Patent Publication Number: US-6901711-B2

Title: Facing and faced building insulation

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to faced building insulation, and in particular to faced building insulation, such as fibrous insulation blankets, with tabs that store out of the way for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of the insulation to prevent damage to the tabs and that can be easily extended beyond lateral edges of the insulation or sections of the insulation when the insulation or insulation sections are installed. These tabs are provided with adhesive coated surfaces that are exposed when the tabs are extended beyond the lateral edges of the insulation or insulation sections and these adhesive coated surfaces may be used to secure the insulation or insulation sections to building framing members. 
     Faced insulation such as blankets of fibrous building insulation in roll or batt form are typically installed between and secured to framing members (e.g. studs and joists) located in the walls, ceilings, and floors of buildings. Currently, these faced blankets have longitudinally extending lateral tabs that may be secured to the studs by stapling. However, it has been proposed to provide these faced blankets with lateral tabs that are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive so that these faced blankets may be secured to the framing members of a building by pressing the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surfaces of the tabs against the end faces of the framing members. The following patents disclose faced blankets that have longitudinally extending lateral tabs with pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surfaces for securing the faced blankets in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,104, issued to Konrad Parker on Nov. 17, 1959, discloses a fully enclosed insulation batt 14 with lateral tabs 12 having surfaces coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The lateral tabs 12 are adhered to the faced sides of the insulation batt during shipment and storage and may be pressed against the faces of framing members to secure the insulation batt in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,306, issued to Robert E. Oliver on Mar. 7, 1967, discloses insulation blankets faced on one major surface. The facings on the blankets have edge portions that are coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive and used to adhere the blankets together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,879, issued to Andrew T. Franklin on May 1, 1973, discloses an encapsulated insulation blanket with lateral tabs that have surfaces coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive to secure the insulation blanket to framing members. The pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surface is covered with a release strip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,523, issued to Thomas B. Broderick et al on Dec. 1, 1987, discloses a faced insulation batt with one or two double-thickness lateral facing flanges that have a surface coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. The double-thickness facing flanges, e.g. the double-thickness facing flanges 10 a  and 10 b  of FIGS. 2 to 6, are formed by folding the lateral edge portions of the facing inwardly through 180° and bonding the lateral edge portions to the inside of the facing sheet. A pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 is applied to one surface of each flange and each flange is folded inwardly through 180° and placed in contact with a release strip 16 on the inside surface of the facing sheet. The double-thickness flanges are unfolded to expose the pressure-sensitive adhesive when the faced insulation batt is installed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention provides a facing for building insulation blankets and other forms of building insulation layers that has longitudinally extending uniquely configured tabs that store out of the way for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of a faced insulation product. The tabs can be easily extended beyond the lateral edges of the insulation product or sections of the insulation product for the installation of the insulation product or product sections and the tabs are provided with adhesive coated surfaces that are exposed when the tabs are extended that can be used to secure the insulation product or product sections to building framing members. 
     In a first embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes one or two longitudinally extending Z-folded lateral tabs that each have three segments. The intermediate segments of these Z-folded lateral tabs have an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to building framing members when the lateral tabs are extended. In a second embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes two longitudinally extending double-folded lateral tabs that each have two segments. The second or outer segments of these double-folded lateral tabs have an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to building framing members when the lateral tabs are extended. In a third embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes longitudinally extending Z-folded lateral tabs that each have three segments. The third or outermost tab segments of the lateral tabs are wider than the inner segments and have an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to building framing members when the lateral tabs are extended. In a fourth embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes longitudinally extending Z-folded lateral tabs that each have three segments. The tab segments of the lateral tabs are substantially equal in width and the third or outermost tab segments have an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to building framing members when the lateral tabs are extended. In a fifth embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes a longitudinally extending single-folded lateral tab that has a single segment. The tab has an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to a building framing member when the lateral tab is extended. In a sixth embodiment of the subject invention, the facing includes a longitudinally extending single-folded lateral tab that has a single segment. The tab has an adhesive surface that can be used to secure a faced insulation product to another similarly faced insulation product for packaging, storage, shipment and handling and to building framing members when the lateral tabs of the two insulation products are separated. 
     To prevent damage to the lateral tabs of the facing, the lateral tabs lay substantially flat on the facing for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of an insulation product faced with the facing. However, the lateral tabs can be quickly and easily extended beyond lateral edges of the insulation to expose adhesive coated tab surfaces for securing the faced insulation to framing members. When the facing of the subject invention is used on insulation that is separable longitudinally into insulation sections of lesser widths than the insulation, the facing may also include one or more spaced apart pairs of longitudinally extending separable tabs intermediate the lateral tabs that also lay substantially flat on the facing for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of an insulation product faced with the facing. Each pair of separable tabs in the facing extends along the length of the insulation where the insulation is longitudinally separable into insulation sections. The separable tabs of each pair of separable tabs separate from each other when the adjoining insulation sections to which the separable tabs are secured are pulled apart. When the separable tabs are pulled apart, adhesive coated tab surfaces are exposed on each of the separable tabs that extend laterally beyond the lateral edges of the separated insulation sections for securing the insulation sections to framing members. 
     The subject invention also provides adhesives for securing lateral tab segments of a facing together and to framing members and for securing pairs of separable facing tabs together and to framing members. In the preferred embodiments, the adhesive on the coated adhesive surfaces of the lateral and separable tabs is: an unencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesive with the required adhesive strength to hold the lateral tab segments together and the pairs of separable tabs together for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of the faced insulation and for securing the tabs to framing members; a base adhesive with the required adhesive strength to hold the lateral tab segments and the pairs of separable tabs together for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of the faced insulation and that contains one or more microencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesive(s) released by rupturing (e.g. fracturing or crushing) the microcapsules to provide added adhesive strength for securing the tabs to framing members; or a base adhesive with the required adhesive strength to hold the lateral tab segments and the pairs of separable tabs together for the packaging, storage, shipping and handling of the faced insulation and that contains one or more microencapsulated additional adhesive constituent(s) released by rupturing (e.g. fracturing or crushing) the microcapsules to form, with the base adhesive and/or with one or more other released, previously microencapsulated adhesive constituents, an adhesive with the required strength for securing the tabs to framing members. The facing material may be any suitable conventional facing material such as but not limited to: kraft paper facing material, a polymeric film facing material, a foil-scrim-kraft paper facing material, nonwoven spunbond or glass mat, nonwoven spunbond or glass mat bonded to a polymeric film or other sheet material, or other facing material. While release liners can be used on the lateral tabs of any of the embodiments of the subject invention utilizing unencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesives, preferably, where unencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesives are used on the lateral tabs of any of the embodiments of the subject invention, release agents are applied to the opposing surfaces of adjacent segments of the lateral tabs thereby eliminating the need for separate release liners (e.g. strips of sheet material coated with a release agent) and the need to dispose of the release liners when they are removed from the tabs during installation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic transverse cross section through a facing incorporating a first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the facing of  FIG. 1  with a lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic transverse cross section through the lateral tab of  FIG. 2  with the lateral tab in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic transverse cross section through a first facing that is longitudinally separable into sections and that incorporates the first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged schematic transverse cross section through a pair of separable tabs of the facing of FIG.  4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic transverse cross section through the pair of separable tabs of  FIG. 5  after the tabs have been unfolded and pulled apart. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic transverse cross section through a second facing that is longitudinally separable into sections and that incorporates the first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged schematic transverse cross section through a pair of separable tabs of the facing of FIG.  7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic transverse cross section through the pair of separable tabs of  FIG. 8  after the tabs have been unfolded and pulled apart. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is faced with a facing incorporating the first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. The fibrous insulation blanket is faced with the facing of FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 10  with a lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 10  with a lateral tab of facing in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is separable into blanket sections. The fibrous insulation blanket is faced with the facing of FIG.  4 . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic partial longitudinal cross section through the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 13  taken substantially along lines  14 — 14  of FIG.  13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a midportion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 13  with a pair of separable tabs of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 13  after adjacent blanket sections of the faced fibrous insulation blanket have been separated and the pair of separable tabs of  FIG. 15  have been unfolded, extended and separated. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is separable into blanket sections. The fibrous insulation blanket is faced with the facing of FIG.  7 . 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic partial longitudinal cross section through the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 17  taken substantially along lines  18 — 18  of FIG.  17 . 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a midportion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 17  with a pair of separable tabs of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 17  after adjacent blanket sections of the faced fibrous insulation blanket have been separated and the pair of separable tabs of  FIG. 19  have been unfolded, extended and separated. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 10  installed between two framing members. 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is faced with a facing incorporating a second embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 23  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 22  with a lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 24  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 22  with a lateral tab of facing in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 25  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 22  installed between two framing members. 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is faced with a facing incorporating a third embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 27  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 26  with a lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 28  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 26  with a lateral tab of facing in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 26  installed between two framing members. 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is faced with a facing incorporating a fourth embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 31  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 30  with a lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 32  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 30  with a lateral tab of facing in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 33  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 30  installed between two framing members. 
