Icynene is dangerous unless you vacate your home for 24 hours

kulath

Icynene is a spray foam insulation that is currently being actively marketed for insulating homes as a replacement for (or supplement to) such loft insulation as fibreglass.

The vendors do not seem to be aware of the fact that it can be dangerous during and immediately after installation.

Your home must be vacated for 24 hours after installation, and adequate active, negative pressure ventilation (exhaust fans) of the job site must be in place during spray and for 24 hours after spray is complete.

We have had repeated unsolicited phone calls from companies offering to install this spray foam, none of whom are aware of the dangers. We had a sales visit from one campany who did not suggest any special precautions (except that the sprayers would wear masks) during and for 24 hours after spraying.

Perhaps H&SE or trading standards should do more to investigate.









Icynene trumpet their British Board of Agr!ment certificate; http://www.icynene.ie/wp-content/uploads/BBA-Product-Sheet-1-Roofs.pdf

At 14.2 this says: "Installers must wear full personal protection equipment (PPE) when working with the product, including full-face fresh-air-supplied respirators, protective clothing and chemical-resistant gloves. Other trades and personnel must be kept at least four metres away from the applicator while spraying is taking place. The requirements of the Icynene Installer Training Manual and the product safety data sheets issued to Installers, must be followed at all times."

The safety data sheet: http://www.icynene.com/sites/default/files/US%20content%20uploads/SDS/LDC50%20Foam%20SDS%20-%20Jan%2014%202013.pdf states:

"You must wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times during spray, including full-body-coverage, chemical-protective clothing and a NIOSH-certified respirator with fresh air supply. While spraying and for 24 hours after spraying is completed, no one must be allowed within 50 feet of the sprayed foam without wearing this type of PPE at all times. Adequate active, negative pressure ventilation (exhaust fans) of the job site must be in place during spray and for 24 hours after spray is complete.

Independent studies indicate that with 24 hours’ active ventilation after spraying is completed, Icynene spray foam insulation is safely cured. "



I do not have any evidence about the accuracy of the horror stories on the internet about incorrect installation, and any questions you may have about what depth of insulation is going to be installed for the claimed level of insulation (BBA certificate para 6 Table 3), so this post is only about the dangers around spraying.

arbrighton

Perhaps you should report said company to trading standards?

FreeBear

If this stuff is being sprayed on to the joists & eaves to help stabalise roofing tiles, be warned... It traps moisture in the woodwork and can promote rotting of the timbers in a very short period of time.

Should it ever catch fire, the fumes given off are very toxic and can kill.

edit: Just had a read of the safety data sheet - Isocyanate Polyurethane Foam - Even after 24 hours, it will still be out gassing cyanide compounds. You really do not want this stuff sprayed around in your home. I used to work with this stuff, and it is pretty unpleasant.

Furts

FreeBear wrote: »

If this stuff is being sprayed on to the joists & eaves to help stabalise roofing tiles, be warned... It traps moisture in the woodwork and can promote rotting of the timbers in a very short period of time.

Should it ever catch fire, the fumes given off are very toxic and can kill.

And it ruins roof ventilation, and it can cause condensation issues in the roof, and it is unregulated work, and...I will stop there and just ask why any home owner would ever consider this snake oil.

smallfry27

Just received a phone call from a Bournemouth company trying to scare me that my fibreglass and rockwall insulation is flammable and I should have this 'safe' new stuff. I thought they called it Isoline on the phone, but now I've done some web searches I think it must have been Icynene. Their web site shows them spraying 'poly foam', but doesn't give it a name. When I tried to ring back on the number they gave me, service wasn't available.

Edit: got through on second phone call. They confirm they use Icynene, and stick to their claim that fibreglass is flammable.

FreeBear

smallfry27 wrote: »

Just received a phone call from a Bournemouth company trying to scare me that my fibreglass and rockwall insulation is flammable and I should have this 'safe' new stuff.

I wonder if they know what fibreglass & rockwool insulation is actually made of.... The clue being in the name.

A good demonstration of the flammability of foam insulation is the aptly named Torch Tower in Dubai or closer to home, the Grenfell tower.