Sunday times: The cavity wall insulation scandal that wrecked thousands of lives

[Sparrowhawk]

https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/cavity-wall-insulation-issues-problems-extraction-cost-nx56r36pz

 

Tangential to the article, I thought spray foam was closed cell, so if water passes through the outer leaf the only way it's to go is back out? Snots or debris let it bridge across, but wouldn't the foam keep that very localised?

[Redbeard]

There are firms which offer closed-cell, and those which offer open-cell. Icynene is open-cell, I gather.

[JohnMo]

58 minutes ago, Sparrowhawk said:

thought spray foam was closed cell,

That's the main issue, all spray foam is just used a blanket term and all are classed as bad as the other. So two types closed and open cell.

 

12 minutes ago, Redbeard said:

Icynene is open-cell, I gather

Ours is. So anything wet can find it's way back out again via a breather membrane.

 

Daft thing is PIR insulation is just another type of spray (expanding) foam, just made into sheets in a factory and covered with aluminium to make sure it completely moisture tight. 

 

Cowboy firms and a dumb press are is all I have to say.