Creep of granulated loose-fil insulation – Test method and round robin test (NT TR 491)

Abstract

  This report presents a proposal for a standardised method for creep tests and the necessary theoretical framework that can be used to describe creep of a granulated loose-fill material. Furthermore results from a round robin test are shown. The project was carried out because granulated insulation materials that are loose-filled in walls have been found to settle after installation. Loose-fill insulation in walls in a test house was observed to exhibit progressive settling between 0.07 and 0.38 m. A better understanding of the behaviour of granulated loose-fill material is provided and a standardised method for measurement of creep of loose-fill material is proposed. This enables control of the settling and prediction of densities necessary to prevent settling. Nordtest has funded the project (Nordtest project 1536-01).