Offgassing-Associated Health Issues
We had foam insulation put in our attic and storage spaces in August of this year. The off-gassing odor has remained to present day. We have had the company cut holes in foam install fans to vent, remove all old batting insulation, install an erv system on a HVAC unit in the Attic. Nothing has helped approximately a month-and-a-half after this install I developed breathing issues and dim highly sensitive to any smells. Have been diagnosed with RADS and I type of asthma and using inhalers now. We are speaking with the manufacturers of the foam demilec I’m trying to remedy this problem. We’re going to have a third party come into evaluate the situation. Our home has now made me sick. Any advice?
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Replies
Hi Cproberts.
Sorry to hear that you are having health issues. You are not the first person to report of off-gassing and odor issues after spray foam insulation installs. Often the advice includes air sealing and ventilation, but it seems that you are doing everything you can do in that regard. You may consider having the house tested for VOC and other chemical levels which will verify that they are present and will give you a baseline to refer to as you try to improve the situation. There's a lot of information and some resources in this article: Indoor Air Quality and VOCs.
We have had two air quality test done and it does show moderate levels of the voc. Do you have any suggestions. The next step is bringing in a third-party a architectural building scientist and removing the foam. Any advice would be appreciated for other avenues.
Unfortunately, as noted in the article I linked to above, many, if not most houses have high levels of chemicals and VOCs in the air. Steps to limit problems include not bringing potentially hazardous materials into your house and proper ventilation. It's too late to take the former advice and it sounds like you've tried the latter. I would recommend that you work with a local expert, and as Walter suggests below, we'd love to hear what you are advised to do and how it all works out.
Again I am sorry to hear that you are having health issues. We are all different what is imperceptible to me could leave you totally disabled. My advice is if at all possible stop exposing yourself to something that is making you sick.
Spray foam is a complicated bit of chemistry with many variables that the installed has no control over. The temperature and humidity in your home are what they are when the installer arrives at that point he has to choices to sprat or not spray and go home without a paycheck. My guess is they spray even outside of the overly broad manufactures instructions say not too.
We see this very same question on the board every few months. The original posters almost never come back to tell us how the story ended. My guess is with lawyers and non disclosure agreements
Also consider that coincidences are possible and the timing of your illness may not be related.
Walta
We have only anecdotal evidence as to the frequency of the problems with spray foam, but regardless of how often it occurs, it remains the only insulation choice that comes with the possibility of un-remediable consequences.
Not clear exactly what has been done - consider sealing up the attic/storage (from outside and from the interior) and installing exhaust fans such that these spaces are always at a negative pressure wrt the house. Verified with ongoing pressure measurements. You want to control the flow of noxious gases, not block or dilute them. I'd dump the insulation contractor and hire a radon specialist (because the concepts are the same as radon mitigation).
Hi! Tell me, have you managed to solve the problem with your asthma? I'm in a similar situation right now, but I'm more concerned about how to solve my health problem. We have already done repairs in the house with the replacement of dangerous elements.
Hello. I'm sorry that you got into this situation. I think you should go to court and get compensation for the damage caused to your health by the construction company. You also need to repair your home and urgently replace spray foam insulation installations. It won't be easy, but I'm sure you can handle it. By the way, asthma that appeared due to the harmful effects of the environment is being treated. You can apply for online ayurveda consultation https://www.alveda.life/ to find out how to cure this disease faster.