ICANZ, batts & cellulose · the plain answer
ICANZ members are the batt makers. No cellulose manufacturer sits at that table.
ICANZ, the Insulation Council of Australia & New Zealand, describes itself, in its own words, as the body for “manufacturers of glasswool, rock wool, and slag wool insulation (mineral fibre)”. Its members are the big batt makers. No cellulose maker is a member. So when their installer handbook tells installers to rip out loose-fill and fit batts, read it for what it is.
I’m Peter Johnson. I’ve made and pumped cellulose in South East Queensland since 1986. This isn’t a conspiracy page. I’m only going to tell you things you can check yourself, straight off ICANZ’s own website and documents. Then you can decide whose guidance you’re reading.
Comfort Zone insulation.team
Family-owned insulation manufacturer, making comfy homes since 1986
Read the source
every claim here links to ICANZ’s own pages
Real reviews, real jobs
What our customers say
Genuine Google & hipages reviews from Comfort Zone customers across SE Queensland.
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Angela M.
SE Queensland
“The fact that I can't even tell it's 6 degrees outside when I wake up in the morning speaks for itself. Have wasted so much money attempting to heat and cool an uninsulated home. Worth every $.”
- Phipages
P Peter
Alstonvale, 2024
“Connected with Comfort Zone Insulation and would recommend them”
- J
Jessa B.
Brisbane
“It dropped about 4 degrees straight away, and we added another 3 with the second job. I appreciate Peter's honesty, and the team showed pictures before and after.”
- Nhipages
Nola M
Birtinya, 2024
“They were courteous and competent.”
- I
Iain V-B.
Brisbane
“Quick and polite service. Great follow-up advice and photos sent for our records. Above and beyond what we expected. Would highly recommend.”
- Jhipages
Jennifer's E
Upper Caboolture, 2024
“Excellent customer service. Highly recommended. Has a profound knowledge of insulation products and has the best interest of his customer.”
- G
Gerry S
Fitzgibbon, 2023
“I used Comfort Zone and they have a done an excellent job.”
- Jhipages
Jennifer
Upper Caboolture, 2024
“Excellent customer service. Highly recommend. Has a profound knowledge of insulation products and has the customer best interest.”
- J
Jung K
Riverhills, 2023
“An experienced family operation. Highly recommend. Thank you for the great job!”
- Dhipages
Diane A
Ormeau, 2024
“Peter and crew did a great job I would definitely recommend them”
- D
David H
Sunshine Coast, 2021
“Completed the job as quoted and to a high standard. Great personal service. Would highly recommend Comfort Zone for ceiling installation work.”
- Thipages
Timea
Highland Park, 2023
“I was extremely satisfied with the service they provided. They gave a very thourough explanation of the materials used, the way the work will be carried out and the price I had to pay was the exact amount quoted, no hidden costs included. They arrived on time, well prepared and workwas carried out exactly how they said it would be, they were super efficient, well prepared and were kind enough to even clean up after themselves. The services they provided was second to none! I don't hesitate to recommend them for any insulation job!”
- B
Benjamin H
Carseldine, 2019
“Very good explanation about their works. Advice of existing problems with the roof. Clean work. Very professional.”
- Mhipages
Mark
Pottsville, 2017
“Michelle, we are done - Peter from comfort zone insulation was very helpful. very honest with his recommendations - in fact he told me that the product my daughter had if installed correctly was superb. Thanks Peter you are a champion and i would recommend you to any person that was wanting professional advice and old school service.”
- I
Ian G
Burnside, 2019
“Good information, communication and professionalism.”
- Jhipages
Jessica
Pottsville, 2016
“This business offers a fantastic product that other businesses did not. Pump in ceiling insulation. Knowledge of the industry second to none.”
- D
Danny D
Boondall, 2018
“He explained everything he was going to do and the different types of insulation they used. He talked through the different options but made a recommendation for the one most people use, which is the one I chose. He was very understanding towards what I needed and not about himself.”
- Jhipages
Jack
Pottsville, 2023
“Excellent communication and informative. Professional.”
- G
Graham R
Riverhills, 2018
“Comfort Zone. Turned up ahead of time, completed in about 2 hours, cleaned up. All good. Very motivated installation team.”
- Thipages
Tony P
Redland Bay, 2023
“Very knowledgeable about insulation”
- A
Alex B
West Ipswich, 2018
“Fast, friendly, efficient.”
- Shipages
Steve
Redland Bay, 2017
“Excellent job and reasonable price.”
- L
Luke D
Mcdowall, 2017
“Peter did a good job. It was a quick and clean service. I'm happy to recommend!”
- Bhipages
Bruce H
Kuluin, 2023
“Prompt and efficient quoting.”
- B
Brendon
Brays Creek, 2016
“Peter supplied and installed roof insulation for me. He was very informative and provided good advice.”
- Ghipages
Gerry S
Fitzgibbon, 2023
“I used Comfort Zone and they have a done an excellent job.”
