Instructions

It is mandatory to install insulation to meet required standards in all new houses. Building Inspectors check to ensure these insulation standards are maintained.

In order to get the best from your Pink® Batts® insulation it is important that a high standard of workmanship is achieved when insulation materials are installed. These instructions are written for people installing insulation in new and existing houses.

The installation details here apply equally to the Pink® Batts® Classic, Pink® Batts® Ultra® and Pink® Batts® Silencer® ranges. See the special section on installing Pink® Batts® SnugFloor® underfloor insulation products.

Installation Equipment

The installation of Pink® Batts® insulation is easier if the right equipment is used and protective clothing worn. Although glass wool insulation can produce skin irritation, this effect is generally only temporary and will probably disappear after you have washed or showered.

Dust mask: This can prevent discomfort to the installer, especially in dusty ceilings. A disposable cotton pad mask is suitable. A more sophisticated mask, such as a R1000 Respirator, may be better for a professional installer.

Correct clothing: Loose fitting clothing, such as overalls, will lessen the chances of skin irritation. Good stout footwear is also necessary to maintain safety. Lamp, extension cord and a Residual Current Device: (approximately 15m long). This will provide safe, adequate illumination for most ceilings spaces.

Installing sticks: These should be approximately 1500mm long, 50mm wide, approximately 10mm thick and fairly rigid. They are used for pushing insulation into corners and edges of ceilings, especially those with a low pitched roof.

Utility knife: Any short knife with a good sharp edge can be used for cutting insulation. A Stanley knife is suitable.

Gloves: These are recommended to stop any skin irritation.

Ladder or steps: These are necessary to gain access to the ceiling manhole or the tops of high walls.

Installation

Cutting For Friction Fitting

Pink® Batts® pieces are made in sizes which enable them to be friction fitted between joists, trusses and wall studs. They are compression packed in polythene bales. To open, cut along the length of the bale.

Use a sharp utility knife to cut pieces to fit around obstructions and between smaller spaces.

Cut on a flat wooden surface, using a straight edge to guide the knife. Pink® Batts® insulation should always be cut slightly oversize to ensure a friction fit.

Installation Method

Ceilings

Pink® Batts® ceiling insulation is 1220 x 432mm. In a framed roof the ceiling joists are usually spaced at 450mm centres and the pieces will fit tightly between the joists. The truss centres in a trussed roof are generally 900mm and two pieces should be installed tightly side by side between the trusses.

Pink® Batts® bales should be lifted into the ceiling through the access panel. If possible lift the full bale through before opening. Installation should be started at the furthest point away from the access panel. Installation in all areas of the ceiling should reach to the top plates of exterior walls. Soffit or porch areas need not be covered.

A 25mm gap needs to be maintained between the roof underlay and the insulation (see Illustration 1 & 2). This allows moisture formed on the underside of the roof cladding to be absorbed by the roofing underlay and then evaporate without restriction. It will also prevent moisture from wicking into the insulation that would reduce its performance. The best solution is to use a thinner product around the perimeter of the roof space, ensuring insulation is installed to the middle of the top plate but, if required, the insulation can be trimmed to maintain the 25mm clearance to the roof underlay.

Beware of damaged, exposed or hanging cables – contact a registered electrician to complete repair before starting installation. Beware of sharp objects like protruding nails and broken glass. Check drainage pipes for leakage of water or sewage. Repair before installation. Beware of other hazards such as animals and vermin. Although this project does not involve the use of power tools it does involve working at heights and the use of a ladder or steps. Always err on the side of caution to prevent accidents and damage to the house

Insulation should be strapped or stapled to the top of the access panel cover, then staple a product label close to the access panel as a record of what was installed.

Flat or skillion roofs are usually insulated in conjunction with a roofer. As access to the ceilings can only be obtained from the roof, the roofer must follow immediately behind so the insulation is not left exposed to the weather. If the pieces do get wet, ensure they are replaced before proceeding.

When installing insulation around recessed downlights, it’s important that a clearance is maintained between the downlight and the insulation to reduce the risk of fire. Under no circumstances shall insulation be installed over the top of downlights and their auxiliary equipment (such as transformers).

If the manufacturer’s specified clearances for downlights are known they shall be followed. If they are not known and the type of lamp cannot be determined, a minimum clearance of 200mm should be provided between the downlight and insulation material (Illustration 3).

