Cork insulation; a complete illustrated textbook on cork insulation ...

206 CORK INSULATION
Pure air is difficult to secure, especially in or adjacent to thickly
populated communities or manufacturing districts; however, various
means may be employed to assist in this respect; to enter into discussion
of this subject would be beside the point at this time, yet it
may be well to call attention to one agent, which has been utilized to
some extent and found beneficial under some conditions, but due to
poor design or mechanical faults, and to apparatus not adapted to use
in air with even a low relative humidity, the benefits have not been
secured in full measure; this agent is "ozone" or "ionized air." Equipment
for the production of ozone is now perfected and being installed
under a guai'antee, which safeguards the purchaser.
This agent and the equipment for producing the same is men-
tioned here, as it is particularly well adapted for use with forced air
circulation, and gives just the teeth with which we wish to endow
our air in order to make it function as a purifier.
In consideration of all that has been brought out heretofore,
there is but one conclusion possible. In order to secure proper con-
ditions for the preservation of food products there must be correct
temperature and air conditions, in and around the products, which can
be assured in one way only, that is, by mechanically circulated air.
Air conditions can only be secured by proper humidity control
and efficient means of ventilating or rectifying, or both.
96.—Preparation of Building Surfaces to Receive Insu'a-
tion.—Perhaps the greatest change in <strong>insulation</strong> practice dur-
ing the past ten years has occurred in connection with tlie
method of applying the initial course of <strong>insulation</strong> to Av.all
surfaces, especially to concrete, hrick, tile or stone.
To erect corkboard in any manner against plaster over
wood or over metal lath, has never been approved ; such lath
and plaster must be removed and replaced by J^-inch T. & G.
sheathing boards, solidly secured ; and whether the <strong>insulation</strong>
of a cold storage room should be erected against studs closed
in by sheathing, wull depend entirely upon the conditions sur-
rounding each case. The dangers from confined air spaces
back of <strong>insulation</strong> ha.ve already been pointed out; but the
purpose, utility, cost, allowable investment, etc., should be
the final determining factor for each project.
In the case of stone, concrete, brick and tile surfaces in
existing buildings, it is necessary to take such surfaces as
they come along, carefully inspect them, and then properly
prepare them to receive <strong>insulation</strong>. Usually such surfaces
have been whitewashed, painted, or otherwise coated ; and if