A consumer guide to understanding spray foam insulation has been released by a collaboration involving the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) and the Property Care Association (PCA), after the PCA warned homeowners against using the foam earlier this year.
The new guide, developed with contributions from the Residential Property Surveyors Association, Bangor University, Andy Wilson Financial Services and RPC, amongst others, aims to help homeowners make informed decisions about spray foam installations. ‘When correctly installed, spray foam offers excellent thermal efficiency and durability, contributing to reduced heat loss and lower carbon emissions’, the IMA said.
The guide outlines what to expect from a quality installation, what signs to look for if issues arise, where to seek expert advice, and the importance of working with competent, trained professionals.
It builds on previous advice issued by the PCA and the HomeOwners Alliance issued last month, and complements the Code of Practice for the Installation of Polyurethane Spray Foam (SPF) in domestic roofs and Inspection Protocol for building professionals who are asked to consider spray polyurethane foam that has been applied to the pitched elevations of domestic roofs.
‘These documents have been instrumental in bringing consistency and confidence to how spray foam is assessed and installed’, the IMA said.
Simon Storer, chief executive of the IMA, added:
“Spray foam is a highly effective insulation product with a long track record of successful use when installed professionally and in accordance with certified standards. This new consumer guide ensures that homeowners are equipped with the right knowledge to recognise good practice, understand the process and know where to turn for credible, specialist support.”
The new guide is free to view and download at: https://insulationmanufacturers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Spray-Foam-Consumer-Guide.pdf
One Response
It is interesting that a lot of credence is given to the Manufacturer’s, the IMA who for reference are nearly all involved in the selling of spray foam insulation and consumers are now being asked to believe a one-sided biased attitude.
I have heard everything from these organisations including words such as “Surveyors don’t know or understand spray foam” through to “Its a great product used across North America” like that makes it okay to use in the UK housing market.
I suppose my criticism of these types of articles is simply this “if they now say the homeowner should trust this methodology as being proven, why for so long were the companies that sold spray foam insulation (and a lot of these in the IMA did just that) were able to pressurise old age pensioners into making the purchase, of course not all were doing it, but a lot were and when those pensioners or their families complained about the spray foam they were mistreated and abused again”.
Why are the mortgage companies and the equity release providers still declining funding help when spray foam is identified?
If the IMA, the Manufacturer’s, and the distributors are so intent on telling everyone there is not a problem, why don’t they offer to pay the removal costs for those consumers who cannot afford to have it removed, but need to have it removed in order to sell or downsize from their property, these are the consumers who got a green deal grant to install it because they couldn’t afford to pay for it and were not told of any of the problems, because there are still many thousands who cannot sell their homes or release equity from it and frankly these articles do nothing except suggest that the industry is going to have another push to sell something that is unwanted, not needed and more than likely going to be sold to the elderly and vulnerable pensioners. The spray foam industry in its entirety is still unregulated, even though there have been articles claiming it is regulated, and if this were to become regulated I would suggest a large number of the sales companies and the distributors would go out of business.
Then of course you have the turn coat companies, those who used to sell it and install it who are now setting up new companies, using the same data and offering removals. Your industry stinks, the manufacturer’s, distributors, the installers are not interested in the UK Homeowners, other than trying to promote a product which is not fit for purpose or safe. How many times are these people going to continue to tell lies….. The spray foam contains no dangerous chemicals – YES IT DOES, IT CONTAINS ISOCYANATES and if these are not dangerous, why do the installers wear full breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment, when the homeowner is sitting downstairs without any protection.