"Pink Batts" are a specific brand of what is generically known as fibreglass batts. Pink Batts as such are manufactured in Australia (not sure if they are also manufactured elsewhere) whilst generic fibreglass batts are manufactured in numerous locations globally.
I don't know how much has been imported but I simply observe this. Prior to this scheme, I had never seen any imported fibreglass insulation batts used in an Australian house. "Pink Batts" are the best known local product, but there are others such as Bradford Gold Batts, Fat Batts and so on, all of which are locally made.
But now there's insulation from China and elsewhere being installed left, right and centre. Judge for yourself, but if we assume that the Australian manufacturers wouldn't have had a large unused production capacity prior to the government scheme then it is likely that much of the additional demand was met by imports.
The great tragedy for the Australian manufacturers is that they had a viable industry on an ongoing basis before government stepped in. Now demand for their products has fallen in a hole, replaced by imports filling broght-forward demand and now there's a halted government scheme plus a loss of public confidence in insulation generally. Apart from new construction, there's basically no market for insulation now - it sure hasn't done the legitimate installers and local manufacturers any good by wrecking the industry.
It's a classic case of government meddling messing things up. It would have been hard to create a bigger mess if they'd tried...
I'm a big fan of insulating houses generally - personally I'd regard a lack of it in a climate needing heating / cooling as a building defect. But like anything, it's only good if it's done with quality products installed properly.
SOME insulation installers say they were shocked to find how easy it was to rort the government's botched $2.45 billion insulation scheme, with shonky operators claiming a $1600 or $1200 rebate for work they did not do.
There were few checks or balances built into the scheme, they say, and those making claims simply entered the details of a job into an online system without needing to lodge copies of a work order or the customer's signature.
The money just landed in their bank accounts -- whether the work was done or not.
The Rudd government has been a godsend to rorters.
Ease of rorts shocked insulation installers
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/pol...ation-installers/story-e6frgczf-1225837515759
I'm not sure if it was the same case, but as I heard it last night on ABC Radio news it was 'thermal' insulation. Is that foil?
Sounds OK but get an electrician to have a look if you have any ongoing doubts. Better safe than sorry.Phew..... MASSIVE sigh of relief. I reckon my heart rate hit 200bpm.
I just tore some out from the ceiling and tried to burn it. Definitely not flammable. It seems to dissipate and not melt into a liquid resin sorta substance. Down-lights are all well ventilated so I guess mine was done right. The black box thingies are all bolted to the pitch rafters so they aren't an issue.
Scared the living daylights outta me. Still going to get the leccy in, just to make sure.
Smurf, does this also apply to the yellow/gold batts?Sounds OK but get an electrician to have a look if you have any ongoing doubts. Better safe than sorry.
Assuming the material you have is the genuine "Pink Batts", it's a quality product that won't burn so no problems there.
"Thermal insulation" can mean anything that reduces the flow of heat. Could be foil, batts, foam, loose fill etc.I assumed he meant metal foil as that is the one that has been causing the shocks. I was half asleep when I heard it as I usually only listen to the radio when in bed. I think that is the same as thermal insulation, Julia, going by this ad......
Bradford is the best known manufacturer of yellow / gold batts - "Bradford Gold Batts" but there are others too, most notably "Insulco Fat Batts". Either is fine and both have been in the business for many years. They are made from fibreglass - not pleasant stuff to handle but this material is inherently non-flammableSmurf, does this also apply to the yellow/gold batts?
Sounds OK but get an electrician to have a look if you have any ongoing doubts. Better safe than sorry.
Assuming the material you have is the genuine "Pink Batts", it's a quality product that won't burn so no problems there. Just make sure it's not covering the downlights though - NOTHING should be in contact with those since even if the insulation doesn't burn, it would still cause the lights to overheat because they are designed to pass heat through their rear into the roof space.
The "black box thingies" you mention are the transformers which convert 240V mains power into 12V that runs the downlights. They should be secured but very often aren't.
No worries.Cheers for that Smurf. Much appreciated.
I did get an electrician in yesterday arvo and thankfully he gave it all the A.O.K. He said the job was done properly and that we had nothing to worry about in terms of the recent dilemma. He also mentioned that I should pop my head up every month or so to make sure that rodents/possums/etc.. have not moved/shredded them causing the lights to be covered.
they went through the pantry the other night and also stole the easter eggs a few days earlier.
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