         FIG. 34  is a schematic transverse cross section through a fibrous insulation blanket that is faced with a facing incorporating a fifth embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 35  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through a lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  with the lateral tab of the facing in a folded state. 
         FIG. 36  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the lateral edge portion of the faced fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  with the lateral tab of facing in an unfolded and extended state. 
         FIG. 37  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  being installed between two framing members. 
         FIG. 38  is a schematic transverse cross section of the fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  being installed between two channel shaped framing members. 
         FIG. 39  is a partial schematic transverse cross section through a pair fibrous insulation blankets that are faced with a facing incorporating a sixth embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. 
         FIG. 40  is an enlarged schematic partial transverse cross section through the lateral edge portions of the faced fibrous insulation blankets of  FIG. 39  with the lateral tabs of the facings adhered together for packaging, shipping, storage and handling. 
         FIG. 41  is an schematic transverse cross section through the pair of faced fibrous insulation blankets of  FIG. 39  with one faced blanket folded over on the other faced blanket for packaging, shipping, storage and handling. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The facing materials used to form the facing of the subject invention may include various sheet or paper like materials, such as but not limited to coated kraft paper, a foil-scrim-kraft laminate, polymeric film sheets, nonwoven spunbond or glass mat, nonwoven spunbond or glass mat bonded to a polymeric film, or other facing material. Preferably, the facing materials are sufficiently pliable and deformable: a) to hold a fold or crease so that when tabs are formed in the facing material, the tabs retain their shape and can be folded substantially flat against the facing or insulation and will remain folded substantially flat against the facing or insulation to prevent damage to the tabs during packaging, storage, shipment and handling; and b) to be easily unfolded or opened and extended while retaining their integrity for application to a framing member. Typically the facings are between about 0.5 mils and about 4.0 mils in thickness. Preferably, for certain applications, these facing materials exhibit a permeance of less than 1 grains/ft 2 /hour/inch Hg (less than 1 perm) to provide a vapor retarder or barrier for the faced insulation layer, e.g. a faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket, and for other applications, these facing materials exhibit a permeance of more than 5 grains/ft 2 /hour/inch Hg (more than 5 perm) to provide a porous facing for the faced insulation layer. 
     The tabs of the facing have an adhesive thereon that hold segments of the lateral tabs together or to the outer surface of the facing or insulation layer and that hold the tabs of the pairs of separable tabs together during packaging, storage, shipment and handling and that is used to secure the tab segments or tabs to framing members when the faced insulation layer, e.g. resilient fibrous insulation blankets, of the subject invention are installed. The adhesives applied to the tabs may include various adhesives such as but not limited to an unencapsulated pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), a base adhesive that includes therein one or more microencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesives, and a base adhesive that includes therein one or more additional microencapsulated adhesive constituents. 
     An example of a pressure-sensitive adhesive that may be used is a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive sold by Bostick Findley of Wisconsin under the trade designation 2279 hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive. The hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive may be modified with flame retardant additives, such as but not limited to penta-bromyl and diphenyl oxide. Other examples of pressure sensitive adhesives that adhere well to both wood and metal surfaces are double stick tapes sold under the trade designations “Compac 251” and “Compac 351” by Compac Industries, Inc. of Edison, New Jersey. When needed a compatible release agent, e.g. silicone or some other conventional release agent, may be used with the pressure sensitive adhesive to facilitate the unfolding of tab segments for the extension and application of a tab segment to a framing member. 
     In the adhesive on the lateral tabs and/or the tabs of the pairs of separable tabs that includes a base adhesive with one or more microencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesives therein, preferably, the microencapsulated pressure sensitive adhesive is a conventional, commercially available water based pressure sensitive adhesive and the base adhesive is a conventional, commercially available adhesive that has sufficient adhesive strength to hold the tab segments or tabs together for packaging, storage, shipment and handling. When the microcapsules of pressure sensitive adhesive(s) are ruptured, e.g. through the application of pressure or by being pulled apart, to secure the tab segments or tabs to framing members, the resulting adhesive has greater adhesive strength than the base adhesive to better bond the tab segments or tabs to the framing members. 
     In the adhesive on the lateral tabs or the tabs of the pairs of separable tabs that includes a base adhesive with one or more additional microencapsulated adhesive constituents, preferably, the microencapsulated adhesive constituents are conventional commercially available adhesive constituents and the base adhesive is a conventional, commercially available adhesive that has sufficient adhesive strength to hold the tab segments or tabs together for packaging, storage, shipment and handling. When the microcapsules of the one or more additional adhesive constituent(s) are ruptured, e.g. through the application of pressure or by being pulled apart, to secure the tab segments or tabs to framing members, the resulting adhesive formed from the base adhesive and the one or more adhesive constituents released from the microcapsules or from the adhesive constituents released from the microcapsules, has greater adhesive strength than the base adhesive to better bond the tab segments or tabs to the framing members. 
     Preferably, the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the adhesive formed from the base adhesive and one or more released microencapsulated pressure-sensitive adhesives, and the adhesive formed from the base adhesive and the one or more released microencapsulated adhesive constituents or formed from the released microencapsulated adhesive constituents, permit the tab segments or tabs to be removed from and repositioned, if necessary, on the framing members for at least a limited period of time, e.g. 30 seconds before the adhesive sets up. Preferably, the adhesives used on the tab segments or tabs adhere well to both wooden and metal framing members to form a good seal between the tab segments or tabs and the framing members and to help hold the faced insulation layers in place until sheathing, paneling, wallboard, or other wall forming sheets or boards are installed. While the adhesives of the subject invention are especially well suited for use with the preferred facings of the subject invention, the adhesives of the subject invention may also be used with other facings having various different lateral tab configurations, e.g. such as the double thickness lateral facing flanges of U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,523, and various different separable tab configurations. 
