myway_1 said:
I am skeptical of the safety claims for any artificial materials. Too many times over the years government and industry scientists have made repeated claims that substances were safe that turned out not to be safe. I am of the "better safe than sorry" school. I acknowledge that natural products aren't always the best answer. Natural insulation that fosters the growth of mold may create a worse health danger. But some natural materials may inherently inhibit mold. I am hoping that there is a practical, natural answer to this insulation issue
I hear ya. I'm about as distrustful of government and industry (which are, all too often, indistinguishable) as anyone you'll ever meet. I applaud skepticism, and wish there were more people like you.
However, skeptics must be equally cautious to not discount fundamental science - I'm not talking faked studies, but the actual nature of the materials in question. The truth about spray foam chemistry is so simple that many people can't accept it: when a chemical reaction of this nature stops, the production of gasses stops with it. That's not opinion or hype - it's just the nature of this kind of reaction.
No reaction, no gasses.
Period.
The fumes produced as the foam is sprayed are another thing. They're highly neurotoxic, and repeated exposure will sensitize you to the point where you can't work around it.
And yes, I am, loosely, in the spray foam business. I actually sell and provide technical support for the equipment that sprays it, and assist in the testing and formulation of polyurea coating materials (sprayed with the same equipment) for commercial and industrial applications.
I'm not defending closed cell spray foam because I'm in the business, though. I first researched insulation for a couple of my own projects years ago, and ended up specifying spray foam for both.
One was my own house, and a longtime girlfriend who came into my life shortly after I built that place was VERY chemically sensitive. I didn't tell her anything up front because I had full confidence and didn't want to introduce a placebo reaction. She was astonished to later learn that she'd been hangin in a foam insulated house for a few years with no adverse reaction at all.
I was in a VERY different business back then, and have been in a couple more unrelated businesses since. My involvement in the industry is actually quite recent, but my original research has never been contradicted by supportable evidence. (Rumors, fears and hearsay don't count.)
I'm here because these materials work, and they solve a lot of problems. That spells opportunity!
Interestingly, when I got into the business I discovered that I am extremely sensitive to the fumes generated during spraying. Yet, the morning after a job is completed, I can walk through the building wearing no mask and inspect the work. That gives you pretty good insight into how quickly and completely the off-gassing stops!
If you look into this a bit further, you'll find that people with severe respiratory problems are (when they can afford it) building custom homes insulated with 2 lb. closed cell spray foam. They do so because among other things closed cell spray foam provides a complete air barrier. This prevents air infiltration, allowing the HEPA filters these folks use to really scrub the inside air.
I've worked with a number of those families, because a lot of them live here. National Jewish Hospital here in Denver is world renowned for its research and treatment of respiratory and immune disorders and allergies.
And lemme tell ya, any one of those people would laugh themselves silly at the fears expressed here.
My ONLY caveats would be to use spray foam components made in America, and have someone with clue apply it for you. Such people are easy to find - just look for clean equipment.
