Sacramento, California – Spray polyurethane foam insulation continues to be under attack in California. The state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued a Notice of Deficiency to SPF manufacturers, who claim there is no suitable alternative to MDI in their insulation products. DTSC believes they should be looking harder for safer alternatives.
California’s DTSC: ‘Look harder for MDI alternatives in SPF’
Salamone: SPF is robustly regulated
Companies in the American Chemistry Council’s Spray Foam Coalition had provided DTSC Abridged Alternative Analysis reports at DTSC’s request. However, these were deemed insufficient. DTSC is now demanding more detailed information to be supplied by 31 August 2020, or face a second Notice of Deficiency being issued.
‘We received input on the initial reports from a variety of stakeholders, and we directed spray foam manufacturers to address those concerns,’ said DTSC director Meredith Williams. ‘Their response was inadequate, and we are directing the companies to submit revisions with more information and substantiation.’
SPF manufacturers maintain that there are no functional alternatives. DTSC says that if they do manage to provide adequate evidence for this, at the very least they will be required to fund further research into potential alternatives, and provide consumers with product safety information.
The ACC's Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has expressed its disappointment at DTSC’s response to its report. ‘The Report concludes that there are no technically or economically feasible alternatives to spray polyurethane foam (SPF) systems containing unreacted MDI — a position that the industry has maintained since this process started in 2014,’ said Lee Salamone, senior director at the CPI.
Health and safety are top priorities for the SPF industry, Salamone added. ‘SPF insulation is well-studied and is subject to robust regulatory controls and stewardship programmes,’ she said. ‘It is an effective and proven building material with a 40-year track record of success when installed by a trained professional contractor. California is a leader in climate policy and should promote SPF as one solution to climate change. Using SPF to insulate and air seal buildings can help California meet its energy efficiency and climate change goals, as well as move the state forward on its strategic plan for zero net energy buildings.’
The following 16 companies submitted reports: A&B Filling, BASF, Carlisle Spray Foam Insulation (formerly Accella Polyurethane Systems), DAP Products, Demilec, DuPont, Firestone Building Products, General Coatings Manufacturing Corp, Henry Company, ICP Adhesives & Sealants, Icynene-Lapolla, Johns Manville, Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, SES Foam, SWD Urethanes and Rhino Linings.
