SIM in loft

[mdavenport]

Is it safe to have my sim in the loft where insulation is?  The reason I ask is someone on another forum said loft insulation is carcinogenic.

Any views?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bernard S]

Everything is going to contribute to your death there is no such thing as a natural product..if concerned remove and replace ..biggest issue with loft space is air conditioning

[mdavenport]

Replace with what. New loft insulation... Big job :-(

Do many people worry about this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sagrada737]

You should not have any problems with the insulation in your loft area - unless it is asbestos, then you truly have something to worry about.   If you have your doubts, then have an insulation company come by and see what it is to confirm that it is not harmful.   Otherwise, normal home insulation for homes should not be a health risk.  Of course, you don't want to breath in any of the common insulation materials, eg. glass fibers, etc.

[mikeybear]

Mark,

Enough people in the UK convert their lofts in to rooms and with suitable insulation ( I'd imagine something like Kingspan) , they make good usable rooms.
Its true  fibre glass insulation is nasty , but part of the conversion process is sealing that in.
I'm not thinking of moving my sim onto the loft yet, but I have a reasonable amount of space available and  I haven't caught the projector bug yet.
Regards

Dave

[mdavenport]

You should not have any problems with the insulation in your loft area - unless it is asbestos, then you truly have something to worry about.   If you have your doubts, then have an insulation company come by and see what it is to confirm that it is not harmful.   Otherwise, normal home insulation for homes should not be a health risk.  Of course, you don't want to breath in any of the common insulation materials, eg. glass fibers, etc.

Thanks. That's reassuring. Here are some photos of my loft and show the insulation. It's the typical yellow stuff you see in most uk houses. Also underneath it there is approx 1" thick older stuff that is dirty orange'ish in colour.

Do you think it's likely to be an issue. It looks like the yellow thick stuff was a top up to the old original stuff.

Weight is also a bit of a concern but I'm trying to locate it near to a supporting wall. See photos

Im hoping to get a SST in 6-12 months which I think will be about 80kg + the weight of me.

Let me know your thoughts on the insulation

[mdavenport]

Any view on the insulation I have?  Does it look pretty standard to others who have their sim in the loft...

[sagrada737]

Hi Mark,

Those photos offer a good look at your loft situation.   The insulation looks to be the typical fiberglass panels you see in homes.   Nothing to worry about here - IMO.   However, if you disturb the insulation by bumping into it or walking on it, you definitely will have fiberglass particles float in - not a good thing.   Also, the photos show electrical wiring (Nomex or similiar).  Not a bad thing, but you should inspect it to ensure that its protective insulation is not frayed or broken.   If you move the wires, you will likely disturb the insulation, which in turn will get fiberglass particles airborne.   Also, most attic areas with open insulation like your loft, will have dust on the beam, etc., which likely also have fiberglass particles on them as well.

Here is what I would do...   Inspect the area for structural integrity, wiring integrity/routing and make repairs as necessary.   If all that is good, then you can vacuum the area and exposed beams.   I would then "fir out the floor"..  By this, I mean create a new floor that is slightly raised above the existing ceiling joists.   If you don't want to do this to the entire loft area, then I would put in some walls, which is also a good opportunity to run new electrical wiring for your Sim.  In addition, I would drywall everything, including the ceiling, so it is sealed and then can be painted.  This would give you a "clean loft space" for your Sim.

One of the photos shows a line of bricks that is built up to support a ceiling rafter/beam.   Have this inspected by a qualified contractor to ensure that it is to local building code, and make repairs as necessary.   Important...   Be sure to check with your insurance company that it will not void your home owner's policy if you have your Sim in the loft area.  You also need to ensure that if you do build any structure in the loft area, that it is built to proper standards, and will pass local building codes - typically requires a building permit.  Taking short cuts in these areas may bit you in the long run - so be conservative and plan ahead.

Mike

[mdavenport]

Mike,

Thanks for your detailed reply.

As I suspect it.. expanding my loft to be a suitable environment for the SIM is getting more and more difficult.  Not only from an insulation perspective but weight and adequate support.

I've been up there flying the desk for 12 months.  There is movement around but its on boards.  It does get dusty up there and occasionally I get the vacuum cleaner up there. 

Also I cover my sim in cotton sheets when not using it to protect it.

I spend about 2-4 hours up there per week.

The reason for my asking is that I soon plan to spend more on expanding the sim but was worried about the weight and someone else pointed out to be insulation is a health concern.

I've also started a thread on a installing a new shed and insulating it and running electrics to it but wanted to get the right size given the space I have and the what I am working towards:-

http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=5999.0

If you can help advise on any of the shed development I plan to do then please feel free..

Many thanks
Mark

[jackpilot]

Why not ....
http://www.petergottlieb.com/docs/747_Restoration_For_Sim.pdf

Might be a third choice! 

[mdavenport]

Wow... if only..  :-0

After careful consideration I think I am still left with just shed or loft options...

[jackpilot]