Insulation

Celbar is a blend of specially prepared cellulose fibers, organic in nature, treated with adhesive and fire resistant chemicals. When sprayed in place, the interlocking fibers result in a mass that produces excellent sound and thermal properties.

Celbar is pneumatically spray-applied in wall and floor/ceiling cavities to form a monolithic coating. This process seals cracks and holes in the wallboard, around plumbing and electrical outlets, vent ducts and other irregularities. There are no compressed areas or voids to allow sound leaks, R-value reduction, or air infiltration.

Air / Vapor Barriers with insulation

Air infiltration has a major impact on the real world R-Value that insulation delivers and, as a result, on the thermal performance of an insulated building. Infiltration of unconditioned ambient air means that heating and cooling systems must work harder to compensate for heat losses (in the winter) and heat gains (in the summer).

Insulation inhibits the movement of air from warm to cold (interior to exterior) in winter and cold to warm (exterior to interior) in summer, by trapping air between its fibers or pores.  The higher the density of the material, the better it is at inhibiting the movement of air.  Celbar cellulose insulation has a much higher density than fiberglass, and does a much better job at inhibiting air movement. Fiberglass insulation is air permeable, allowing outside air to flow into the building through cracks and seams between building materials. Celbar seals houses better, limiting airflow not only through the insulating material, but also around difficult to insulate areas such as gaps around electrical boxes, wiring and plumbing. 

But what about moisture?

A common misconception is that all insulations require vapor barriers. However, it is not recommended to use vapor barriers with Celbar, except in circumstances of exceptionally high moisture levels, such as an indoor pool facility. The reason is that cellulose is the only insulation that actually manages moisture.

Moisture moves by two transport mechanisms, air movement and diffusion.  Of these two, air movement is the more significant, accounting for over 98% of the total, and it is the primary cause for moisture related building failures.  As noted above, Celbar impedes the movement of air generated by wind, stack effect, and mechanical imbalances within the building.  By blocking the movement of moisture-laden air, Celbar reduces moisture movement to manageable levels within the building assemblies.  Any remaining moisture is diffused by the cellulose, and will be further blocked by primers or paints used on the interior surfaces.

Key Performance Features of Celbar