     While the facings of the subject invention are especially well suited for facing a fibrous blanket of building insulation, such as but not limited to a resilient glass fiber insulation blanket, the facings of the subject invention may be used to face other types of building insulation layers, such as but not limited to foam insulation layers, sheets or sheathing; multi-layer radiant barrier insulations such as those manufactured by Fi-Foil Company of Auburndale, Fla.; and other types of insulation layers, sheets or sheathing. 
       FIGS. 1  to  3  schematically illustrate a first facing  20  for facing a major surface of an insulation layer that incorporates a first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. The facing sheet  20  has Z-folded lateral tabs  22  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. The facing sheet  20  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded tabs in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the insulation layer to be faced with the facing sheet  20 . The facing sheet  20  has two major surfaces  24  and  26 . The major surface  24  of the facing sheet  20  to be applied and bonded to a major surface of an insulation layer has an adhesive  28  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, a water based adhesive, etc.) for bonding the facing sheet to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive  28  for bonding the facing sheet  20  to the major surface of an insulation layer is only located on a barrier portion of the facing sheet that is intermediate the Z-folded tabs and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive for bonding the facing sheet  20  to a major surface of an insulation layer may be applied to the major surface  24  of the facing sheet as a continuous layer  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 ; in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots; a web; etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , each Z-folded lateral tab  22  has first, second and third segments  30 ,  32  and  34 . The first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  is joined to the second segment  32  of each lateral tab along a first fold line  36  and the second segment  32  of each lateral tab is joined to the third segment  34  of each lateral tab along a second fold line  38 . The first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  overlays the second segment  32  of each lateral tab and the second segment  32  of each lateral tab overlays the third segment  34  of each lateral tab which is to rest on the major surface of the insulation layer to which the facing sheet  20  is bonded. The surface of the second segment  32  of each lateral tab  22  that is overlaid by the first segment  30  of each lateral tab having an adhesive  40  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon whereby when the third segment  34  of either of the lateral tabs  22  is pulled laterally outward the first and second segments  30  and  32  of that lateral tab  22  are pulled apart as shown in  FIG. 3  to expose the surface of the second segment  32  of that lateral tab having the adhesive  40  thereon for application to a framing member. To facilitate the separation of the first and second segments  30  and  32  when the third segment  34  is pulled laterally outward, a release agent  42  may be present on the surface of the first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  that overlays the surface of the second segment with the adhesive  40  thereon. The adhesive  40  and the release agent  42  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. 
       FIGS. 4  to  6  schematically illustrate a second facing  120  for facing a major surface of an insulation layer that incorporates the first embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention. The facing sheet  120  has Z-folded lateral tabs  122  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. The facing sheet  120  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded tabs in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the insulation layer to be faced with the facing sheet  120 . The facing sheet  120  has two major surfaces  124  and  126 . The major surface  124  of the facing sheet  120  to be applied and bonded to a major surface of an insulation layer has an adhesive  128  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, a water based adhesive, etc.) for bonding the facing sheet to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive  128  for bonding the facing sheet to the major surface of an insulation layer is only located on a barrier portion of the facing sheet that is intermediate the Z-folded tabs and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive for bonding the facing sheet  120  to a major surface of an insulation layer may be applied to the first major surface  124  of the facing sheet as a continuous layer  128  as shown in  FIG. 4 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     Each Z-folded lateral tab  122  is the same as and functions the same as the Z-folded lateral tabs  22  of facing  20 . Accordingly, to avoid repetition, the Z-folded lateral tabs  122  of facing  120  will not be described again in detail. The facing  120  is intended for use with longitudinally separable insulation layers such as but not limited to pre-cut fibrous insulation layers that can be separated longitudinally into insulation sections of lesser widths than the pre-cut insulation layer. To be used with such pre-cut separable insulation layers, the facing  120  must be separable where the pre-cut insulation layer is separable and provide tabs for securing the insulation sections to framing members and maintain the perm rating of the facing whatever that perm rating may be. 
     The facing sheet  120  is provided with one or more pairs  142  of longitudinally extending separable tabs  144  that extend for the length of the facing sheet  120 . Each pair  142  of separable tabs is spaced inwardly from the lateral edges and Z-folded lateral tabs  122  of the facing sheet  120  and is spaced laterally from any other pair  142  of separable tabs on the facing sheet. Each pair  142  of separable tabs extends from the second major surface  126  of the facing sheet  120 . The facing sheet  120  is made of two or more narrower sheets  146  of facing material. Each of the separable tabs  144  is formed by a lateral edge portion of one of narrower sheets  146  of facing material and each of the separable tabs  144  has an unexposed surface with an adhesive layer  148  thereon that separably bonds the tabs  144  and the sheets  146  together as schematically shown in FIG.  5 . The pair of separable tabs  144  are separable from each other when pulled apart by hand to longitudinally separate the facing sheet  120  into two pieces and to expose the surfaces of the pair of separable tabs  144  having the adhesive  148  thereon as shown in FIG.  6 . The adhesive  148  may be any of the adhesives of the subject invention discussed above and the adhesive  148  may be the same as or differ from the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  122 . For example, since the adhesive layers  148  on the separable tabs  144  are bonded to each other rather than to a surface with a release agent, the adhesive  148  may have less adhesion than the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  122  to facilitate the separation of the separable tabs  144 . A preferred adhesive for the adhesive layers  148  is a pressure sensitive adhesive referred to in the industry as a “removable” pressure sensitive adhesive such as the pressure sensitive adhesive used by Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing Company on its Post-it® pop-up notes. 
       FIGS. 7  to  9  schematically illustrate a third facing  220  for facing a major surface of an insulation layer that incorporates the first lateral tab of the subject invention. The facing sheet  220  has Z-folded lateral tabs  222  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. The facing sheet  220  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded tabs in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the insulation layer to be faced with the facing sheet  220 . The facing sheet  220  has two major surfaces  224  and  226 . The major surface  224  of the facing sheet  220  to be applied and bonded to a major surface of an insulation layer has an adhesive  228  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, a water based adhesive, etc.) for bonding the facing sheet to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive  228  for bonding the facing sheet  220  to the major surface of an insulation layer is located only on a barrier portion the facing sheet that is intermediate the Z-folded tabs and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs to the major surface of the insulation layer. The adhesive for bonding the facing sheet  220  to a major surface of an insulation layer may be applied to the major surface  224  of the facing sheet as a continuous layer  228  as shown in  FIG. 4 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     Each Z-folded lateral tab  222  is the same as and functions the same as the Z-folded lateral tabs  22  of facing  20 . Accordingly, to avoid repetition, the Z-folded lateral tabs  222  of facing  220  will not be described again in detail. The facing  220  is intended for use with separable insulation layers such as pre-cut fibrous insulation layers that can be separated longitudinally into insulation sections of lesser widths than the pre-cut insulation layer. To be used with such pre-cut separable insulation layers, the facing  220  must be separable where the pre-cut insulation layer is separable and provide tabs for securing the insulation sections to framing members and maintaining the perm rating of the facing whatever that perm rating may be. 
