Insulate — and burn

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33928, 22 August 1975, Page 3

Insulate — and burn

CA'.Z. Press Association) HASTINGS, Aug. 21. Four houses in Hawke’s Bay had been damaged by fire in walls and ceilings a few' days after “loose fUI” insulation had been installed, a Hastings Fire Brigade spokesman said today. Mr G. W. Woolhouse, the brigade's senior Are safety officer, said the problem appeared to be confined to insulation material that was blown into ceilings. This loose material wedged against chimney flues, trapping the radiated heat from the chimney in the wall spaces below the ceiling. When the flue was too close to nearby woodwork, the timber began to char, and eventually became quite porous, and absorbed oxygen from the air. Mr Woolhouse said that when the wood was in this state, the temperature required for it to ignite was lower, and a fire could start within a few hours. People with chip heaters or space heaters that had been installed more than 10 years ago should get advice from their local authority building inspector before they had “loose

fill” insulation put in their ceilings.

Mr Woolhouse noted that the Government had praised thermal insulation as being “the single most effective measure that could be taken to increase the efficiency of electrical energy’ use today.”

The Government has also promoted interest-free loans to home-owners to allow them to have thermal insulation installed.

“Consumer” magazine was quoted as saying: “When you have insulated your home, you can get a double kick — firstly, from the added warmth and comfort, and secondly, from the knowledge that you’ve saved overseas funds.”

“Fire brigades have now discovered a third kick — your home may catch fire,” said Mr Woolhouse.