Glasswool and rockwool insulation products are not hazardous products and are safe to install and use in
your home or in other insulation applications for the life of the building.

The safety of insulation materials is a question that many people ask.

Common insulation products, such as glasswool (formerly called fibreglass), rockwool, polyester,
sheepswool and cellulose (shredded paper) are fibrous in nature, as it is the mat of fibres that creates
their effective insulation properties.

Cutting or blowing these fibrous materials during manufacture or installation releases small quantities of
loose fibres or dust. Ceiling spaces in homes or building sites are dusty environments anyway, and
responsible manufacturers or builders always recommend that installers be protected against this dust, by
wearing simple face masks, long sleeve shirts and trousers, or goggles for overhead work, to ensure the
most comfortable work environment during installation.

The key question is whether exposure to these dusts represents a health hazard – both during installation
and in situ over the long term. Health and safety of insulation products has therefore been thoroughly
researched in Australia and internationally.

The answer is that none of the common insulation products listed above are considered hazardous.

Comprehensively Researched

Glasswool & rockwool insulation products have been comprehensively researched, and in 2002 the World
Health Organisation concluded that after more than 30 years research, including studies on over 60,000
insulation workers, there is no long term serious risk to health from exposure to insulation fibres.

To further ensure the safety of our products, Bradford Insulation changed the formulation of glasswool
and rockwool insulation in 2001 to now use what are known as “bio-soluble fibres”. Insulation fibres are
now considered safer than the dust we breathe in every day walking down the street and are not
considered to pose any risk to health. You can identify bio-soluble fibres by the FBS-1 logo on our packs.
For more information please go to the Insulation Council Australia & New Zealand website
www.icanz.org.au.

The reason why glasswool and rockwool insulation are so popular is not just because of their excellent
thermal and acoustic properties, but because they are durable, performing for the lifetime of the building,
and non-combustible. This is because they are made from inert, inorganic mineral fibres. But this also
produces a fibre that is so strong that it can result in mild irritation to the skin during installation. This
irritation is mechanical in nature only. There is no evidence of any resulting long term skin irritation once
the loose fibres are washed off the skin. Glasswool and rockwool do not cause dermatitis or any other skin
conditions. Once installed and left undisturbed there is no fibre release from the products.

Glasswool and rockwool products also do not contain harmful VOC’s – Volatile Organic Compounds; they
do not contain any harmful amounts of formaldehyde or other organic chemicals, and no Ozone depleting
Products (ODP’s) are used in their manufacture.

Glasswool and rockwool insulation products are not hazardous products and are safe to install and use in
your home or in other insulation applications for the life of the home. Bradford product have been tested and are safe for use in the homes of asthma and allergy sufferers.