     The facing sheet  220  is provided with one or more pairs  242  of longitudinally extending separable tabs  244  that extend for the length of the facing sheet  220 . Each pair  242  of separable tabs  244  is spaced inwardly from the lateral edges and Z-folded lateral tabs  222  of the facing sheet  220  and is spaced laterally from any other pair  242  of separable tabs on the facing sheet. Each pair  242  of separable tabs extends from the second major surface  226  of the facing sheet  220  and is formed by a fold in the facing sheet  220 . The separable tabs  244  are separable from each other along a common fold line  246  that, preferably, has a series of perforations  248  or is otherwise weakened along its length. Each of the separable tabs  244  has an unexposed surface with an adhesive layer  250  thereon that separably bonds the tabs  244  together as schematically shown in FIG.  8 . The pair of separable tabs  244  are separable from each other when pulled apart by hand to longitudinally separate the facing sheet  220  into two pieces and to expose the surfaces of the pair of separable tabs  244  having the adhesive  250  thereon as shown in FIG.  9 . The adhesive  250  may be any of the adhesives of the subject invention discussed above and the adhesive  250  may be the same as or differ from the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  222 . For example, since the adhesive layers  250  on the separable tabs  244  are bonded to each other rather than to a surface with a release agent, the adhesive  250  may have less adhesion than the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  222  to facilitate the separation of the separable tabs  244 . A preferred adhesive for the adhesive layers  250  is a pressure sensitive adhesive referred to in the industry as a “removable” pressure sensitive adhesive such as the pressure sensitive adhesive used by Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing Company on its Post-it® pop-up notes. 
     While as discussed above, the insulation layers faced with the facings of the subject invention may be made of other materials, preferably the insulation layers are resilient fibrous insulation blankets and, preferably, the faced conventional uncut resilient fibrous insulation blankets and the faced pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention are made of randomly oriented, entangled, glass fibers and typically have a density between about 0.3 pounds/ft 3  and about 1.6 pounds/ft 3 . Examples of fibers other than glass fibers that may be used to form the faced resilient insulation blankets of the subject invention are mineral fibers, such as but not limited to, rock wool fibers, slag fibers, and basalt fibers, and organic fibers such as but not limited to polypropylene, polyester and other polymeric fibers. The fibers in the faced resilient insulation blankets of the subject invention may be bonded together for increased integrity, e.g. by a binder at their points of intersection such as but not limited to urea phenol formaldehyde or other suitable bonding materials, or the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention may be binder-less provided the blankets possess the required integrity and resilience. 
     While the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention may be in roll form (typically in excess of 117 inches in length), for most applications, such as the insulation of walls in homes and other residential structures, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention are in the form of batts about 46 to about 59 inches in length (typically about 48 inches in length) or 88 to about 117 inches in length (typically about 93 inches in length). Typically, the widths of the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets are substantially equal to or somewhat greater than standard cavity width of the cavities to be insulated, for example: about 15 to about 15½ inches in width (a nominal width of 15 inches) for a cavity where the center to center spacing of the wall, floor, ceiling or roof framing members is about 16 inches (the cavity having a width of about 142/ 2  inches); and about 23 to about 23{fraction (1/2 )} inches in width (a nominal width of 23 inches) for a cavity where the center to center spacing of the wall, floor, ceiling or roof framing members is about 24 inches (the cavity having a width of about 22½ inches). However, for other applications, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets may have different initial widths determined by the standard widths of the cavities to be insulated by the insulation blankets. 
     The amount of thermal resistance or sound control desired and the depth of the cavities being insulated determine the thicknesses of the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention. Typically, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets are about three to about ten or more inches in thickness and approximate the depth of the cavities being insulated. For example, in a wall cavity defined in part by nominally 2×4 or 2×6 inch studs or framing members, a pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket will have a thickness of about 3½ inches or about 5½ inches, respectively. 
     Due to the resilience of the fibrous insulation blankets and way the facing tabs are stored to prevent damage to the facing tabs, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention can be compressed to reduce the blankets in thickness for packaging. When the pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blankets are removed from the insulation package, the blankets recover to substantially their pre-compressed thicknesses. However, the resilience of the pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blankets provides another very important benefit. After a full width resilient fibrous insulation blanket or a reduced width resilient fibrous insulation blanket formed from section(s) of a full width pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket is compressed in width and inserted into a cavity having a width somewhat less than the width of the full width pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket or reduced width resilient fibrous insulation blanket, the full width pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket or reduced width resilient fibrous insulation blanket will expand laterally to the width of the cavity and press against the sides of the cavity to help hold the pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket or reduced width resilient fibrous insulation blanket in place. 
     Since in preferred embodiments of the subject invention resilient fibrous insulation blankets form the insulation layers faced with the facings of the subject invention, the faced insulation layers of the subject invention will be described in detail with respect to faced fibrous insulation blankets. However, the facings of the subject invention may be used to face any of insulation layers discussed above. 
       FIGS. 10  to  12  illustrate the facing sheet  20  of  FIGS. 1  to  3  bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  20  has Z-folded lateral tabs  22  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. The facing sheet  20  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded tabs in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  20  has two major surfaces  24  and  26 . The major surface  24  of the facing sheet  20  has an adhesive layer  28  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  28  that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket is only located on a barrier portion of the facing sheet that is intermediate the Z-folded tabs  22  and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs which rest on the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  28  for bonding the facing sheet  20  to a major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket may be a continuous layer as shown in  FIG. 10 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     Each Z-folded lateral tab  22  has first, second and third segments  30 ,  32  and  34 . The first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  is joined to the second segment  32  of each lateral tab along a first fold line  36  and the second segment  32  of each lateral tab is joined to the third segment  34  of each lateral tab along a second fold line  38 . In its folded state, the first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  overlays the second segment  32  of each lateral tab and the second segment  32  of each lateral tab overlays the third segment  34  of each lateral tab which rests on the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60  but preferably does not extend laterally beyond the lateral surfaces  62  of the fibrous insulation blanket. The surface of the second segment  32  of each lateral tab  22  that is overlaid by the first segment  30  of each lateral tab has an adhesive  40  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon whereby when the third segment  34  of either of the lateral tabs  22  is pulled laterally outward the first and second segments  30  and  32  of that lateral tab  22  are pulled apart as shown in  FIG. 12  to expose the surface of the second segment  32  of that lateral tab having the adhesive  40  thereon laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the blanket for application to a framing member. A release agent  42  may be present on the surface of the first segment  30  of each lateral tab  22  that overlays the surface of the second segment with the adhesive  40  thereon to facilitate the separation of the first and second segments  30  and  32  when the third segment  34  is pulled laterally outward. The adhesive  40  and the release agent  42  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. 
     The preferred faced pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket of the subject invention includes a plurality of longitudinally extending blanket sections formed in the resilient fibrous insulation blanket by a plurality of longitudinally extending cut and separable connector arrangements located intermediate the blanket sections of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket and spaced laterally from each other and laterally inward from the lateral edges of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket. The separable connectors of the cut and separable connector arrangements separably join the adjacent blanket sections of the pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket along the length of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket to hold the resilient fibrous insulation blanket together for handling and installation while being separable by hand to permit selective separation of adjacent blanket sections to form a reduced width resilient fibrous insulation blanket of a desired or selected width. 
