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In defense of spray foam insulation

Simon Baker is president of Huntsman Building Solutions, which produces spray foam products

I’m writing this letter in response to your article regarding spray foam insulation published in Property Wire on 26th June 2023. At a headline level, there remain numerous misconceptions regarding spray foam insulation and whilst there maybe homes with spray foam insulation installed in the UK, it certainly does not make them all unsellable. I would like to take this opportunity to share perspectives on four topics central to this debate.

The need for effective insulation

The UK is facing an unprecedented challenge to achieve its 2050 net zero ambition, which is significantly compounded by the age of the UK building stock.

Government figures state 54% of UK homes have an energy efficiency rating below C, and according to the latest Valuation Office Agency data, the plurality of homes in England and Wales were built between 1930 and 1982 (46% in England and 39% in Wales), with a further ~18% predating 1900. This presents our country with a unique renovation challenge to significantly upgrade thermal performance of many older homes by improving insulation and air tightness standards.

High-performance insulation solutions like spray foam insulation are an optimal way for households to make their heating systems more efficient, will be critical to our country’s decarbonisation efforts and will help occupants save money on their heating bills. As such, Huntsman Building Solutions is currently consulting with the Government on how spray foam insulation can be used effectively as part of the Great British Insulation Scheme which is due to launch later this year.

The need for education

Huntsman Building Solutions acknowledges there are still misconceptions regarding spray foam insulation when it comes to lending decisions and equity release, and we empathise with individuals who face situations such as those quoted in your article. However, given the urgent need to radically upgrade the insulation standards of British homes, we must not marginalise spray foam insulation as it offers a real ability to decisively address many of the energy challenges we face, given its properties as an all in one highly effective insulator and air barrier.

I believe that the solution to this challenge lies in education regarding spray foam insulation throughout the supply chain, especially with surveyors who provide guidance and advice to the mortgage lenders and equity release providers.  Research carried out by Huntsman Building Solutions in 2022 found more than half of UK surveyors are unfamiliar with spray foam insulation and have a limited understanding of the product. The research, which sought the opinions of a cross-section of UK-based surveyors found 41% possess limited knowledge of spray foam and 17% knew nothing regarding this insulation solution. This limits the ability to properly assess homes with spray foam installed, which compounds the reluctance of mortgage lenders to finance homes which have improved energy efficiency credentials.

We have engaged both Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Residential Property Surveyor Association (RPSA) on this subject and have invested in our own training courses for surveyors to close the knowledge gap by educating them on how to distinguish correct, legitimate installations from those potentially presenting problems. Equipped with a more rounded understanding of the material, surveyors can then offer better guidance to lenders, allowing them to make informed decisions, which, in turn benefits homeowners who have done the right thing by improving the energy efficiency of their homes – safe in the knowledge they’re doing so for the long term.

Misconceptions about structural issues 

It’s clear that there is a misunderstanding about spray foam insulation and its role in structural issues within the roof space of domestic properties.

As a responsible spray foam insulation manufacturer, neither Huntsman Building Solutions nor its authorised installers would recommend applying spray foam insulation to an unsound or leaking roof. Spray foam is not designed to repair a damaged roof or rotten trusses, but rather to insulate the home. Homeowners should always be cautious of any firm recommending that the product should be used for any other purpose than improving their insulation. Huntsman Building Solutions has been providing spray foam insulation worldwide in roofs to create an insulating airtight barrier with no evidence of decay or rotting of the roof.

Huntsman Building Solutions spray foams carry British Board of Agrement (BBA) or Kiwa certifications for roof application. The products are required to pass rigorous tests from third-party certifying bodies and represent one of the highest levels of certifications for UK building products.

A view on unscrupulous traders

As with any trade, there can be unscrupulous actors who mis-represent spray foam insulation.  It would be wildly inaccurate to suggest this is true of all installers.

Huntsman Building Solutions advises against answering unsolicited calls or home visits from businesses claiming to be reputable installers of spray foam insulation.

We operate a strict policy of only selling our products to those who are qualified to use them, ensuring every installation can be traced back to a responsible contracting company. This is critical in ensuring work is completed to the highest standards, and to validate the 25-year product, workmanship and HICS consumer protection warranties we have available.

Our business has a proud network of authorised installers who are required to conduct rigorous training on the application of spray foam insulation in domestic properties. All authorised installers must attend compulsory training courses where they are tested on the safe and proper use of our products, as well as having to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the pre-assessments needed to ensure their work will not cause damage to a property during installation or long term. Homeowners are advised to look for these installers, all of whom can be found on our website.

In conclusion, spray foam insulation is a highly effective solution for homeowners to insulate their homes offering a myriad of benefits. The nature of the product often means it’s the most effective option when compared with other materials on the market for both older properties and new construction. To suggest spray foam insulation should not be installed in a domestic property is misleading as it denies homeowners the choice to select a proven insulation technology which delivers benefits to numerous properties across the world.

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