Fire risk from expanding foam

Fire investigators are warning DIYers about the potential risk of using expanding foam, if not used correctly.

So far this year, firefighters have been called to two incidents in which the gas emitted by the foam has built up and resulted in fire and, in one case, injury.

Expanding foam is used in DIY to fix and fill holes and gaps. The propellant gas used to dispense the foam (methylene-diphenyl-diisocyanate 4,4) is highly flammable. The gas is emitted from the foam as it expands and dries out. It is heavier than air, sinks and forms an invisible cloud. If an ignition source is present, the gas can catch fire, potentially with explosive force.

In an incident in Holmfirth in February, a man was left with minor burns to his face and hands. He had been filling gaps between the skirting board and floor boards when static electricity built up on the metal outlet nozzle. The flammable gases collected under the floor and the nozzle was earthed, resulting in a static spark and the gases catching fire.

In May this year, a man was using expanding foam to fill gaps under kitchen cupboards in Fairweather Green, Bradford, when the cooker was turned on and ignited the invisible gases.

In a more serious incident in London in February, a man reported that he was lucky to be alive after his arm was engulfed in a ball of flames after he used eight cans of expanding foam to plug mice holes under his kitchen units, unwittingly filling his flat with flammable propellant. He was left with second-degree burns.

West Yorkshire fire investigation officer Lee Miller said:

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.