Cavity wall insulation

On Tuesday 18 February 2014 12:02 Muddymike wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Does it still have the problems it did in the 70's (giving the occupiers headaches for weeks afterwards)?

On Tuesday 18 February 2014 12:02 Muddymike wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Do tell more, I'm not familiar with that story. Anyone else aware?

Mike

I don't know this specific company/product, but urea formaldehyde foam was in use as a cavity filler longs before beads, etc. were used. The cavity walls in my house[1] were filled with it about 35 years ago. It certainly finds its way into every nook and cranny. If it's the same product, it should be ok for irregular stone walls. It doesn't smell very nice, but the smell goes off after a while.

On Tuesday 18 February 2014 13:17 Muddymike wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Can't I'm afraid - but I do recally it being all over the telly.

I would certainly do some research and googling if I were you.

The brochure states (Contains no Formaldehyde) so perhaps this is different material!

Mike

In days of yore, the foam used evolved formalin gas which sometiomes found it's way into the house. V bad for you.

Modern foam uses refrigerant gases, less harmfull Or CO2

Didn't this use Urea Formadhyde foam .. ? and the fumes gave the headaches until it had fully set and fumed off.

In message , harryagain writes

We had foam insulation in early 80s done by ICI (ISTR) and no problems. There were a few cowboys around as ever who do didn't prepare the foam correctly and it slowly evaporated. Councils set up a testing facility so you could have it checked. Then the government decided it wasn't a problem anymore and so they got rid of the test equipment so yo couldn't prove them wrong.

AIUI random stone cavities are not recommended for CWI because there have b een too many cases of damp problems resulting. Theres probably more to that story than I know though. A plus of polystyrene bead is you can install it without glue, and if problems result, simply vacuum it out. Its also easy to do, so the ideal diy CWI for questionable walls. And yes, they do go eve rywhere!

NT

I recall cases of "sick buildings" which resulted from certain types of foam product. Don't think I ever knew the details cause, and it certainly was not universal with all foam insulation.

Was that not outgassing of formaldehyde or something? If they use a different material then that should not be the issue I'd have thought.

Brian

After a while the gas has all dispersed. It's not used anymore so no need for testing. It used to leak into the house through cracks around window and door openings etc. So ideally, a bead of silicon around the wood/plaster joint would fix the problem.

In message , harryagain writes

That was the idiotic argument used at the time. The testing was for pre installed foam which could deteriorate over a number of years.

In worst cases the gas didn't disperse until all the foam had evaporated.

All the foam evaporated??????????? What would be the point in putting it in?

In message , harryagain writes

Which bit of "In worst cases" do you not understand?

I can't imagine the foam evaporating.

In message , harryagain writes

I can't be held responsible for the limits of your imagination.

I have my first quote for the foam cavity fill. Total cost £5684, Grant available approx. £3,200 leaving me to pay about £2484.

Just waiting for the second quote and confirmed grant amount before deciding.

Mike