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Hello, I'm looking to purchase some high density eco friendly acoustic materials for building panels such as cotton or polyester materials. I don't want to use rockwool or fibreglass because of the air quality and safety hazards these materials contribute to. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I'd like to order within the country or ideally purchase from a local supplier. Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

pcrecord Fri, 02/24/2017 - 12:47

sp4rxx, post: 447819, member: 50410 wrote: materials for building panels such as cotton or polyester materials

Look in second hand stores who receive donation. (Like places for the poor) I don't know how you call them were you live. For us in Quebec they are called Emmaus Counters.

Have you found this video and want to experiment ?

sp4rxx Sat, 02/25/2017 - 11:42

pcrecord, post: 447825, member: 46460 wrote: Look in second hand stores who receive donation. (Like places for the poor) I don't know how you call them were you live. For us in Quebec they are called Emmaus Counters.

Have you found this video and want to experiment ?

Thanks for the video, but this is not what im looking for. Im looking to purchase legitimate cotton or polyester boards designed for acoustic treatment.

OBrien Sat, 02/25/2017 - 12:00

As far as concerns over air quality in typical building thermal materials...when you build something typically used as an acoustical treatment...you will enclose the insulation in the treatment.

So the potential for irritation is removed from the environment...insulation is all in your living and work environment but it is enclosed so the irritional aspect is removed and that is the only air quality issue it presents.

There is no safety concern that I am aware of outside of mild irritation to the skin and or breathing irritation...

sp4rxx Sat, 02/25/2017 - 14:13

Brien Holcombe, post: 447862, member: 48996 wrote: As far as concerns over air quality in typical building thermal materials...when you build something typically used as an acoustical treatment...you will enclose the insulation in the treatment.

So the potential for irritation is removed from the environment...insulation is all in your living and work environment but it is enclosed so the irritional aspect is removed and that is the only air quality issue it presents.

There is no safety concern that I am aware of outside of mild irritation to the skin and or breathing irritation...

That is true, but a lot of fiberglass insulation off gasses harmful toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. Also, the particles of fiberglass still break down and can still release through the fabric into the space and then your breathing it. Its especially a concern when your studio is in your bedroom where you sleep.

sp4rxx Sat, 02/25/2017 - 17:30

Well this is something I wasn't aware of. I really would love to feel safe using fiberglass in my bedroom studio, but I just can't do it. If I have to wear a mask while handling it, I don't feel its safe enough to put in my bedroom, so Im more interested in using cotton insulation if possible.

sp4rxx Sun, 02/26/2017 - 06:22

sp4rxx, post: 447873, member: 50410 wrote: Well this is something I wasn't aware of. I really would love to feel safe using fiberglass in my bedroom studio, but I just can't do it. Im more interested in using cotton insulation if possible.

Brien Holcombe, post: 447877, member: 48996 wrote: https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/problems-installing-cotton-insulation

Ive built cotton panels before and I have to say Ive never had any of these issues building them. I bought from Technature in Toronto years ago, but since then they've changed there product line. The batts were very solid and held there shape very well and acted very similar to rockwool.

sp4rxx Sun, 02/26/2017 - 11:40

Brien Holcombe, post: 447898, member: 48996 wrote: http://www.technature.ca/product/echo-touch/

Yes, Ive seen these batts, but after seeing there updated data on them they don't appear to battle any real bass below 250hz well whatsoever.. My music has a lot of sub in it and i need to be able to absorb 30-100hz very well. What would you recommend using there products? Or would you think I should use Knauf insulation instead? http://www.knaufinsulation.ca/en/content/residential-insulation

According to they're data, these http://www.technature.ca/product/vinyl-baffles/ are looking like they perform fantastically for low frequencies. Am I mis-understanding?

