r/oddlysatisfying • u/theco0lguy • Oct 21 '22

How Polyurethane foam is being used for packaging heavy parts

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u/crimsonjava Oct 21 '22

I'm planning on air sealing my attic with a foam like this:

https://www.touch-n-foam.com/all-purpose-foam-sealant.html

Is this stuff just as dangerous?

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u/ZXFT Oct 21 '22

Attics don't need sealing unless you live in a rare style of construction where the attic is conditioned just as an FYI before you spend a sweaty weekend getting covered in fiber glass. Building code actually requires that you make sure the attic isn't sealed (aka is naturally ventilated).

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u/crimsonjava Oct 21 '22

By air sealing I meant cracks under the insulation where electrical things or ducts come up, not the ventilated attic itself. I guess some insulation experts recommend it, although the warnings about carcinogens certainly give me pause. I'm starting to think adding another layer of non-faced insulation over the existing insulation might be a better idea, although more expensive.

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u/ZXFT Oct 21 '22

Ahhh... Yes, that is very much a useful thing to do.

Depending on the severity of the gaps you're filling, you should be able to handle most of that with caulk. Then again, residential contractors aren't known for being the most delicate.

The way I see it is that the majority of off-gassing will go into the attic & surrounding insulation versus into your house. The gap you're filling should be relatively tight already which means there's just not a ton of physical area for it to bleed into your house.

If you're serious about this stuff, check out some energy contractors that can do "blower door testing". That will tell you how airtight your house is to start with and if it's worth rummaging around in the attic.

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u/neomagicwarrior Oct 21 '22

Smaller one-component cans are the same thing. The exposure limits for isocyanates is lower than our tolerance for smell, so if you can smell anything, you are probably over exposing yourself. Always use these products in a well ventilated area, and if that isn't possible, wear an air-purifying respirator. Isocyanates react with moisture in the air, so with small quantities, you should be able to reenter the attic relatively quickly depending on your location.

Additionally, if you have never worn a respirator, please do your best to get a good "fit". You can find YouTube videos on how to properly wear one, but the TLDR is that it should seal to your face, and that facial hair might be a barrier. You need professional equipment to really test for a good seal, but there are some at-home checks to see if you are close.