The industry does not stand still and today, along with its excellent and useful achievements, we are faced with such a phenomenon as harmful materials and compounds. Some of these substances have significant Negative influence on human health and well-being.
Oddly enough, but some of the many harmful substances we can also meet in construction.
Due to the use of low-quality materials or non-observance of the installation rules, we are faced with the fact that ours and apartments become simply dangerous for health and living.
Facts and consequences of the use of non-environmentally friendly materials in house construction
- the air in some living quarters is several times more harmful than on busy highways;
- more than half of those killed in fires die not from burns received, but from poisoning with vapors of harmful substances formed when some building materials are heated;
- the environmental friendliness of many materials on the construction market is in great doubt (60% of them are hazardous to human health).
Consider the most frequent Construction Materials that can be dangerous.
SIP panels
This construction technology is considered by many to be inexpensive and harmless. However, if we consider it in more detail, then one can doubt the defining data.
This technology for the construction of houses is not much inferior to others in price, and upon a thorough examination it becomes clear that it is not so harmless.
The fact is that when building a house, a special design of panels (sip panels) is used, which, in fact, are foam plates glued on both sides wood-based panels.
OSB boards consist of pressed and glued wood chips... The adhesive used to form the boards gives off some formaldehyde, but the amount is not so significant.
Most of all causes concern. Because OSB boards still are wood material, and the tree has the ability to "breathe", they freely pass benzene, which is released. Therefore, the level of benzene in a house made from vip panels is likely to be high.
Despite the fact that houses made of sip panels are very warm and strong enough, a significant disadvantage of sip structures is that they are highly flammable and burn very quickly. In addition, during combustion, expanded polystyrene releases toxins that are deadly if inhaled, even in small quantities. For a lethal outcome, it is enough to take only three breaths. Poisonous gas phosgene, in a large number released during the combustion of foam, causes paralysis of the respiratory tract.
Expanded polystyrene formwork
Expanded polystyrene blocks used for the installation of formwork began to be used in construction both in Russia and abroad relatively recently.
Building mixtures
When buying building mixtures, strictly monitor their quality. Only original mixtures from reputable manufacturers can meet all safety requirements.
It is best to purchase building mixtures, like other materials, in serious specialized building stores who value their reputation, which means they monitor the quality of the goods.
Polyurethane foam
Polyurethane foam - very comfortable material used in construction for sealing window and doorways at the time of their installation. It contains at its core the poisonous poison formaldehyde. A significant proportion of this poison is released directly at the time of work with polyurethane foam.
After hardening, the emission of harmful substances is reduced. When used in small areas, formaldehyde emissions are negligible and cannot damage, do not leave the foam open, always cover it and isolate it from sunlight.
Wallpaper
Wallpapers presented today big amount varieties. You can choose not only from huge amount colors, shades and patterns, but also execution materials.
What awaits installers? Polyurethane foam toxicity
Any polyurethane foam goes through a series of checks before it gets on store shelves. And not nominal, but real. If it is put on sale (for how many years!), Then the harmfulness of the polyurethane foam is minimal.
However, ordinary consumers and specialists in this issue there are disputes. There is not much official information. Some moments, crumbs, which do not allow to unambiguously answer the questions: is polyurethane foam harmful? if harmful, how much?
Let's first analyze the moment of using the foam. We'll "climb" into the can later.
What are the manufacturers warning us about?
1. Foam should not be sprayed near open fire... It is also forbidden to smoke while working.
2. The foam should not be heated over a stove or other sources of fire (we hope that no one will think of this). For these purposes it is necessary to use hot water.
In principle, these warnings are understandable. Polyurethane foam - combustible material highly flammable (like many other materials in aerosol cans).
Cured polyurethane foam is not hazardous. Unless, of course, you set it on fire on purpose. Plus there are flame retardant sealants on the market designed for installation fire doors and other similar structures.
Some manufacturers can read on cylinders that work with foam should take place in well-ventilated rooms. Plus it is recommended to wear a mask and gloves. Indeed, polyurethane foam is toxic. How dangerous is it to work with?