Chris Perra Mon, 02/27/2017 - 04:00

Roxul is good to use.. I imagine the standard absorbtion stats will be different than Fiberglass.. But it works well and as far as I know not toxic.. When you build abosorbers you should be using covering materials that don't allow particles to fly off the insulation.. So as along as you aprove of their manufacturing process..check it out.

sp4rxx Mon, 02/27/2017 - 05:47

Chris Perra, post: 447914, member: 48232 wrote: Roxul is good to use.. I imagine the standard absorbtion stats will be different than Fiberglass.. But it works well and as far as I know not toxic.. When you build abosorbers you should be using covering materials that don't allow particles to fly off the insulation.. So as along as you aprove of their manufacturing process..check it out.

Id really rather not use fibreglass. Ill definitely be going with cotton or Knauf insulation. These vinyl baffles are interesting too. Im going to call the company today and see what answers they give me.

OBrien Mon, 02/27/2017 - 12:33

You will be hard pressed to absorb lf energy in the 30 hz range no matter what you use.

You should get over your "fear" and develop a treatment according to known methods...or purchase whatever it is that you are attempting to copy.

Whatever it is you think about "off gasing" is clouding your judgement and basically freezing you so you cannot progress. If this was a problem...off gasing....we would all experience it on a semi global level...and we do not.

Chill out, build your traps and enjoy the improvement in sound.

DogsoverLava Tue, 02/28/2017 - 17:36

When it comes to these kinds of fears I just look at the stats and see that we live longer with every successive generation. There are a million things out there that are supposed to be bad for you at some abstract or theoretical level but here we are. These kinds of fears keep you in stasis ------ trust that in general we live in a fairly well regulated culture where risks are already accounted for and mitigated by laws and best practices. If you want to see an extreme case of where this kind of fear is taking us look at the loss of herd immunity we are experiencing with some diseases due to fears over vaccinations.... that will actually soon be seen statistically as a roll-back on lifespan and increased infant mortality rates.

KurtFoster Tue, 02/28/2017 - 17:51

there are a lot of things used in construction materials that are toxic. i worked at a wall board factory, you would be surprised at some of the stuff they put in it. carpet and paint both off gas ... fear of a little fiberglass seems unreasonable to me unless there's some health issue we don't know about. rigid fiberglass shouldn't break down into particulate matter at all. any absorbers will have fabric covering that will contain any airborne particles. even if a person lives out in a field, there will be allergens. you can't live forever.

sp4rxx Tue, 02/28/2017 - 18:24

DogsoverLava, post: 447980, member: 48175 wrote: When it comes to these kinds of fears I just look at the stats and see that we live longer with every successive generation. There are a million things out there that are supposed to be bad for you at some abstract or theoretical level but here we are. These kinds of fears keep you in stasis ------ trust that in general we live in a fairly well regulated culture where risks are already accounted for and mitigated by laws and best practices. If you want to see an extreme case of where this kind of fear is taking us look at the loss of herd immunity we are experiencing with some diseases due to fears over vaccinations.... that will actually soon be seen statistically as a roll-back on lifespan and increased infant mortality rates.

I can't dis-agree with you more. Your comments are pure ignorance. I can't even be bothered to have that argument with you.

DogsoverLava Tue, 02/28/2017 - 18:46

sp4rxx, post: 447983, member: 50410 wrote: I can't dis-agree with you more. Your comments are pure ignorance. I can't even be bothered to have that argument with you.

I'm going to invite you to leave the forum and not come back. Generally we don't make arguments personal and characterize other people in our discussions. I didn't say anything that wasn't true and supported by data. You on the other hand had several premises and beliefs shown to be false or in need of correction and you got gentle push back from some senior members of this site and no one called you any names when you made that difficult.

OBrien Tue, 02/28/2017 - 20:02

sp4rxx, post: 447983, member: 50410 wrote: I can't dis-agree with you more. Your comments are pure ignorance. I can't even be bothered to have that argument with you.

You have gotten all the information you require on both sides if your concern.
You should consider this things before you make a personal attack.

Build your panels. ..buy your panels. ..move on....we have gone the distance with kindness and help and do not want , need nor will we tolerate a negative position from outsiders on one of our on.