Is bubble wrap duct insulation non-toxic?
zaksinclair
| Posted in General Questions on
I have an exposed duct in the utility room that just got repaired and wrapped with foil bubble wrap. There is now the smell of off-gassing plastic. Is that safe? What is the alternative?
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
Zak,
Bubble wrap products provide very little insulating value, and most manufacturers and distributors of bubble wrap exaggerate or lie about the performance of the product.
What you actually need is duct insulation. Most brands of duct insulation consist of a layer of fiberglass covered by a protective jacket that acts as a vapor barrier. Here are some examples of duct insulation -- there are many brands available:
http://www.certainteed.com/products/insulation/mechanical-industrial/317380
http://commercial.owenscorning.com/products/hvac/softr-duct-wrap-frk/
http://www.jm.com/en/building-materials/hvac-insulation/duct-wrap/