     Preferably, the fibrous insulation materials used to form the faced pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention, whether made of glass or other fibers, are sufficiently resilient to close longitudinally extending cuts (partial cuts) made in the fibrous insulation blanket that both: a) divide the blanket into longitudinally extending blanket sections of selected widths and lengths; and b) by not completely severing the blanket between adjacent blanket sections, form separable connectors within the blanket separably joining adjacent blanket sections. With this structure, the cuts in the faced pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blankets of the subject invention do not form thermal bridges in the direction of the thickness of the blanket (perpendicular to the major surfaces of the blanket) that would adversely affect the thermal and/or acoustical performance or other properties of the faced pre-cut resilient fibrous insulation blanket. 
       FIGS. 13  to  16  illustrate the facing sheet  120  of  FIGS. 4  to  6  bonded to a major surface of a resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  160 . The facing sheet  120  has Z-folded lateral tabs  122  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. With the Z-folded tabs  122  in a folded state, the facing sheet  120  has a length and a width that are substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  160  and, preferably, the Z-folded tabs  122  do not extend beyond the lateral surfaces  162  of the blanket. The facing sheet  120  has two major surfaces  124  and  126 . The major surface  124  of the facing sheet  120  has an adhesive layer  128  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, a water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  160 . The adhesive layer  128  bonding the facing sheet  120  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket is only located on a barrier portion of the facing sheet that is intermediate the Z-folded tabs  122  and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs  122  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  128  that bonds the facing sheet  120  to a major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket may be a continuous layer as shown in  FIG. 13 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     Each Z-folded lateral tab  122  is the same as and functions the same as the Z-folded lateral tabs  22  of facing  20 . Accordingly, to avoid repetition, the Z-folded lateral tabs  122  of facing  120  will not be described again in detail. The pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  160  can be separated longitudinally by hand into blanket sections  164  of lesser widths than the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket. As schematically shown in  FIG. 14 , the blanket sections  164  are joined together by a series of separable connectors  166  formed in the blanket by a series of partial cuts  168  that extend completely through the blanket but are separated by the separable connectors  166 . 
     The facing sheet  120  is provided with one or more pairs  142  of longitudinally extending separable tabs  144  that extend for the length of the facing sheet  120 . These pairs  142  of separable tabs  144  enable the facing  120  to be separable by hand where the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  160  is separable and provide tabs for securing blanket sections  164  to framing members. Each pair  142  of separable tabs is spaced inwardly from the lateral edges and Z-folded lateral tabs  122  of the facing sheet  120 , is spaced laterally from any other pair  142  of separable tabs on the facing sheet, and is longitudinally aligned with a series of partial cuts and separable connectors in the blanket. Each pair  142  of separable tabs extends from the second major surface  126  of the facing sheet  120 . The facing sheet  120  is made of two or more narrower sheets  146  of facing material. Each of the separable tabs  144  is formed by a lateral edge portion of one of narrower sheets  146  of facing material and each of the separable tabs  144  has an unexposed surface with an adhesive layer  148  thereon that separably bonds the tabs  144  and the sheets  146  together as schematically shown in FIG.  15 . When the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  160  is separated by hand into blanket sections  164 , the pair of separable tabs  144  are longitudinally separable from each other at the same location to longitudinally separate the facing sheet  120  and to expose the surfaces of the pair of separable tabs  144  having the adhesive  148  thereon beyond the lateral surfaces  170  of the blanket sections  164  as shown in  FIG. 16  for application to framing members. The adhesive  148  may be any of the adhesives of the subject invention discussed above and the adhesive  148  may be the same as or differ from the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  122 . For example, since the adhesive layers  148  on the separable tabs  144  are bonded to each other rather than to a surface with a release agent, the adhesive  148  may have less adhesion than the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  122  to facilitate the separation of the separable tabs  144 . A preferred adhesive for the adhesive layers  148  is a pressure sensitive adhesive referred to in the industry as a “removable” pressure sensitive adhesive such as the pressure sensitive adhesive used by Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing Company on its Post-it® pop-up notes. 
       FIGS. 17  to  20  illustrate the facing sheet  220  of  FIGS. 7  to  9  bonded to a major surface of a resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  260 . The facing sheet  220  has Z-folded lateral tabs  222  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. With the Z-folded tabs  222  in a folded state, the facing sheet  220  has a length and a width that are substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  260  and, preferably, the Z-folded tabs  222  do not extend beyond the lateral surfaces  262  of the blanket. The facing sheet  220  has two major surfaces  224  and  226 . The major surface  224  of the facing sheet  220  has an adhesive layer  228  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, a water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  260 . The adhesive layer  228  that bonds the facing sheet  220  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket is only located on a barrier portion of the facing sheet intermediate the Z-folded tabs  222  and does not directly bond the Z-folded tabs  222  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  228  bonding the facing sheet  220  to a major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket may be a continuous layer as shown in  FIG. 17 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     Each Z-folded lateral tab  222  is the same as and functions the same as the Z-folded lateral tabs  22  of facing  20 . Accordingly, to avoid repetition, the Z-folded lateral tabs  222  of facing  220  will not be described again in detail. The pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  260  can be separated longitudinally by hand into blanket sections  264  of lesser widths than the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket. As schematically shown in  FIG. 18 , the blanket sections  264  are joined together by a series of separable connectors  266  formed in the blanket by a series of partial cuts  268  that extend completely through the blanket but are separated by the separable connectors  266 . 
     The facing sheet  220  is provided with one or more pairs  242  of longitudinally extending separable tabs  244  that extend for the length of the facing sheet  220 . These pairs  242  of separable tabs  244  enable the facing  220  to be separated by hand where the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  260  is separable and provide tabs for securing blanket sections  264  to framing members. Each pair  242  of separable tabs is spaced inwardly from the lateral edges and Z-folded lateral tabs  222  of the facing sheet  220 , is spaced laterally from any other pair  242  of separable tabs on the facing sheet, and is longitudinally aligned with a series of partial cuts and separable connectors in the blanket. Each pair  242  of separable tabs extends from the second major surface  226  of the facing sheet  220  and is formed by a fold in the facing sheet  220 . The separable tabs  244  are separable from each other along a common fold line  246  that, preferably, has a series of perforations  248  or is otherwise weakened. Each of the separable tabs  244  has an unexposed surface with an adhesive layer  250  thereon that separably bonds the tabs  244  together as schematically shown in FIG.  19 . When the pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket  260  is separated by hand into blanket sections  264 , the pair of separable tabs  244  are longitudinally separated from each other at the same location to longitudinally separate the facing sheet  220  and to expose the surfaces of the pair of separable tabs  244  having the adhesive  250  thereon beyond the lateral surfaces  270  of the blanket sections  264  as shown in  FIG. 20  for application to framing members. The adhesive  250  may be any of the adhesives of the subject invention discussed above and the adhesive  250  may be the same as or differ from the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  222 . For example, since the adhesive layers  250  on the separable tabs  244  are bonded to each other rather than to a surface with a release agent, the adhesive  250  may have less adhesion than the adhesive  40  used on the Z-folded lateral tabs  222  to facilitate the separation of the separable tabs  244 . A preferred adhesive for the adhesive layers  250  is a pressure sensitive adhesive referred to in the industry as a “removable” pressure sensitive adhesive such as the pressure sensitive adhesive used by Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing Company on its Post-it® pop-up notes. 
