When I initially expressed my concern about the factual errors and gross assumptions conveyed in the “I wanted to cry…” article about spray foam, the author suggested that I write a letter to the editor.
I have been in the polyurethane foam industry for over 50 years and I was a foam installer in Vermont for over 30 years. For the last 15 years I have been helping homeowners remediate their problems in ways that are safe and cost-effective.
My big-picture comment is that the article was alarmist and did not provide a constructive overview of the real issues for the industry, hurting a number of Vermont businesses that do good work. Polyurethane foam is a great product that is used in hundreds of residential products.
Construction industry problems occur in a very small percentage of the installations, and they are all preventable. This is not a product issue, but a standards and enforcement issue. The chemical manufacturers provide instructions for installers; however, their guidance assumes that the installers are well-equipped and well-trained.
Building codes, which can also prevent some of the problems, are based on good building science, but there is minimal enforcement, especially in places without local code inspections.
It is my opinion that, in the short term, educating consumers about what to look for when selecting a spray foam installer is our only defense until standards and enforcement have caught up with the polyurethane foam industry.
Henri Fennel
North Thetford
