ASTM C1374-97

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: C 1374 – 97
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Installed Thickness of Pneumatically
Applied Loose-Fill Building Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1374; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers determination of the installed 3.1 Definitions—Unless otherwise stated, the definitions
thickness of pneumatically applied loose-fill building insula- listed in Terminology C 168 are applicable herein.
tions prior to settling by simulating an open attic with 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
horizontal blown applications. 3.2.1 installed thickness, n—the average thickness, as mea-
1.2 This test method is a laboratory procedure for use by sured immediately after application of blown insulation mate-
manufacturers of loose-fill insulation for product design, label rial when applied at a given mass/unit area.
development, and quality control testing. The apparatus used
4. Summary of Test Method
produces installed thickness results at a given mass/unit area.
2 2
4.1 A standardized test chamber of 80 ft (7.4 m ) is used as
1.3 This test method is not the same as the design density
procedures described in Test Methods C 520 or Specifications a receptacle to receive a calculated mass/unit area of pneumati-
cally applied insulation.
C 739 or C 764.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4.2 The mass of insulation to be blown into the test chamber
is calculated from the bag label information.
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided
for information only. 4.3 The mass of insulation prescribed in 4.2 is uniformly
blown into the test chamber.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.4 The thickness of the blown insulation is determined at
13 predetermined locations.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4.5 The thickness average of three tests is the installed
thickness for the mass/unit area being tested.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents 5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method was designed to give the manufacturer
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulating Materi- of loose-fill insulation products a way of determining what the
initial installed thickness should be in a horizontal open attic
als
for pneumatic applications.
C 520 Test Methods for Density of Granular Loose-Fill
Insulations 5.2 The installed thickness value developed by this test
method is intended to provide guidance to the installer in order
C 739 Specification for Cellulosic Fiber (Wood-Base)
Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation to achieve a minimum mass/unit area for a given R-value.
5.3 For the purpose of product design, testing should be
C 764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal
Insulation done at a variety of R-values. At least three R-values should be
used: the lowest R-value on the product label, the highest
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method R-value on the product label, and an R-value near the midpoint
of the R-value range.
1 NOTE 1—For quality control purposes, testing may be done at one
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-16 on
R-value of R-19 (h3ft 3°F/Btu) or higher.
Thermal Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.32 on
Mechanical Properties.
5.4 Specimens are blown in a manner consistent with the
Current edition approved July 10, 1997. Published August 1998.
2 intended installation procedure.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C1374–97
5.5 The material blown for a given R-value as part of the
installed thickness test equals the installed mass/unit area times
the test chamber area. This mass can be calculated from
information provided on the package label at the R-value
prescribed.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Blowing Machine—A pneumatic blowing machine, de-
signed primarily for handling loose-fill insulation materials,
shall be used for blowing the insulation into the test chamber.
This machine shall have throughput and material handling
characteristics similar to that used in field applications.
6.2 Blowing Hose—The machine should utilize 150 ft (46
m) of 3–in. (76–mm) diameter flexible, corrugated blowing
hose. At least 100 ft (30 m) of the hose should be elevated
between 10 and 20 ft (3 and 6 m) above the blowing machine
to simulate a typical installation configuration. The hose should
have no more than eight 90° bends and no bends may be less
than 4–ft (1.2–m) radius.
NOTE 2—It is good practice to clean the hose periodically by mechani-
cally agitating it with the blower on. This practice should dislodge any
pieces of insulation that might be caught in the hose.
FIG. 2 Dowel Placement in Chamber Floor
6.3 Test Specimen Chamber—The specimen chamber shall
be constructed in accordance with Fig. 1 with the reference
dowels positioned as shown in Fig. 2.
7. Sampling
NOTE 3—For some insulation materials it may be necessary to use a
larger test chamber than shown to accommodate a more representative
7.1 Follow sampling plans given in the material specifica-
sample, when the test chamber size is changed, the precision may change.
tions, regulations or other appropriate documents when appli-
6.4 Weighing Devices—A device is required to weigh the cable. In the absence of such directions, randomly select the
test material before loading into hopper. This device must number of bags of product required for testing to meet
determine the test material mass to within 0.5 %.
conditions in 8.2.
6.5 Specimen Preparation Room—An enclosed area where
7.2 Condition the sample material by exposure in a condi-
the test material is blown into the specimen chamber is
tioned space as prescribed by the contract or regulatory
required to protect the blowing operation from wind or strong
documents. If conditioning is not required, material must be in
air currents. Room geometry should not influence the blowing
equilibrium with the storage environment.
stream from the hose as long as there is adequate clearance
around the sides to maneuver.
8. Specimen Preparation
8.1 Clean the specimen chamber to be free of dirt and
insulation prior to the start of the test.
NOTE 4—Many factors can influence the installation characteristics of
blown insulation. These include blowing rate, machine adjustments, the
size and length of the hose, and the angle and dimensions of the hose
outlet in relation to the test chamber. Where available, use manufacturer’s
instructions to establish machine settings.
8.2 From product label information, calculate the mass of
insulation required to fill the test chamber for the R-value
selected using the following formula:
W 5 A 3 WSF (1)
where:
W = total mass of material required lb (kg),
2 2
A = test chamber area, 80 ft (7.4 m ), and
2 2
WSF = label mass/unit area lb/ft (kg/m ).
8.3 Assemble the blowing machine, hose, and hose length
combinations as appropriate for the material being prepared
FIG. 1 Installed Thickness Test Chamber (see recommendations in Section 6).
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C1374–97
TABLE 1 Precision for Cellulose Insulation
8.4 Set the blowing machine adjustments and select the feed
rates in accordance with the insulatio
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