Insulation update: ls fiberglass still safe?

alternative insulation to those who refuse to purchase fiberglass products.

The environmental market is the tafget of a new type of insulation due late this sunmer or erly fall. Using a patented process incorporating recycled textiles that normally would go to a landfill, Greenwood Cotton Insulation Products, Inc., a division of a 104-year-old textile company, Greenwood Mills, Greenwood, S.C.,

Story at a Glance

How to answer questions about the safety of fiberglass insulation ... alternative prcducts ... insulatbn made frcm recycled cotton tefiiles due soon.

expects the product to be available in kraft-face, foil-faced and unfaced batts as well as loose-filI.

No independent test results for Rvalue or fre resistance are available" according to Environmental Building News, which called the product "an important new addition to the standard nber insulation options if it lives up to its billing."

Kirk R. Villar, vice president-sales and marketing for Greenwood, emphasizes, "the product takes very little raw energy oo produce is nontoxic, contains no formaldehyde, does not cause itching, has no health hazards and is biodegradable.'

The product will be marketed through insulation disributors and contractors, home centers and commercial disributors. Initial disribution will be primarily in the Southeast.

Two other alternatives to fiberglass insulation products have been in the market for some tirne.

Housewraps, frequently described as windbreakers for houses, enhance thermal efficiency by preventing air from entering through cracks and seams. On the market since the early 1980s, the non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric is placed between the wall sheathing and siding of a house. This type of insulation is said to require less labor to install than 15 lb. feltorkraftpaper.

Although housewraps are often specified in areas with tough energy standards, especially on high end or custom homes, it is estimated that less than half of the builders have ever used them.

Reflective foil insulation is another alternative. Usually a combination of bubble pack and aluminum foil, it reflects radiant heat and provides a thermal heat break to resist convective heat flow in addition to blocking air infiltration and acting as a vapor barrier.

Reportedly non-toxic and safe to handle, the product is said to emit no gases or loose fibers into the air. Environmentally sensitive customers will appreciate that installation reportedly needs no gloves, mask, respirator, prot@tive clothes or goggles.

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Marley Wood Products Div

Medallion Millwork, Inc.

Medlord Moulding Company

Mt. Taylor Millwork, Inc.

Navajo Forest Products Industries

NoFCal Moulding Company hcific Southeast Forest Products

Nose Creek Forest Products Ltd.

0regon Fir Millwork, Inc.

Frank Paxton Lumbgr Company

Ponderosa Mouldings

Port-0-Lite Corporation

Pueblo Millwork, Inc.

Rocky Mountain Forest Products

Setzer Forest Products Inc.

Sheridan Wood Moulding

Sierra Pacilic Industries Millwork Div

Smith Millwork, Inc.

Spokane Moulding Company

Sunset Mouldrng Company, Inc.

Tewa Moulding Corporation llunderbird Moulding Company

Trimcnft, Inc.

Vemon Kiln & Millwork

\4/alter H. Weaber Sons, Inc.

Western Moulding Company, Inc.

Wholesale Door Company

\tkima ManuJacturing Company

Yuba River Mouldinq & Millwork, Inc.

Cleaning Up ln The Moulding Aisle

As moulding becomes increasingly the bins and reorganizing them. He a fashion poduct, the importance of displaying it in a pleasant sales envifonment also increases. Yet self-service moulding racks invite oonsumers to break bundles and pick through sticks. And an unkempt moulding aisle can kill sales fast.

"Women in particulr are drawn to mouldings, and if they see a dirty, messy display, they'll nrn around and walk out " says John Carroll, Carroll Moulding Co., Huntington Beach, Ca"They want them neatly organized in a display, properly labeled and price4 with signage."

"It's unfortunate," he adds, "but a lot of stores tend to forget about the moulding display."

The point was driven home recently after Carroll shipped a Nevada home center a rather large order. The freshly-promoted store manager had no idea what to do with the 200 bundles, so he just had them placed in any bin that wasn't full. "It looked like a bomb blew (the area) up," recalled Carroll.

The distribuor's local sales representative spent 14 hours pulling out every stick and bundle, cleaning out then explained the importance of a neat display and a lifile housekeeping to the new manager.

Thougb some distributors provide basic moulding aisle maintenance for retailers, Ausralian company Por0a Mouldings takes it a step further. Porta has for some time been concemed about the effect of store and yard dust upon its appearance mouldings, racked and awaiting sale.

Yet it discovercd it near impossible to markedly change retailers' behavior. So Porta decided to provide a regular "Rack Vac" vacuum cleaning service to dealers displaying their Power Aisle racls. Sales represenatives make their regular calls on retailers, with compact vacuums strapped to their backs to clean the strings and dust out of the bottom of the moulding bins.

"Few people really tolerate soiled product on display," says Porta marketing manager Bob Lamb. "Yard management all too often simply dismisses grime and dust as inevitable and just piut of the busiess cyclg but professionally-run stores are demanding better, and they support change."

8Atl0til6 PnnnacTs

" Erokhsrt, Colorado Springs, Co., is building C rew store near Monument, Co. ,,. Maison end Marson Lumber fzc., I,-saygrwortb Wa., will edd 1,600 $q. ft-, edding a decorafing and interior fini$ Bmd*$s storc of mo.re, 33,"1%;

Ftbrcboard Walnut :Creek, €a, Fans ts acquirc Nomtdex Inc, by Septpmber (See story.{. 5a)t ".