- T
Trevor G
Brookside Centre, 2016
“Excellent tradesmen from Comfort Zone Insulation. They were punctual and cleaned up after. Highly recommended.”
- Thipages
Tamara
Underwood, 2023
“Peter is honest, hard-working and came on time. Knew excally what he was talking about and answered my questions. Would 100% recommend”
- J
John G
Beaudesert, 2019
“Peter is an honest person who provided me with the information I wanted then performed a good job with great results for the benefit of myself and my family.”
- Shipages
Sterling G
Ashgrove, 2023
“Comfort Zone were very knowledge with great communication and follow up”
- Ghipages
Graham R
Riverhills, 2018
“Comfort Zone. Turned up ahead of time completed in +- 2 hours cleaned. All good. Very motivated installation team”
- Jhipages
Jung K
Riverhills, 2023
“An experienced family operation. Highly recommend. Thank you for the great job!”
- Khipages
Kathy A
North Lakes, 2023
“We connected with Peter through HiPages and he was prompt, professional and even came back after the job was complete to assist with a question we had. We would highly recommend Peter for further insulation works.”
- Dhipages
David H
Sunshine Coast, 2021
“Completed the job as quoted and to a high standard. Great personal service. Would highly recommend Comfort Zone for ceiling installationn work.”
- Shipages
Sue H
Sunshine Coast, 2021
“Incredible customer service”
- Ehipages
Eileen C
Cedar Vale, 2021
“Quality work, good customer service, prompt”
- Chipages
Craig M
Woody Point, 2021
“Called within 5 minutes of request. Very knowledgeable and explained job in great detail, provide great advice in prior preparation for works required. Very friendly and helpful.”
- Jhipages
Jenny C
Plainland, 2021
“Although I did not hire Peter I was impressed with the initial contact and the knowledge he was willing to impart. I was treated with respect which I appreciated. I would have hired but I received a lower quote.”
- Qhipages
Quinton
Coomera, 2020
“Professional installation without any short cuts. True to their word with high integrity. Response from Comfort Zone Insulation”
- Ghipages
Gary P
West Kempsey, 2020
“Came & Gave a free quote”
Plain and simple
ICANZ is the mineral-fibre council, in its own words.
I’m not putting words in anyone’s mouth here. ICANZ describes itself on its own About page as the body for “manufacturers of glasswool, rock wool, and slag wool insulation (mineral fibre)”. That’s the whole product family it represents, batts and blankets. It was formed in 2004 out of the former Fibreglass and Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers Association.
So ICANZ isn’t a neutral umbrella body for all insulation, and it doesn’t claim to be. It’s an industry council for one type of product. There’s nothing sneaky about that. Trade associations exist to represent their members. The only point I’m making is that you should know which members it represents before you treat its guidance as the last word.
Cellulose (recycled paper, borate-treated, pumped in as a seamless blanket) is a different product family. It isn’t mineral fibre, so it was never part of ICANZ’s remit. We’re the cellulose side of the story, and that side simply isn’t represented at that table.
Comfort Zone insulation.team
Family-owned insulation manufacturer, making comfy homes since 1986
Cellulose laid as one seamless blanket, the loose-fill material that pre-dates glasswool, and the one we make ourselves in Tiaro.
Who's at the table
CSR Bradford, Fletcher, Knauf and Rockwool fund ICANZ. No cellulose maker does.
You don't have to take my word for who funds ICANZ. Its own member and alliance pages spell it out, and every name on the list makes the same product.
The member list, straight off ICANZ's own pages
- CSR Bradford
- Fletcher Insulation, the maker of Pink Batts
- Knauf Insulation
- Rockwool
Every one of them makes mineral-fibre batts or blankets. Its global alliance partners, NAIMA (North America) and EURIMA (Europe), are mineral-fibre bodies too.
What the funding means for the guidance your installer follows
- ICANZ is funded by, and represents the commercial interests of, the batt manufacturers.
- That’s its constitution, not a hidden agenda.
- No cellulose maker sits among its members.
- So its installer guidance is exactly what you’d expect from a batt-funded body.
I want to be careful here. This is the part people get carried away with. I’m not saying any of those companies is doing anything wrong, or that there’s a plot against cellulose. They make a legitimate product and they’re entitled to a trade body. I’m describing the structure (who pays for the council and what it represents) so you can read its documents with that in mind.
The document installers lean on
Their 2020 installer Handbook quietly defines loose-fill as “glasswool or Rockwool”.
ICANZ’s 2020 Insulation Handbook Part 2 is overwhelmingly a batts and glasswool document. It defines “loose-fill insulation” as being “made from glasswool or Rockwool”, leaving out cellulose, which is the original loose-fill material. Glasswool gets mentioned around 31 times. Cellulose? Once.
And for an existing loose-fill roof, the Handbook tells installers it “is recommended to entirely remove the loose-fill insulation and re-insulate with batts”. Rip out the loose-fill, fit batts. From a body funded by the batt makers. I’m not telling you that advice is sinister. I’m telling you to notice where it comes from.
