HEALTH

Health, Safety and Environment

Glasswool insulation keeps buildings and homes warm in winter, cool in summer and quiet all year long. It helps cut energy use which saves money and reduces pollution. And, it is environmentally friendly.

Glasswool insulation is made from natural ingredients, notably sand, and at least 30% recycled products. As part of its Health, Safety and Environmental policy, Insulation Refractory South Africa strives to operate according to the highest health, safety and environmental standards.

This includes understanding and communicating information about the health, safety and environmental impact of our products throughout their life cycles.

Over the last 50 years, researchers have extensively studied glasswool and have found that:

  • Exposures to glasswool are low today and have been historically low.
  • Our workers are healthy. Glasswool fibres have not been associated with disease in our workplace.
  • Glasswool fibres disappear quickly. If inhaled, our glass wool insulation fibers disappear from the lung as fast as ordinary dust that is breathed everyday.

Insulation Refractory South Africa will continue to share new information regarding the health effects of its products with scientists, employees, regulators, customers and the public.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

1. PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

AEROLITE : CAVITYLITE : FACTORYLITE : ENERGYLITE: SNAP-ON PIPE: SOUNDLITE : FACTORYBOARD : SONIC LINER : DUCTWRAP : DUCTBOARD : ROOFLITE : ECONOLITE :

Trade Name
Fibre Glass

Chemical Family
Borosilicate Glass

Chemical Name
Fibrous Glass

Synonyms
Glass Fibre Insulation

2. COMPOSITION

Fibre Glass wool with thermosetting phenol / formaldehyde resin

Hazardous components

EEC Classification

R Phrases

3. HAZARD IDENTIFICTION

Main Hazard
Temporary mechanical irritation and itching on skin and eye contact. Temporary irritation of upper airways

Health Effects
Ingestion : None

Flammability
Non Flammable

Chemical hazard

Biological hazard
Inhalation, lungs, skin and eyes

Reproduction hazard
Eye effect: eyes: Rinse eye with clean tepid water for 10 minutes or until irritation ceases

Health effects – skin:
Wash gently with lukewarm water and soap.

Health effects – ingestion
None

Health effects – inhalation
None

Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity

Neurotoxicity

4. FIRST AID MEASURES

Product in eye:
Flush eyes with clean tepid water for 10 minutes or until irritation ceases.

Product on skin:
Wash gently with lukewarm water and soap

Product ingested:
None

Product inhaled
None

5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

Extinguishing media
Water, foam, carbon dioxide, dry powder.

Special hazards
None. Primary combustion products are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and water.

Protective clothing
Fire fighters entering an area where fibrous glass is present, must wear full protective gear, including eye and respiratory protection.

6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

Containment Procedures
This material will settle out of air. If concentrated on land, it can be scooped up for disposal as non hazardous waste.

Personal precautions
Isolate area. Keep unnecessary personnel away.

Environmental precautions
This material will sink and disperse along the bottom of waterways and ponds. It cannot easily be removed after it is waterborne, however the material is non hazardous in water.

Small spills
Use a vacuum cleaners

Large spills
Spray with water to suppress dust. Collect wet material with shovels or front-end loader.

7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

Suitable material

Handling / storage precautions
Store and handle in a manner that prevents spread of airborne fibrous glass dust in the workplace.

Storage Procedures
No special procedures

  

8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION 

Occupational exposure limits
Recommended limited 2 fibres/ml air

Engineering control measures
Local exhaust ventilation with hood : or process enclosure to contain dust.

Personal protection – respiratory
FF1 Type respiratory protection mask

Personal protection – hand
Wear Gloves

Personal protection – eye
Wear safety glasses, goggles when working at or above shoulder height

Personal protection – skin
Normal work clothing is recommended. Use gloves. Skin irritation is known to occur chiefly at the pressure points such as around the neck, wrists, waist and between the fingers.

Other protection
N/A

9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance Fibrous insulation wool in rolls or batts
Odour None
PH 6 – 9
Boiling point Not applicable
Melting point Becomes increasingly fluid from 800°C upwards
Flash point None
Flammability None
Auto flammability None
Explosive properties None Known
Oxidizing properties None
Physical State Stable
Density SG 2.5
Solubility (H20 Insoluble in water and chemical solvents
Freezing Point Not applicable

10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

Conditions to avoid
Product is stable

Incompatible materials
None Known

Hazardous decomposition products11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Acute toxicity
None

Skin and eye contact
Skin, eye and upper airway contact : Transient irritation

Chronic toxicity

Carcinogenicity
Not described in man

Chronic Study in Animals

Component Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity

Reproductive hazards

12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Aquatic toxicity – fish
Aquatic toxicity – daphnia
Aquatic – algae
Biodegradability – Dissolves slowly in physiological solutions : otherwise persistent
Bio accumulation
Mobility
German wgk

No known adverse environmental effects

13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATION

Disposal methods
Dispose of waste material in non toxic waste landfill. Handle so as to limit dust generation
Disposal of packaging

14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION

UnKnown
None
Substance identity no.
ADR / RID class
ADR / RID item no.
ADR / RID hazard identity no
IMDG Shipping name
IMDG class
IMDG Packaging group
IMDG Marine pollutant
IMDG EMS no.
IMDG MFAG Table no.
IATA Shipping name
IATA class
IATA Subsidiary risk (s)
ADNR Class
UK Description
UK emergency action class
UK Classification
Tremcard no

Transport in closed packaging or container to limit escape of fibrous dust

15. REGULATORY INFORMATION

EEC Hazard classification
Risk phases
Safety phases
National legislation

South African Legislation : Occupational Health and Safety Act 85/1993. Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations – recommended occupational exposure limit 2 fibre / ml air

16. OTHER INFORMATION

Aerolite DOES NOT contain asbestos, is bio-soluble and poses NO health hazards. Aerolite has a class 1 fire rating from the SABS, Aerolite can NOT burn.

Fibrous glass insulation is safe when handled correctly

Reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this information, but the manufacturer makes no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to this information. The manufacturer makes no representations and assumes no liability for any direct, incidental or consequential damages resulting form its use.