       FIG. 21  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60  of  FIG. 10  installed between two framing members  72  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  40  on the second segments  32  of the lateral tabs  22  bonds the second segments of the lateral tabs to the end faces of the framing members  72  to form a seal between the facing  20  and framing members and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  20 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  72 . While as shown, the second and third segments  32  and  34  of the lateral tabs  22  have been unfolded from each other, the second and third segments  32  and  34  may remain in their initial folded state when the second segment  32  is unfolded from the first segment  30  to apply and adhere the second segment  32  to framing members. 
       FIGS. 22  to  25  illustrate a facing sheet  320  incorporating a second embodiment of the lateral tab of the subject invention bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  320  has double-folded lateral tabs  322  along lateral edges of the facing sheet that extend the length of the facing sheet. The facing sheet  320  has a length and a width, with the double-folded tabs in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  320  has two major surfaces  324  and  326 . The major surface  324  of the facing sheet  320  has an adhesive layer  328  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  328  that bonds the facing sheet to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket may extend the entire width of the barrier portion of the facing sheet and fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive layer  328  bonding the facing sheet  320  to a major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket may be a continuous layer as shown in  FIG. 22 , in a pattern, e.g. as stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     In its stored folded state, each double-folded lateral tab  322  is folded back upon the upper surface  326  of the facing sheet  322  and preferably, does not extend beyond the lateral edges of the insulation blanket  60 . Each double folded lateral tab  322  has first, second and third segments  330 ,  332  and  334  that, preferably, are about equal in width. The first segment  330  of each lateral tab  322  is a lateral edge portion of the barrier portion of the facing sheet  320  that overlays the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The first segment  330  of the lateral tab  322  is joined to the second segment  332  along a first fold line  336 . The second segment  332  of each lateral tab is joined to the third segment  334  of the tab along a second fold line  338 . As best shown in  FIG. 23 , when the double-folded lateral tab  322  is in its folded and stored state, the second segment  332  of each lateral tab  322  overlays the third segment  334  of each lateral tab and the third segment  334  of each lateral tab overlays and rests on the first segment  330  of the lateral tab. The surface of the third segment  332  of each lateral tab  322  that overlays and opposes the first segment  330  of the lateral tab has an adhesive  340  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon whereby when the double-folded tab  322  is unfolded from the upper surface of the first segment  330  along fold line  336  and extended along a lateral surface  62  of the fibrous insulation blanket  60  as shown in  FIG. 24 , the adhesive  340  is exposed to secure the faced fibrous insulation blanket  60  to a framing member. A release agent  342  may be present on the outer surface  326  of the first segment  330  of the lateral tab  322  to facilitate the separation of second and third sections the double-folded tab  322  from the first section  330  of the lateral tab when the double-folded tab is unfolded along fold line  336  and extended along the lateral surface of the faced fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive  340  and the release agent  342  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. 
       FIG. 25  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 22  installed between two framing members  72  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  340  on the third segments  334  of the lateral tabs  322  bonds the third segments of the lateral tabs  322  to the lateral faces of the framing members  72  to form a seal between the facing  320  and framing members and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  320 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  72 . Since the second and third segments  332  and  334  of the lateral tabs  322  are not bonded together and are joined along the fold line  338 , an installer can insert his/her fingers between the second and third segments  332  and  334  of the lateral tabs  322  while installing the faced fibrous insulation blanket to press the adhesive coated surfaces of the third segments  334  into contact with the lateral surfaces of the framing members  72  to thereby easily form a good seal between the facing  320  and the lateral surfaces of the framing members  72 . 
     While  FIGS. 22  to  25  show the second embodiment of the lateral tab, the double folded lateral tab  322 , on a facing such as the facing  20  of  FIG. 1  which has no pairs of separable tabs, the double folded lateral tab  322  of  FIGS. 22  to  25  can be substituted for the lateral tabs  122  on the facing  120  or the lateral tabs  222  on the facing  220  and used to face separable insulation such as the separable resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blankets  160  of  FIGS. 13  to  16  and  260  of  FIGS. 17  to  20 . Other than the substitution of the lateral tabs  322  for the lateral tabs  122  and  222 , the separable facings utilizing the lateral tabs  322  would be the same as the separable facings  120  and  220 . 
       FIGS. 26  to  29  show a facing sheet  420  incorporating a third embodiment  422  of the lateral tab of the subject invention bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  420  includes two Z-folded lateral tabs  422  and a barrier sheet  424  that overlays a major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The barrier sheet  424  has two major surfaces  426  and  428 . The two Z-folded lateral tabs  422  extend along lateral edges of the barrier sheet  424  for the length of the barrier sheet  424  and are bonded to the major surface  428  of the barrier sheet  424 , e.g. by an adhesive layer  430  (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.). 
     The facing sheet  420  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded lateral tabs  422  in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The major surface  426  of the barrier sheet  424  has an adhesive layer  432  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet  420  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The adhesive layer  432  that bonds the facing sheet  420  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket  60  may be a continuous layer that extends the entire width of the facing sheet  420  as shown in  FIG. 26 , or the adhesive layer  432  may be in a pattern, e.g. stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , each Z-folded lateral tab  422  has first, second and third segments  434 ,  436  and  438 . The first segment  434  of each lateral tab  422  is joined to the second segment  436  of each lateral tab along a first fold line  440  and the second segment  436  of each lateral tab is joined to the third segment  438  of each lateral tab along a second fold line  442 . The first segment  434  of each lateral tab  422  overlays and is bonded to the barrier sheet  424  by the adhesive layer  430 . The first segment  434  of the lateral tab  422  is spaced inwardly from the adjacent lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424  and thus the adjacent lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The second segment  436  of each lateral tab  422  overlays the first segment  434  of each lateral tab and, preferably has a width about equal to or slightly greater than one half of the spacing of the first segment  434  of the lateral tab from the lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424 . By having the width of the second segment  436  of the lateral tab about equal to or more than one half the spacing of the first segment  434  of the lateral tab from the lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424 , when the Z-folded lateral tab  422  is unfolded and extended, the third segment  438  of the lateral tab will project laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the insulation blanket as shown in  FIG. 28  for application to a framing member. 
     The third segment  438  of the lateral tab  422  overlays the second segment  436  of the lateral tab and extends laterally beyond the second segment  436  to overlay part or all of that portion of the barrier sheet  424  between the first segment  434  of the lateral tab  422  and the adjacent lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424 . Preferably, with the lateral tab  422  in its folded state, the third segment  438  of the Z-folded tab  422  does not extend laterally beyond the lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424  or the lateral surface  62  of the fibrous insulation blanket. A surface of that portion of the third segment  438  of the lateral tab  422  that extends laterally beyond the second segment  436  of the lateral tab has an adhesive  444  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon separably bonding the third segment of the lateral tab to that portion of the barrier sheet portion of the facing sheet between the first segment of the lateral tab  422  and the adjacent lateral edge of the barrier sheet portion of the facing sheet whereby when the third segment  438  of the lateral tab  422  is pulled laterally outward to unfold the Z-folded tab  422 , the portion of the surface of the third segment  438  with the adhesive  444  thereon extends laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the blanket for application to a framing member. A release agent  446  may be present on the surface  426  of the barrier sheet  424  that is overlaid by the adhesive  444  on the third segment of the lateral tab to facilitate the separation of the third segment  438  of the lateral tab from the barrier sheet  424  when the third segment  438  is pulled laterally outward. The adhesive  444  and the release agent  446  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. The adhesive  444  on the third segment  438  of the lateral tab  422  may be spaced inwardly from the outer lateral edge of the third segment  438  to provide a flap  448  that may be more easily grasped and pulled to unfold the Z-folded lateral tab  422 . This flap  448  may extend beyond the lateral edge of the barrier sheet  424 . 
