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Building Inspection: Guide to Getting a Grade 1 Insulation Rating

building inspectionContractors know their insulation jobs need to pass thorough building inspection requirements, but sometimes there is a disconnect between the official ratings standards and how projects are completed in the field. RESNET is working to bridge that gap through education, mobile-apps and conferences for inspectors and other insulation industry professionals.

Cardice Howard, Operations Manager for Garland Insulating attended the conference and returned with the drive to spread the word.

“Many inspectors and contractors believe that you can’t get a Grade 1 install with fiberglass batt insulation, but demonstrations at the conference showed that you can. It’s an important topic to address because fiberglass batt is a popular insulation choice.”

Getting the Grade

Grade 1 is the highest rating your insulation installation can receive during building inspection. This grade fills cavities without compressions, gaps, voids or misalignments and will be on par with the manufacturer’s instructions. To achieve a Grade 1 install, insulation should be:

  • cut around wires, pipes, and electrical boxes which are best fitted by the electricians from somewhere like kalahari-electrical.com/smyrna/.
  • Have little to no compressions
  • From the building interior you should not be able to see the exterior sheathing through gaps in the cavity insulation material. If you can, then this setup does not warrant a Grade 1 insulation rating.

Garland Insulating commits to Grade 1 installs on every project, because without that insulation rating then you cannot pass inspections. The property owner may experience comfort issues like fluctuating temperatures and have higher utility bills due to improper insulation. Garland Insulating has superintendents in the field checking installs daily using RESNET’s JobWerks app. This method ensures our properties pass the energy inspections conducted by raters and provides customers with the highest quality control possible.

Passing Building Inspection with Fiberglass Batts

Fiberglass batt is the most common type of material for property insulation. The material is relatively inexpensive and can be quick to install, which misleads many contractors to believe it is a DIY insulation installation project. This attitude can lead to hasty and improper batt installation that won’t pass inspection. As a result, many inspectors have come to believe that blown-in and spray foam are the only insulation types that will achieve a Grade 1 install.

The effectiveness of fiberglass is measured by its R-value, without a trained insulation contractor, you run the risk of not properly fitting material around obstacles that can leave compressions and significantly lower the R-value of the fiberglass. Like surgery, insulation installation is a delicate process that requires professional focus and trained hands. Jamming batts in crevices or between rafters in the ceiling will interfere with the roof’s ability to circulate airflow properly, which is why a professional fiberglass installation is so essential.

Contact Garland Insulating today if you need proper insulation installation done in your property space that will award you with the insulation rating you deserve.