Mentions in the 2020 Handbook Part 2
A roughly 30-to-1 split in a document that calls itself the insulation handbook. Cellulose isn’t banned in it. It’s just barely in it.
Giving credit where it's due
ICANZ's 2024 consumer guide gives cellulose its own R-value table.
I won't run a hit piece. If I'm going to point at the Handbook, I have to point at this too, and it cuts the other way.
ICANZ’s 2024 consumer ceiling-insulation guide for existing homes actually does cover cellulose fairly. It gives loose-fill cellulose its own R-value table, on par with rockwool. So this is not a blanket “they ignore cellulose” story. In their consumer guide, they don’t.
That distinction matters, and I want it stated plainly: my criticism is specifically of the 2020 installer Handbook (the document that shapes what an installer in your roof does) not of everything ICANZ publishes. When the audience is the homeowner, cellulose gets its fair shake. When the audience is the installer, the loose-fill definition narrows to glasswool and rockwool, and the recommendation becomes “rip it out, fit batts”. Two documents, two very different treatments. You should know both exist.
Why the guidance carries so much weight
Anyone can install insulation. There’s no licence and no trade ticket.
Here’s the bit that ties it together. In Australia, installing insulation takes no licence and no trade qualification. The Home Insulation Program Royal Commission flatly called it “an unregulated industry”. There’s no exam, no apprenticeship, no ticket on the wall.
So what fills that gap? Published guidance. Installers lean on documents like the ICANZ Handbook to know what “best practice” looks like, and most of them have no idea that Handbook comes from the batt side of the fence. That’s the whole reason this page exists: so the guidance gets read in context.
For the record, cellulose lost ground during the 2009–10 insulation scheme collapse as a casualty of policy, never because it was banned or found unsafe. That’s history worth knowing. But it’s a separate story to who runs ICANZ.
Comfort Zone insulation.team
Family-owned insulation manufacturer, making comfy homes since 1986
No licence is required to install insulation in this country, so we put 40 years, our own factory and the next generation on the tools behind every job instead. That’s our ticket.
Straight answers
ICANZ questions I get asked.
What is ICANZ?+
ICANZ is the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand. In its own words on its website, it is the body for "manufacturers of glasswool, rock wool, and slag wool insulation (mineral fibre)". It was formed in 2004 from the former Fibreglass and Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers Association. So it's an industry council that represents one family of products, mineral-fibre batts and blankets, not insulation as a whole.
Who are ICANZ's members? Is cellulose represented?+
ICANZ's members are the major mineral-fibre and batt makers: CSR Bradford, Fletcher Insulation (the maker of Pink Batts), Knauf Insulation and Rockwool. Its global alliance partners are NAIMA in North America and EURIMA in Europe, both of which are themselves mineral-fibre bodies. No cellulose manufacturer is a member. So it's a body funded by and representing the commercial interests of the batt manufacturers. That's simply how it's constituted. We're the cellulose side, and we're not in the room.
Does ICANZ ignore cellulose?+
No, and it's important to be fair about this. ICANZ's 2024 consumer ceiling-insulation guide for existing homes actually covers cellulose evenly. It gives loose-fill cellulose its own R-value table on par with rockwool. So the criticism here is not a blanket "they ignore cellulose". The issue is specific: their 2020 installer Handbook is a very different, batt-favouring document, and that's the one installers are guided by.
What does ICANZ's installer Handbook actually say about loose-fill?+
ICANZ's 2020 Insulation Handbook Part 2 is overwhelmingly a batts and glasswool document. It defines "loose-fill insulation" as being "made from glasswool or Rockwool", which leaves out cellulose, the original loose-fill material. Glasswool is mentioned roughly 31 times; cellulose is mentioned once. And for existing loose-fill in a roof, the Handbook tells installers "it is recommended to entirely remove the loose-fill insulation and re-insulate with batts". Read that for what it is: guidance from a body funded by the batt makers.
Do ICANZ or the standards ban cellulose?+
No. Cellulose is covered by the same AS/NZS standards as the batt products, and nothing ICANZ publishes bans it. ICANZ is an industry association, not a regulator. It doesn't write the law. The point of this page isn't that cellulose is banned or unsafe. It's that the council guiding installers is the batt manufacturers' own body, so its installer Handbook reads accordingly.
Is insulation installation regulated in Australia?+
Not really. Installing insulation in Australia takes no licence and no trade qualification. The Home Insulation Program Royal Commission described it as "an unregulated industry". That's a big reason the published guidance matters so much. Installers lean on documents like the ICANZ Handbook, and many don't realise that Handbook comes from the batt side of the fence. That's exactly why we put our 40 years and our own factory behind every job.
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Want the cellulose side of the story, from the family that makes it?
ICANZ speaks for the batt makers. We speak for cellulose: recycled paper, borate-treated, pumped in gap-free and made in our own factory in Tiaro. Send me your address and I’ll give you a fixed-price quote, no deposit and no upselling.