Diphenylmethane diisocyanate is a key material for the production rigid polyurethane Pen. For foaming, substances such as freon, pentane, for example, are used. As a result of the interaction of all components, polyurethane foam is formed. Its high thermal insulation properties determine the main field of application:
The number of polyurethane materials on the construction market is growing rapidly. Accordingly, the demand for isocyanates, a key feedstock, is increasing. The least dangerous in the group of isocyanates is diphenylmethane diisocyanate. During handling, a very low vapor pressure is created, which reduces the hazard of the substance. But diphenylmethane diisocyanate is not absolutely safe.
- substance - allergen and sensitizer;
- affects the respiratory system;
- can provoke asthmatic reactions;
- suppresses the body's immune defenses;
- reduces libido.
A person's reaction to isocyanates is individual. In particular, the toxicity of the polyurethane foam is low. But some people have such a pronounced sensitivity to isocyanates that a negative reaction manifests itself immediately.
Therefore, using building mixture requires compliance elementary rules safety precautions:
2. Optimum temperature air - twenty - twenty-five degrees above zero. More high temperatures undesirable.
3. Care should also be taken to ensure that the surfaces to be treated are not too hot.
5. Remember to wear gloves as well.
Polyurethane foam is a common material. There are people who work with her every day. If they all ended up in the hospital, the foam would be removed from the construction market. Consequently, the toxicity of the assembly sealant is minimal. But it is there. Therefore, it is better to take precautions.
http://stroy-king.ru
However, there are disputes between ordinary consumers and specialists on this issue. There is not much official information. Some moments, crumbs, which do not allow to unambiguously answer the questions: is polyurethane foam harmful? if harmful, how much?
The harm of polyurethane foam, contrived and real
- reduces libido.
Interest in the question of whether polyurethane foam allows water to pass through or not can arise in two cases. Firstly, if there is a small gap or crack, it may even go out, which must be urgently repaired.
It is very tempting to close it up with polyurethane foam: it is very convenient to use a spray can, you do not need to prepare all kinds of solutions and remove dirt after you. And the process of getting rid of the shortcomings takes place in two counts: quickly and easily! The second situation is a recently installed window or outer door requiring the production of finishing finishing works.
In many ways, foam will be an obstacle to precipitation and collecting moisture, and many ask whether it is tight enough and whether any additional measures will be required to prevent a liquid medium from entering the house. And if you can deal with the cracks and other methods, albeit more laborious, then the windows are still put on the foam. Whether you want it or not, you will have to delve into it. At least what additional steps will need to be taken to improve and protect the window or door while maintaining the comfort in the room.
Polyurethane foam is water permeable or not- no one can give an unequivocal answer with certainty, even an experienced repairman. The builders themselves disagreed: some say that they not only let it through, but also absorb it, others categorically deny it and refute it. Our experts took matters into their own hands and set up 2 small experiments.
Perhaps they are not artistic and scientific, but convincing and reliable. And they are intended to illustrate the stumbling blocks of the characteristics of this mounting substance. This will be discussed in our article.
Experience 1: bandwidth
The experiment was elementary simple: they sprayed foam on the spread newspaper, put it in plastic cup and sprinkled it on all sides. The plastic cup was then pulled out of the manufactured structure. It turned out, albeit ugly, but solid, without holes and cracks, a vessel. We waited until our peculiar container hardened well and dries out.
Then 250 milliliters of water was poured into it and left for one day. Someone will say that there is not enough time for the experiment. However, according to statistics, construction foam is almost never exposed to such a long exposure to water in real conditions (except perhaps when a structure reinforced with it is flooded). Even a long shower does not lead to complete enveloping of the foam, so, in our opinion, the experiment looks quite correct. And here are the results:
- The surface under the "glass" remained completely dry.
- Blotting the walls from the outside with a paper towel did not even reveal individual drops, that is, water did not seep through the substance.
- Attention! What is characteristic: after draining the water from the container back into the plastic cup, only 200 ml remains!
- For some reason, the weight of a vessel made of solidified polyurethane foam has doubled.
From here we conclude: polyurethane foam does not allow water to pass through. But 50 ml disappeared somewhere, and the vessel became heavier! When cutting an impromptu container with a sharp clerical knife, water in places flowed out straight in streams from the resulting air material... Hence, it was assumed that she lingered in the irregularities of the inner wall.