       FIG. 29  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 26  installed between two framing members  72  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  444  on the third segments  438  of the lateral tabs  422  bonds the third segments of the lateral tabs  422  to the end faces of the framing members  72  to form a seal between the facing sheet  420  and framing members and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  420 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  72 . 
     While  FIGS. 26  to  29  show the third embodiment of the lateral tab, the Z-folded lateral tab  422 , on a facing such as the facing  20  of  FIG. 1  which has no pairs of separable tabs, the Z-folded lateral tab  422  of  FIGS. 26  to  29  can be substituted for the lateral tabs  122  on the facing  120  or the lateral tabs  222  on the facing  220  and used to face separable insulation such as the separable resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blankets  160  of  FIGS. 13  to  16  and  260  of  FIGS. 17  to  20 . Other than the substitution of the lateral tabs  422  for the lateral tabs  122  and  222 , the separable facings utilizing the lateral tabs  422  would be the same as the separable facings  120  and  220 . 
       FIGS. 30  to  33  show a facing sheet  520  incorporating a fourth embodiment  522  of the lateral tab of the subject invention bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  520  includes two Z-folded lateral tabs  522  that are integral with a barrier portion  524  of facing sheet that overlays a major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The barrier portion  524  of the facing sheet has two major surfaces  526  and  528 . The two Z-folded lateral tabs  522  extend along lateral edges of the barrier portion  524  of the facing sheet for the length of the barrier sheet  524 . 
     The facing sheet  520  has a length and a width, with the Z-folded lateral tabs  522  in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and less than the width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The major surface  526  of the barrier sheet  524  has an adhesive layer  530  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet  520  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The adhesive layer  530  that bonds the facing sheet  520  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket  60  may be a continuous layer that extends the entire width of the facing sheet  520  as shown in  FIG. 30 , or the adhesive layer  530  may be in a pattern, e.g. stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 31 , each Z-folded lateral tab  522  has first, second and third segments  532 ,  534  and  536 . The first segment  532  of each lateral tab  522  is joined to the second segment  534  of each lateral tab along a first fold line  538  and the second segment  534  of each lateral tab is joined to the third segment  536  of each lateral tab along a second fold line  540 . The first segment  532  of each lateral tab  522  is a lateral edge portion of the barrier portion  524  of the facing sheet  520 . With the Z-folded lateral tab  522  in its folded state, the fold line  538  joining the first segment  532  and the second segment  534  of the lateral tab  522  is at the lateral edge of the facing sheet  520  and is spaced inwardly from the adjacent lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The second segment  534  of each lateral tab  522  overlays the first segment  532  of each lateral tab and, preferably has a width about equal to or slightly greater than the spacing of the first segment  532  of the lateral tab from the lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . By having the width of the second segment  534  of the lateral tab about equal to or more than the spacing of the first segment  532  of the lateral tab from the lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 , when the Z-folded lateral tab  522  is unfolded and extended, the third segment  536  of the lateral tab will project laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the insulation blanket  60  as shown in  FIG. 32  for application to a framing member. 
     The third segment  536  of the lateral tab  522  overlays the second segment  534  of the lateral tab and typically is substantially the same width as the width of the second segment  534 . With the lateral tab  522  in its folded state, the third segment  536  of the Z-folded tab  522  does not extend laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . A surface of the third segment  536  of the lateral tab  522  that overlays the second segment  534  of the lateral tab has an adhesive  542  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon separably bonding the third segment to the second segment whereby when the third segment  536  of the lateral tab  522  is pulled laterally outward to unfold the Z-folded tab  522 , the surface of the third segment  536  with the adhesive  542  thereon extends laterally beyond the lateral surface  62  of the blanket for application to a framing member. A release agent  544  may be present on the surface of the second segment  534  of the lateral tab  522  opposing the surface of the third segment of the lateral tab with the adhesive  542  thereon to facilitate the separation of the third segment  536  of the lateral tab from the second segment  534  of the lateral tab  522  when the third segment  536  is pulled laterally outward. The adhesive  542  and the release agent  544  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. The adhesive  542  on the third segment  536  of the lateral tab  522  may be spaced inwardly from the outer lateral edge of the third segment  536  to provide a flap  546  that may be more easily grasped and pulled to unfold the Z-folded lateral tab  522 . This flap  546  may extend beyond the lateral edge of the barrier sheet  524 . 
       FIG. 33  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 30  installed between two framing members  72  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  542  on the third segments  536  of the lateral tabs  522  bonds the third segments of the lateral tabs  522  to the end faces of the framing members  72  to form a seal between the facing sheet  520  and framing members and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  520 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  72 . 
     While  FIGS. 30  to  33  show the fourth embodiment of the lateral tab, the Z-folded lateral tab  522 , on a facing such as the facing  20  of  FIG. 1  which has no pairs of separable tabs, the Z-folded lateral tab  522  of  FIGS. 30  to  33  can be substituted for the lateral tabs  122  on the facing  120  or the lateral tabs  222  on the facing  220  and used to face separable insulation such as the separable resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blankets  160  of  FIGS. 13  to  16  and  260  of  FIGS. 17  to  20 . Other than the substitution of the lateral tabs  522  for the lateral tabs  122  and  222 , the separable facings utilizing the lateral tabs  522  would be the same as the separable facings  120  and  220 . 
       FIGS. 34  to  38  show a facing sheet  620  incorporating a fifth embodiment  622  of the lateral tab of the subject invention bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  620  includes one single-folded lateral tab  622  that is integral with a barrier sheet  624  that overlays a major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The barrier sheet  624  has two major surfaces  626  and  628 . The one single-folded lateral tab  622  extends along one lateral edge of the barrier sheet  624  for the length of the barrier sheet  624 . 
