected by a lab analysis, is there some quantitative number of detected small fiberglass particles that would warrant the area/house being appropriately cleaned/remediated? If cleaning is warranted, is a vacuum with a HEPA filter sufficient to filter very small fiberglass particles?

We sent a sample portion of the fiberglass lining to a lab to test for asbestos. Asbestos was not detected but the fiberglass was identified as such, and rated friable 3. I assume from that that the insulation sample, though not asbestos, is deteriorating. Am I correct in that assumption?

Does the bonding/glue/ or sealants used for fiberglass insulation in ducts contain formaldehyde or other chemicals that outgas/produce hazardous VOCs when the HVAC heating is used?

 


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