When clearing out a family member's home, it is possible to encounter many unusual items in the attic.
However, one might not expect to find discarded cigarette tips and filters serving as insulation material, especially without any tobacco present.
This was precisely the discovery made by James Christie in his aunt's house, where he found "literally tens of thousands" of unused cigarette filters and tips.
He explained that his aunt's house was constructed over 60 years ago, and the unused cigarette filters and tips likely originated from the local cigarette factory, which has since ceased operations.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council noted that building regulations introduced in the 1970s led to the widespread adoption of safe insulation materials such as glass, wool, and fibreglass.
However, the council stated it was unaware of any homes in the local area using cigarette materials as insulation.
Christie described his reaction upon seeing the cigarettes as a "wee flashback," recalling a similar sight years earlier while clearing the attic.
His aunt's residence is situated in Galgorm, County Antrim, near the former cigarette factory.
He remarked that this proximity was "obviously where they came from."
"In between every rafter supported by the plasterboard of the ceiling, where you would see modern day soft and spongy insulation, some parts are filled with the orange tips. The part of the cigarette people put in their mouth,"
"So some are filled with that and then others are filled with the white paper tube with a longer tip in it."
Why have they been used as insulation?
Christie, a plumber by profession, mentioned that he had observed filters and tips being used as insulation in other houses within the Ballymena area.
"I'm told some of the times when machines had dropped the filters or the tips onto the floor, they obviously couldn't be used and then they were discarded and I suppose people used them for other things,"he said.
He also discovered that the house adjacent to his aunt's property had employed the same materials as insulation.
The cigarette manufacturer JTI Gallaher closed its factory in 2014, resulting in the loss of over 800 jobs.
A former employee of the company, Niall Doherty, explained that the cigarette filters and tips were "waste off the machines and probably would have been put in the bin."
"The filters would be very good insulation, and someone had a light bulb moment and probably bought this as scrap off their manager,"he said.
"The word would have spread quickly through the factory that this was indeed a great job, and I would say it was a cheap way of insulating the roof space."
What should be used as insulation?
Insulation serves as an additional layer of material designed to reduce heat loss through a property's roof.
Common insulation materials include fibreglass, non-combustible mineral wool, foam boards, and natural fibres such as wood or cork.
All insulation must comply with current regulations, specifically the Building Regulations (NI) 2012.
Building Regulations in Northern Ireland were first introduced in the 1970s. The Department of Finance, responsible for developing the policy, stated that insulation installations undertaken prior to this period "would not be subject to these requirements retrospectively."
"Non-combustible mineral wool is commonly used for roof space insulation, however, a wide range of other board and loose fill materials are also available.
"The use of cigarette filters and tips as insulation would not be something that the department would recognise or recommend."
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has issued warnings against using cigarette materials as attic insulation due to the potential fire hazards they pose.
A spokesperson added that the service "advises everyone to have their attic insulated using appropriate materials installed by a qualified professional."
Mid and East Antrim Council emphasized that "any property being sold or rented must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate, which reflects insulation and energy efficiency."
