1. Determine Lead Safe work

• Review work orders to determine if Lead Safe RRP is required.

• When required, follow RRP guidance as listed in the Lead Safe work section of this field guide.

2. Prep work site

• Depending on the location of the work you will need to work with the client to:

• Clear furniture and belongings away from exterior walls.

•  Use drop cloths and other measures to protect the client's belongings.

• Move obstructions around the outside of the home as need for access.

3. Inspect walls interior and exterior

• Look for any hidden holes or openings in cavity (e.g. behind posters hanging on the wall).

• Drywall must be a minimum thickness of 1/2" for 16" framing, or 5/8" for 24" framing.

• Panels must be able to support the weight of dense pack.

•  Surface material shall cover 100% of the cavity.

• If major repair is needed, coordinate with auditor to see if incidental repairs can be justified.

4. Drill hole for access

• Steps 4a -4f are examples of how to access the various types of walls you will be insulating.

4a. One hole method

• Drill a 2 1/2" diameter hole near center of wall cavity.

• One hole may be acceptable to fill an entire space if fire blocking or other obstructions are not in the cavity.

4b. Two hole method

• Drill a 2 1/2" hole at the top third and lower third  in each wall cavity.

4c. Chair rail method

• Chalk a line at chair rail height.

• Drill the 2 1/2" holes along the chalk line.

• Once the wall is insulated install foam plugs in holes.

• Install chair rail molding over holes.

• Caulk on top and bottom of chair rail.

4d. Exterior Siding Method

• Remove one row of siding that runs the full length of the wall for access to exterior sheeting.

• Drill a 2 1/2" hole between each wall cavity.

4e. Balloon framed walls

•  Install blocking at the bottom and top of  wall cavities.

• Send fill tube down the wall cavity from inside attic when possible.

• Otherwise block both the top and bottom of each wall cavity and do a standard drill and fill.

4f. Unfinished Spaces: Add netting

• Staple netting to studs or joists with 1/2" crown staples no more than 2" apart.

5. Check for blocking in the wall

• Use an infrared camera,  See-snake, plumbers tape or other method to verify if the wall has blocking in it.

6. Fill cavity with insulation

• Fill cavity to achieve  manufacturers specified density.

• With machine turned off, insert fill tube until it reaches the end of the cavity, then pull back a few inches.

• Start material fill.

• Pull back the fill tube approximately 1' when material is no longer moving and repeat process until there is only approximately 6" of tubing remaining in the wall cavity.

• Using method above probe the fill tube into different areas of the cavity and use multiple angles to fill the cavity with as much material as possible. 

7. Patch and seal holes

• Sheetrock walls: place a foam plug in the hole and finish with one coat of sheet rock mud.

• Paneling or exterior walls: Caulk a plastic plug in place and re-attach any siding removed.

8. Worst Case Draft test

• Conduct a Worst Case Draft (WCD) test to verify Category I, II, and III appliances are venting safely before leaving home for the day.

• Testing shall be recorded using the Utah WAP Worst Case Draft Test form.

9. Install insulation certificate

• A dated insulation certificate signed by the installer will be posted on a wall in the space where the furnace is located, a utility room or an approved location inside the building.

• Certificate shall include:

  • Installed insulation type

  • Coverage area

  • Installed thickness and minimum settled thickness.

  • Number of bags installed in accordance with manufacturer specifications.