The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched an impartial and comprehensive guide for consumers to educate them about the use of spray foam insulation in residential properties.
The guide has been written by subject matter experts and covers topics such as the effects of spray foam on a property’s roof structure, thermal performance, and value.
It also provides guidance on the do’s and don’ts when installing insulation in a home and how RICS-accredited members can help assess a property.
Spray foam insulation is a popular form of thermal insulation that can be applied to various parts of a building as part of a wider thermal improvement plan.
However, it is all too often marketed as an easy and simplistic fix, when in fact the installation of spray foam should be seen as a significant and fundamental alteration to a home that needs careful consideration and planning.
The RICS guide aims to educate the public on the pros and cons of spray foam installation, following many years of research into the effects of this material. It is hoped that the guide will help boost consumer confidence in making informed decisions about spray foam insulation.
The guide has been produced in response to several high-profile Trading Standards cases reported in the media, highlighting poor standards of work, illegal modifications to listed buildings, and high-pressure selling to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly.
Moreover, concerns have been raised within specific sectors of the lending market, such as equity release mortgages, which is now having a wider impact on lenders.
Sam Piplica, senior specialist in building standards at RICS, said: “We are pleased to present this free consumer guide on spray foam insulation to the public.
“RICS’s remit is to serve the public, therefore, the guide’s main focus is to educate and raise public awareness of potential issues surrounding spray foam, so that people can make informed decisions based on research and due diligence.”
RICS is also part of an industry working group on this issue to help not only their members but the wider industry improve their products and services.
The guide is available for free and can be accessed by visiting the RICS website.
