I had three similar attics: February 2006, October 2006, and March 2007:
[February 2006](http://www.abouthomes.info/pics/attic insul 2.jpg)
[October 2006](http://www.abouthomes.info/pics/attic insul 3.jpg)
[March 2007](http://www.abouthomes.info/pics/attic insul 4.jpg)
In February 2006, I called it out and included that picture in the report, which showed the instructions and a phone number to call. For those who don’t like to click on my pictures ( ), the facing says:
“The facing on Fiberglass insulation will burn. [That sounds pretty definitive.] Do not leave exposed. [That also sounds pretty definitive.] The facing must be installed in substantial contact with an approved ceiling, wall, or floor construction material. “substantial contact” doesn’t sound very definitive.] Protect facing from any open flame or heat source.”
Note this next paragraph, though:
“For most applications, apply this side [the facing side] toward living space. See package for installation instructions.”
So what does “for most applications” mean?
Well, this installation had been done by the home owner/seller (hereafter, “HOS”), and he was quite upset at me for telling him that he had done it wrong, notwithstanding what the instructions on the facing said. The HOS also had the printed instructions, which said the same thing, but he was claiming that his installation was outside of “most applications.” When I followed up with my Clients at the 10-day mark, they told me that they had, indeed, called the number on the facing and talked with an Owens Corning representative, who told them to follow the instructions on the facing and in the installation guide, so if it says it’s combustible and should not be left exposed, then it is combustible and should not be left exposed. “For most applications,” according to the representative, takes into account those who will insulate the complete attic as my HOS had done. However, as stated, the facing must not be left exposed, so if one is going to insulate the whole attic, then those batts on the attic ceiling will have the facing toward the roof, which is not “living space” and, thusly, is not one of the “most applications” where the facing is towards the living space. In other words, the batts on the attic ceiling had been installed wrongly and needed to be reversed so that the facing was against the underside of the roof, the “not living area” space, so that the facing was not left exposed. She was quite adamant that the facing should not be left exposed under any circumstances.
Just recently (last month), I called [this one](http://www.abouthomes.info/pics/attic insul 5.jpg) out as improper installation as well. :margarit: