Radiant Barrier/ insullation Delima

[Pooka]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

avoid fiberglass like the plague it is. The cellulose which we put in doesn't have formaldehyde (I wonder who told you that) it has boric acid as a fire retardant and insect retardant. Boric acid is what is used in eye wash. Very harmless unless you are a powder post beetle or termite.
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Borates are great and I plan on lining the attic with it, but still the Formaldehyde concerns me... along with a few other considerations... here is a "green site" that discusses it:

http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/Insulation.html

"Cellulose insulation uses recycled newsprint that contains printers inks which can possibly outgas formaldehyde into a home. If there is any outgassing from inks, it should fall well below levels irritating most persons. However, an environmentally-sensitive person should be careful in selecting cellulose and install a vapor retarder between the insulation and the living space. (Note that the vapor retarder can exacerbate mildew problems if humidity levels in the house are high.)"