The assumption was confirmed by the squelch that was heard when the whole uncut container was shaken. The impression was that the water was trapped in the large pores formed by the foam during inflation. However, the version needed to be verified, and a second experiment was performed.
Test 2: moisture absorption
This time, two frozen pieces of the same polyurethane foam were put into a bowl of cool water for a whole day. One was a naturally occurring droplet when sprayed mounting material, the second is a parallelepiped, deliberately cut off to expose internal pores (after all, cut off after installation, for example, a window, the assembly looks like it is porous).
Even after 24 hours, both participants in the experiment were floating on the surface without being flooded by a millimeter. That is, their weight did not change during this time, and they did not absorb water. Hence we conclude: in principle, polyurethane foam is a good waterproofing agent, and theoretically it should even protect the room from moisture penetration from the street into it.
Essential "but"
Despite the results of the experiments, we still agree with the builders who do not recommend using polyurethane foam for waterproofing and insisting on sealing joints when installing windows with other materials. The fact is that it is very unstable to constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Under the rays of the sun, it tends to gradually collapse; visually, this is manifested in the acquisition of a brownish tint by it.
At the same time, the polyurethane foam becomes very porous over time when it is externally located, and moisture already begins to pass through it without much difficulty. Accordingly, after sealing the outer gap with foam, quite soon you will again face the problem of water penetration from the outside into your home.
The same goes for windows. In order for the foamy fastener to continue to perform its functions and remain an obstacle in the path of precipitation, it must be plastered, after cutting off the swollen bubbles. Alternatively, you can cover the foam seam with a sealant, but in any case, you need to block the access to it of light, which has such a destructive effect on the material itself.
In addition, by blowing out the gap, you cannot control the completeness of its filling.
Is mounting foam harmful to health in the apartment?
The gaps remaining when blowing in will allow water to pass through. This is precisely the reason why many people believe that foam does not hold moisture.
Those who chose foam to seal the crack based on the ease of use of the spray, let them think about how he will remove it from surfaces where accidental splashes will get - the foam is removed extremely poorly, and its removal can take much more time than if took advantage of traditional methods and plastered the defect.
Thus, it is not so important how the polyurethane foam behaves in a wet environment, whether it allows water to pass through or not - its other properties come to the fore, which prevent its use as a waterproofing agent, at least without additional support. Yet the original purpose of the magic can is to bind separate parts different designs, and here polyurethane foam is almost indispensable. And the rest of the functions are better left to be performed by other materials that were developed specifically for them.
Chemists Forum
The polyurethane foam has partially crumbled.
Forum / Facades / Polyurethane foam partially crumbled.
Ask your question on our forum without registering
and you will quickly receive an answer and advice from our specialists and forum visitors!
Why are we so sure of this? Because we pay them for it!
01 October 2015
at 19:52 Plastic windows installed 3 years ago, the company's employees filled the openings with polyurethane foam, and, they did not warn that from the side of the facade, the foam needed to be protected from the sun and other influences.
polyurethane foam harm to health
As a result, the foam partially crumbled and continues to deteriorate. What can you do, a balcony on the 18th floor?
alex78sol
01 October 2015
at 20:11 affordable option, this is to remove the decomposed foam to a good one and paint over it properly (in general, this should have been done right away).
Leonid_32
01 October 2015
at 20: 54Remove old crumbling foam and refill with new foam instead. Or seal the gap with a sealant, well, and then you need to cover the foam or sealant with plaster or putty. Otherwise, water may enter the gap and enter the apartment.
neoless
03 October 2015
at 0:35 Despite, on the 18th floor, secure yourself with ropes. Consider everything carefully with outside... Clean up any loose foam. Seal with putty mixture. Or call the installers, they will definitely handle it.
Irina777
03 October 2015
We must try to remove the protruding remnants of polyurethane foam and cement these areas on top, I did this when installing MP windows. True, I immediately removed the remaining foam and cemented it. Well, then you can already either putty, or paint, or if access is normal with plastic panels, you can make slopes.
