CPSC Considers Regulation Of Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation

To await results of research and explore regulatory alternatives, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has left open an option to set a safety standard for urea formaldehyde foam insulation.

The Commission's instruction to staff on December 7 to keep close tabs on possible problems with urea formaldehyde foam insulation stems from a petition from the Metropolitan Denver District Attorney's Consumer Office. The group asked CPSC to set a safety standard for the insulation because of alleged irritation and poisoning hazards.

Formaldehyde gas released from improperly manufactured or installed formaldehyde foam insulation can be highly irritating, causing respiratory difficulties, headaches, nausea, dizziness and eye and skin irritation. CPSC has had 195 incidents of reported odor and health problems from the insulation since 1972. In several cases, people were forced from their homes. Since it is not known what constitutes a safe exposure level to formaldehyde gas, development of a standard cannot begin at this time, according to CPSC staffers.

CPSC is planning to conduct a study of the chemical formaldehyde to determine if there is a safe exposure level from formaldehyde gas given by various products, including insulation and particle board. In addition, the Department of Energy has underway a two-year study of urea formaldehyde foam insulation to measure the levels of formaldehyde gas in newly foamed houses and in laboratory tests.

The Commission also considered and denied the petitioner's requests for mandatory safety rules for fibrous glass insulation to reduce alleged risks of cancer and fire and for plastic foam/resin insulation because of alleged fire hazards. The Commission does not believe there is sufficient information to support such regulations at this time. In denying the request to regulate the carcinogenic effects of inhaling fibrous glass fibers; the Commission indicated that it will monitor studies being sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science and the Thermal Insulation Manufacturers Association. The results of these studies will not be available for 1-2 years.

In addition, the Commission noted that the fibrous glass insulation industry labels its products with recommendations for three-inch clearances from ignition sources and with cautions about the flammability of vapor barriers. It advises installers and consumers to wear loose clothing, eye goggles and dust masks to reduce skin, eye and lung irritation from fibrous gas particles.

In March 1978, CPSC granted part of the Denver petition seeking a safety standard to reduce the fire hazard from cellulose insulation. An interim standard for cellulose insulation took effect on September 8, as a result of legislation passed by Congress this past summer.