Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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Exterior - Environmental - UFFI
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Exterior - Environmental - UFFI
Originally Posted By: tallen
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Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/abhose/abhose_ce06.cfm
What Is UFFI?
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was developed in Europe in the 1950s as an improved means of insulating difficult-to-reach cavities in house walls. It is typically made at a construction site from a mixture of urea-formaldehyde resin, a foaming agent and compressed air. When the mixture is injected into the wall, urea and formaldehyde unite and "cure" into an insulating foam plastic.
During the 1970s, when concerns about energy efficiency led to efforts to improve home insulation in Canada, UFFI became an important insulation product for existing houses. Most installations occurred between 1977 and its ban in Canada in 1980.
Why Was UFFI Banned?
In the insulating process, a slight excess of formaldehyde was often added to ensure complete "curing" with the urea to produce the urea-formaldehyde foam. That excess was given off during the curing, almost entirely within a day or two of injection. Properly installed, UFFI might not have resulted in any problem. Unfortunately, however, UFFI was sometimes improperly installed or used in locations where it should not have been. Enough complaints were received, particularly from people living in small, well-sealed homes, that Canadian authorities became concerned about possible health implications. The further use of UFFI was banned in 1980.
Visible Detection
Home inspectors are trained to look for UFFI; they can certify its presence or absence. You can also make a physical check of the home yourself. Look for a series of small patched holes, two to seven centimetres across, at regular intervals on exterior or interior walls. Foam may be obvious where floor joists meet the exterior walls of the basement or around electrical outlets or switch plates. These indicators do not necessarily mean that UFFI is present, but they may alert you to the possibility.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Claude
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Originally Posted By: tallen
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Yes it does.
Thank you!
Originally Posted By: jpope
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| Quote: |
| The material was banned in the United States in 1982 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In 1983, the ban in the United States was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The off-gassing of formaldehyde occurred over a 5 to 10-year period. The off-gassing period and severity is affected by the relative humidity, the exposure to the sun and the ability for the humidity to access the walls. Since the material has not been installed since the early 1980s, the hazards associated with the off-gassing of the material are considered to be negligible. |
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Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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As a side note - urea was also present to a varying degree in other building materials in homes including carpeting, some process wood products, glues and particleboard based furniture.
The reality being since the ban - most homes have likely been so diluted if UFFI was present. Now we have other building materials to blame in its place.
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Originally Posted By: wmacquarrie
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Oh but what a windfall it was for some contractors. First they got paid for installing it through gov
t grants then they got paid again to remove it through govt grants…Originally Posted By: cmacgillivray
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Great DATA Claude,
but what’s a centimeter?
Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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Sorry - its that metric stuff. Note: 1 Inch = 2.54 cm, 1 Feet = 30.48 cm
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Originally Posted By: jbehling
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Selling parties still have to “disclose” any known UFFI in their home. It is something the real estate world in Canada is trying to change, UFFI is no longer a hazard as Claude has pointed out.
Does UFFI need to be disclosed in the U.S.?
Originally Posted By: jhagarty
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Jason:
UFFI is a required disclosure here in Pennsylvania.
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Joseph Hagarty
HouseMaster / Main Line, PA
joseph.hagarty@housemaster.com
www.householdinspector.com
Phone: 610-399-9864
Fax : 610-399-9865
HouseMaster. Home inspections. Done right.