     The facing sheet  620  has a length and a width, with the single-folded lateral tab  622  in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and the width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The major surface  626  of the barrier sheet  624  has an adhesive layer  630  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet  620  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The adhesive layer  630  that bonds the facing sheet  620  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket  60  may be a continuous layer that extends the entire width of the facing sheet  620  as shown in  FIG. 34 , or the adhesive layer  630  may be in a pattern, e.g. stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     The single-folded lateral tab  622  has first and second segments  632  and  634  with the second segment  634  folded back over the first segment  632  as shown in FIG.  35 . The first segment  632  of the lateral tab  622  is joined to the second segment  634  of the lateral tab along a fold line  636 . The first segment  632  of the lateral tab  622  is a lateral edge portion of the barrier sheet  624 . With the single-folded lateral tab  622  in its folded state, the fold line  636  joining the first segment  632  and the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  is the lateral edge of the facing sheet  620  and is located at or adjacent a lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  overlays the first segment  632  of each lateral tab. A surface of the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  that overlays and opposes the first segment  632  of the lateral tab has an adhesive  638  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon whereby when the lateral tab  622  is unfolded and the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  is pulled laterally outward, the second segment  634  of the lateral tab can be extended along the lateral surface  62  of the blanket with the adhesive  638  facing outward as shown in  FIG. 36  for application to a lateral surface of a framing member. A release agent  640  may be present on the surface of the first segment  632  of the lateral tab  622  opposing the surface of the second segment of the lateral tab with the adhesive  638  thereon to facilitate the separation of the second segment  634  of the lateral tab from the first segment  632  of the lateral tab  622  when the second segment  634  is pulled laterally outward. The adhesive  638  and the release agent  640  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. The adhesive  638  on the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  522  may be spaced inwardly from the free lateral edge of the second segment  634  to provide a flap  642  that may be more easily grasped and pulled to unfold the single-folded lateral tab  622 . 
       FIG. 37  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  installed between two framing members  72  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  638  on the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  bonds the second segment of the lateral tab  622  to the lateral face of the framing member  72  to form a seal between the facing sheet  620  and framing member and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  620 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  72 . The faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  is installed by first adhering the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  to the lateral side of one of the framing members  72  while the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket is in the position shown in phantom line in FIG.  37 . Then, the faced resilient insulation blanket is pivoted about the adhered lateral tab  622  to insert the opposite side of the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket between the framing members  72 . Typically, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket, when not compressed laterally, is wider than the spacing between the framing members  72  so that the faced insulation blanket can be held in place by its resilience. 
       FIG. 38  shows the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  installed between two channel shaped framing members  74  in a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. As shown, the adhesive  638  on the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  bonds the second segment of the lateral tab  622  to the lateral face of one of the framing members  74  to form a seal between the facing sheet  620  and framing member and to form, with the remainder of the facing sheet  620 , a vapor retarding layer or barrier between the framing members  74 . The faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket of  FIG. 34  is installed by first adhering the second segment  634  of the lateral tab  622  to the lateral side of the one framing member  74  while the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket is in the position shown in phantom line in FIG.  38 . Then, the faced resilient insulation blanket is pivoted about the adhered lateral tab  622  and flexed to insert the opposite side of the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket into the channel of the other framing member and the faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket between the framing members  74 . 
     While  FIGS. 34  to  38  show the fifth embodiment of the lateral tab, the single-folded lateral tab  622 , on a facing such as the facing  20  of  FIG. 1  which has no pairs of separable tabs, the single-folded lateral tab  622  of  FIGS. 34  to  38  can be substituted for the lateral tabs  122  on the facing  120  or the lateral tabs  222  on the facing  220  and used to face separable insulation such as the separable resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blankets  160  of  FIGS. 13  to  16  and  260  of  FIGS. 17  to  20 . Other than the substitution of the lateral tab  622  for the lateral tabs  122  and  222 , the separable facings utilizing the lateral tab  622  would be the same as the separable facings  120  and  220 . 
       FIGS. 39  to  41  show a facing sheet  720  incorporating a sixth embodiment  722  of the lateral tab of the subject invention bonded to a major surface of a resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The facing sheet  720  includes one single-folded lateral tab  722  that is integral with a barrier sheet  724  that overlays a major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The barrier sheet  724  has two major surfaces  726  and  728 . The one single-folded lateral tab  722  extends along one lateral edge of the barrier sheet  724  for the length of the barrier sheet  724 . 
     The facing sheet  720  has a length and a width, with the single-folded lateral tab  722  in a folded state, which is substantially equal to the length and the width of the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The major surface  726  of the barrier sheet  724  has an adhesive layer  730  thereon (e.g. a hot melt adhesive, water based adhesive, etc.) that bonds the facing sheet  720  to the major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket  60 . The adhesive layer  730  that bonds the facing sheet  720  to the major surface of a fibrous insulation blanket  60  may be a continuous layer that extends the entire width of the facing sheet  720  as shown in  FIG. 40 , or the adhesive layer  730  may be in a pattern, e.g. stripes or dots, a web, etc. 
     The single-folded lateral tab  722  has first and second segments  732  and  734  with the second segment  734  folded along a lateral surface  62  of the insulation blanket as shown in  FIGS. 39 and 41 . The first segment  732  of the lateral tab  722  is joined to the second segment  734  of the lateral tab along a fold line  736 . The first segment  732  of the lateral tab  722  is a lateral edge portion of the barrier sheet  724 . With the single-folded lateral tab  722  in its folded state, the fold line  736  joining the first segment  732  and the second segment  734  of the lateral tab  722  is at the lateral edge of the facing sheet  720  and is located at or adjacent a lateral edge of the major surface of the resilient fibrous insulation blanket  60 . As shown in  FIG. 40 , an outward facing surface of the second segment  734  of the lateral tab  722  has an adhesive  738  (an adhesive of the subject invention described above) thereon for application to the adhesive surface of a similar tab  722  extending along an opposite lateral surface on another faced resilient fibrous insulation blanket during packaging, shipment, storage and handling of the faced insulation blankets prior to installation and for application to a lateral surface of a framing member upon installation. The adhesive  738  may be continuous or patterned coating layers. The adhesive  738  on the second segment  734  of the lateral tab  722  may be spaced inwardly from the free lateral edge of the second segment  734  to provide a flap  740  that may be more easily grasped and pulled to unfold the single-folded lateral tab  722 . 
     For packaging, shipment, storage and handling, the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of  FIG. 39  are folded over one upon the other as shown in FIG.  41 . Since the second segments  734  of the lateral tabs  722  are not bonded to the lateral surfaces  62  of the blankets  60 , once the lateral tabs of the two faced insulation blankets are separably bonded together as shown in  FIGS. 39 and 40 , one of the faced insulation blankets can be folded over on the other as shown in  FIG. 41  to later be unfolded and pulled apart at the job site for installation. The faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of  FIGS. 39  to  41  would be installed in the same manner as the faced resilient fibrous insulation blankets of  FIGS. 34  to  38 . 
     While  FIGS. 39  to  41  show the sixth embodiment of the lateral tab, the single-folded lateral tab  722 , on a facing such as the facing  20  of  FIG. 1  which has no pairs of separable tabs, the single-folded lateral tab  722  of  FIGS. 39  to  41  can be substituted for the lateral tabs  122  on the facing  120  or the lateral tabs  222  on the facing  220  and used to face separable insulation such as the separable resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blankets  160  of  FIGS. 13  to  16  and  260  of  FIGS. 17  to  20 . Other than the substitution of the lateral tab  722  for the lateral tabs  122  and  222 , the separable facings utilizing the lateral tab  722  would be the same as the separable facings  120  and  220 . 
     While as schematically illustrated the lateral tabs and the pairs of separable tabs extend outward from the second major surfaces of the facing, the lateral tabs and the pairs of separable tabs would lie flat or essentially flat on the facing sheet. In describing the invention, certain embodiments have been used to illustrate the invention and the practices thereof. However, the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments as other embodiments and modifications within the spirit of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art on reading this specification. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.