Insulation should be placed around and not over vents so ventilation is unhindered. In houses which have a water heater tank in the ceiling, lag pipe work with Climaflex and place a hot water cylinder wrap around the tank. This will prevent the water freezing in the tank during severe cold weather.

Walls

Pink® Batts® wall insulation is designed to be friction fitted between studs with 600mm centres. They measure 1140 x 580mm. If you have 400mm centre studs, each piece must be cut to fit the space. All the space in exterior walls should be insulated between the top and bottom plates. Where there are split-level ceilings or floors, the area of wall above or below the split should also be insulated. Off-cuts can be used to insulate the small gaps around window frames, doors and vents.

Floors

Start fixing Pink® Batts® SnugFloor® underfloor insulation at the point furthest from the access point and work back towards it. To identify location of wires, pipes and cables, use labels so they can be seen and referred back to as you work.

Given joist spacings are typically uneven, each piece must be fitted to provide a spring loaded friction fit. Ensure all pieces are at least 30mm wider than the distance between joist faces (see Illustration 4). For joists where the product specified is not 30mm wider, fit pieces lengthwise and trim surplus when necessary.

Friction fit each piece between the joists, (see Illustration 5), leaving no gaps. The folded corner must be pushed completely into corner leaving no gap. The fold must not extend below bottom of the joist. If required, trim off the excess.

Do not cover over wiring with insulation.  * Cut neatly around penetrations (drain pipes, plumbing and jack studs), leaving no gaps.

Pink® Batts® SnugFloor® R1.6 and R2.6 - Fix each piece with Danband or equivalent strapping tape (no less than two per piece) to be fixed at no less than 200mm from ends and no less than 600mm centres across the floor joists to prevent dislodgment from vermin, timber movement and excessive vibration (No less than two per piece).

Ensure strapping is wide enough for staples (strapping may be cut for each piece or continuous), then use two staples for each fixing point (see detail above). Ensure pieces are butted together leaving no gaps.

When installation has been completed all packaging materials should be removed and the job should be inspected to ensure it is complete and correct. To verify Building Code compliance, staple a product label at an easy-to-find location.

Electrical & Plumbing Fittings

Special attention must be given to electrical and plumbing fittings when insulation is installed. Wherever possible, Pink® Batts® insulation should be laid beneath electrical wiring or pipes. However, if the insulation is likely to be considerably compressed in that position, it should be placed over the pipes or wiring.

Installation & Moisture

Moisture present in bulk insulation will reduce the thermal effectiveness of insulation and should therefore be prevented.

The following measures should be taken to prevent water from seeping into the insulation:
a) Timber framing should be sufficiently dry before the insulation is installed.
b) Cavities must not connect. This rule is to prevent damp air from under the floor or the base of walls being drawn up through the wall cavity to the ceiling space by natural ventilation. Should it do so, the resulting water vapour could condense on the underside of the roofing and drip down onto the insulation.
c) Building paper should be fastened below roof with a 25mm gap to the roof underlay and behind wall claddings to protect the insulation from condensation.
d) Cracks or joins in wall and ceiling linings should be filled. Moisture flow through cracks is much greater than vapour diffusion through linings.
e) BRANZ has published several bulletins on moisture control which are available from BRANZ offices.

They are: Bulletin No.142 Masonry Veneer Construction
Bulletin No.155 Building Papers and Membranes
Bulletin No.210 Reducing Heat Losses from Existing Houses
Bulletin No.215 Moisture Control in Buildings
Leaflet: Condensation and Mildew in Homes.

Simple safety precautions will help prevent accidents from occurring when Pink® Batts® insulation is being installed.

• Sufficient lighting should always be available when installers are working in ceilings, underfloors or in other dark areas.
• #It is essential that when working in ceilings, installers should stand only on ceiling joists. In exposed beam ceilings where joists are below the ceiling (and cannot be seen from above the ceiling) stiff planks for walking on should be laid at right angles to the direction of the joists.
• Care should be taken when cutting insulation to ensure that electrical wiring is not cut or exposed. Special care should be taken when working in older houses, because it is common for the protective sheathing around the wiring to decay with age and expose live wiring.
• Beware of loose timber or pipework in ceilings. Loose timber or pipework might not bear the weight of the installer and they could lose their balance.
• The installer should be careful of exposed nails or splinters of wood, especially if they are working in existing ceilings.