ASTM C1574-04(2008)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:C1574–04 (Reapproved 2008)
Standard Guide for
Determining Blown Density of Pneumatically Applied Loose-
Fill Mineral Fiber Thermal Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1574; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope C 1374 Test Method for Determination of Installed Thick-
ness of PneumaticallyApplied Loose-Fill Building Insula-
1.1 This guide describes two alternate procedures for deter-
tion
mining blown density at a predetermined thickness or a range
of thicknesses expected in field applications of mineral fiber
3. Terminology
loose-fill insulation.
3.1 Definitions—Terminology C 168 is applicable to the
1.2 This guide involves blowing a sample of loose-fill
terms used in this standard.
insulation into a test frame of known volume, measuring the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
weight of the insulation captured and calculating the blown
3.2.1 Variable blown density—change in density exhibited
density.
by loose-fill insulation as a function of thickness.
1.3 This guide is intended for pneumatically-applied loose-
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Someloose-fillinsulationmaterialsex-
fill mineral fiber insulation designed for use in horizontal open
hibit an increase in blown density when thickness increases.
attic spaces.
Also, the original thickness may or may not decrease with time
1.4 This guide is intended for product design and product
resulting in the same or somewhat higher densities. This
auditing by manufacturers of loose-fill insulation.This guide is
thickness vs density relationship should be considered when
adaptable as a plant quality control procedure.
developing coverage information for the bag label.
1.5 This guide does not predict the aged density of the
mineral fiber loose-fill insulation.
4. Significance and Use
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all the safety
4.1 Blown density is used to develop loose-fill coverage
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
charts. Data for blown density vs thickness is used in the
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
develpoment of a variable blown density presentation for
health practices and to determine the applicability of regula-
loose-fill insulation.
tory limitations prior to use.
4.2 Thermal resistance (and conductivity) of loose-fill min-
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
eral fiber insulation depends on density, thickness. The result-
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
ing blown density data is useful in developing an expression
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
for apparent thermal conductivity as a function of density.This
and are not considered standard.
will in turn aid the manufacturer in developing coverage
2. Referenced Documents information for packages of loose-fill insulation.
2 4.3 The blown density obtained in this method is for the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
thickness of the test only. The relationship of blown density
C 168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
with thickness can be determined by repeating the procedures
outlined here using different thicknesses.
4.4 These procedures are not the same as the test method
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal
described in Test Method C 1374. Depending on the test
Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.32 on Mechanical
conditions utilized, the blown density may, or may not,
Properties.
represent the installed density values obtained by using Test
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2008. Published February 2009. Originally
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as C 1574–04.
Method C 1374.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.5 This guide can be used to develop appropriate blowing
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
machine settings to achieve a target blown density at a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. predetermined thickness.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C1574–04 (2008)
5. Summary of Guide in.(76mm)diameterflexiblecorrugatedblowinghose.Atleast
100 ft. (30 m) of the hose shall be elevated between 10 and 20
5.1 A standardized test chamber of fixed volume is used to
ft (3 and 6 m) above the blowing machine to simulate a typical
collect the pneumatically-applied insulation.
installation configuration. The hose shall have no more than
5.2 Therearetwotypesoftestchambersthatareincommon
eight 90-degree bends and no bends may be less than 4 ft (1.2
use:
m) radius. After 50 h of usage, the last 50 ft (15 m) section at
5.2.1 Procedure A uses a moveable test box having a
the discharge end shall be discarded. A new 50 ft (15 m) shall
minimum volume of 20 cubic feet (0.56 m ) . The blown
be attached directly to the blowing wool machine. The remain-
material is weighed while still in the test box and the density is
ing 100 ft (30 m) shall then be attached to the end of the new
calculated.
hose. This creates a hose replacement rotation.
5.2.2 Procedure B uses a fixed frame assembly in a test
6.3 Scales—platform scales or load cells accurate to 1 %.
room or blowing shack to simulate an attic application. The
6.4 Specimen Preparation Room—an enclosed area where
blown material is removed from the test frame and weighed
separately to calculate the density. the test material is to be blown into the test chamber. This area
is required to protect the blowing operation from wind or
5.3 After the insulation is blown into the chamber, the
strong air currents. Room geometry should provide adequate
weight of the insulation is determined.
5.4 From the volume of the sample and its weight, the clearance around the test chamber and large enough not to
influence the blowing stream from the hose.
blown density is determined.
6.5 Hose Nozzle Stand—a hose stand on swivel casters that
6. Apparatus
holds the blowing hose at a fixed height of 36 to 48 in. (0.9 to
1.2 m) and is on a swivel that allows the operator to swing the
6.1 Blowing Machine—a commercial pneumatic blowing
hose horizontally back and forth while slowly moving back-
machine, designed for handling mineral fiber loose-fill insula-
wards and forwards to fill the test chamber. A typical hose
tion materials, shall be used for blowing the insulation into the
nozzle stand is shown in Fig. 1. Use of the hose stand is
test chamber.This machine shall have throughput and handling
optional.
characteristics similar to that used in field applications.
6.2 Blowing Hose—the machine shall utilize three (3) 50 ft 6.6 Moveable Test Chamber (Procedure A)—a wooden
(15 m) sections to make up 150 ft (46 m) of a minimum of 3 open container to collect the insulation. The chamber shall
FIG. 1 Hose Nozzle Stand
C1574–04 (2008)
3 3
have a minimum capacity of 20 ft (0.57 m ) and have the
minimuminsidedimensionsof11in.highby28in.wideby80
in. long (279 mm by 711 mm by 2032 mm). Note that these
minimum dimensions by themselves do not produce the
required volume but simply represent the minimum B, C, and
D dimensions in Fig. 2.
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