Masha
03 October 2015
at 2:50 am Try to remove the foam as much as possible (you can do this with construction knife if the seams are wide without touching window frame). However, please note that most installers neglect the right technologies installation of windows and fix them only on foam. In this case, you cannot do this. Make sure the structure is secured with dowels and special strips before cleaning the foam.
Further (we made sure everything is strong, reliable), you buy a special frost-resistant foam and gently blow it into the cracks.
In combination with foam, PSUL is also used to protect the foam from moisture and ultraviolet radiation, as well as standard plastic panels planted on a sealant.
Roman31
03 October 2015
at 3:14 Remove the old foam, fill the gaps with fresh polyurethane foam and ideal option plaster the slopes. If the money allows, you can hire the appropriate specialists - high-ranking specialists, there are such masters in every city, look at the advertisements in the newspapers to offer their services.
MANYA
06 October 2015
at 13:24 High-altitude climbers undertake to alter only one edge, where there is normal access and nothing interferes, on the other edge, up to half of the windows, there is an aluminum sun protection, with very small rings. The distance between the sun protection and the windows / masonry is 2 cm. On top, the foam is in a normal state - protected by the upper balcony, from below they made a drain and immediately cemented it. What can be done in this case?
Dear guest, stay!
Already many people earn just talking on our forum!
For example, like this. Or like this.
You can start chatting on the forum now. Just log in through Vkontakte or register, it will take one minute.
But if you're just passing us, you can still:
Any polyurethane foam goes through a series of checks before it gets on store shelves. And not nominal, but real. If it is put on sale (for how many years!), Then the harmfulness of the polyurethane foam is minimal.
However, there are disputes between ordinary consumers and specialists on this issue.
Is polyurethane foam dangerous?
There is not much official information. Some moments, crumbs, which do not allow to unambiguously answer the questions: is polyurethane foam harmful? if harmful, how much?
Let's first analyze the moment of using the foam. We'll "climb" into the can later.
What are the manufacturers warning us about?
1. Foam should not be sprayed near open flames. It is also forbidden to smoke while working.
2. The foam should not be heated over a stove or other sources of fire (we hope that no one will think of this). For these purposes it is necessary to use hot water.
In principle, these warnings are understandable. Polyurethane foam is a combustible material that is highly flammable (like many other materials in aerosol containers).
Cured polyurethane foam is not hazardous. Unless, of course, you set it on fire on purpose. Plus, there are fire-resistant sealants on the market designed for the installation of fire doors and other similar structures.
Some manufacturers can read on cylinders that work with foam should take place in well-ventilated rooms. Plus it is recommended to wear a mask and gloves. Indeed, polyurethane foam is toxic. How dangerous is it to work with?
Diphenylmethane diisocyanate is a key material for the production of rigid polyurethane foams. For foaming, substances such as freon, pentane, for example, are used. As a result of the interaction of all components, polyurethane foam is formed. Its high thermal insulation properties determine the main field of application:
The number of polyurethane materials on the construction market is growing rapidly. Accordingly, the demand for isocyanates, a key feedstock, is increasing. The least dangerous in the group of isocyanates is diphenylmethane diisocyanate. During handling, a very low vapor pressure is created, which reduces the hazard of the substance. But diphenylmethane diisocyanate is not absolutely safe.
Negative influence:
- substance - allergen and sensitizer;
- affects the respiratory system;
- can provoke asthmatic reactions;
- suppresses the body's immune defenses;
- reduces libido.
A person's reaction to isocyanates is individual. In particular, the toxicity of the polyurethane foam is low. But some people have such a pronounced sensitivity to isocyanates that a negative reaction manifests itself immediately.
Therefore, the use of a construction mixture requires compliance with basic safety rules:
1. Work with polyurethane foam in a ventilated area.
2. The optimum air temperature is twenty to twenty-five degrees above zero. Higher temperatures are undesirable.
3. Care should also be taken to ensure that the surfaces to be treated are not too hot.
5. Remember to wear gloves as well.
Polyurethane foam is a common material. There are people who work with her every day. If they all ended up in the hospital, the foam would be removed from the construction market. Consequently, the toxicity of the assembly sealant is minimal. But it is there. Therefore, it is better to take precautions.