CPSC Issues consumer Advisory On Formaldehyde Insulation

Federal safety experts today urged consumers to make certain that professional safely install urea formaldehyde foam insulation in homes.

According to officials of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, improper installation of urea formaldehyde insulation may cause the release of formaldehyde gas into living areas and the development of adverse health effects.

To reduce the chances of potentially hazardous insulation, consumers should take the following steps before enlisting the services of professional installers:

-- Ask the insulation contractor or his representative if the installer has received factory-training in correct application procedures.

-- Request to see the installer's certificate or identification card verifying that he has received such instruction.

-- Insist on a written statement which explains what action the insulation company will take if health problem arise from the product.

Continued exposure to formaldehyde gas can cause nausea and vomiting, respiratory difficulties, headaches, eye irritation and allergies, according to CPSC staffers. Such symptoms may develop anywhere from a few days to more than six months after the gas is released, the staff said.

CPSC already has gathered more than 325 reports from consumers nationwide who have experienced various problems with urea formaldehyde foam insulation after insulation. the reports have detailed difficulties ranging from physical side effects to persistent unpleasant odors which lingered in construction materials even after the insulation had been removed.

Proper installation of urea formaldehyde foam insulation at a minimum requires conscientious workmanship, the use of appropriate chemicals and machinery in good repair. Failure to install properly may mean the difference between a product that is safe and effective and one that is not, CPSC staffers reported.

The commission is awaiting research results before it decides whether to regulate the product. A CPSC-sponsored study of the chemical formaldehyde will be completed this fall, and will suggest an acceptable exposure level for formaldehyde gas in homes. The research is being conducted by the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

Consumers who have experienced problems with urea formaldehyde foam insulation are urged to contact the Commission through CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772.