Foam filled panel - Problem??

[Erby]

Some things just make you wonder about how great "Great Stuff" really is.

I think it's a problem. Do you?

Click to Enlarge

41.8 KB

Click to Enlarge

61.63 KB

Click to Enlarge

52.28 KB

[inspector57]

Yes, it is a contaminant even if it is not flammable... but then what if it is flammable?

[Marc]

Definitely an issue. It's dielectric properties aren't investigated, as far as I know, for an application involving direct contact with energized surfaces for the simple reason that it wasn't intended for such applications in the first place.

My write-up would likely rhyme with that.

Marc

[John Kogel]

That is amazing. Somebody kept his finger on the trigger for a couple of minutes to do that.

It is not a good thing, that's for sure.[]

[kurt]

That warms my heart. Truly, a thing of beauty.

[Erby]

Ah Kurt, you've noticed how very carefully they've scraped it off at the bottom of the panel to expose the hot wires to the breakers. VERY carefully done.

Insert sarcasm emoticon here.

[kurt]

Yes, craftsmanship at its finest. The guys that could do this sort of work are all dead now.

[plummen]

Yes, craftsmanship at its finest. The guys that could do this sort of work are all dead now.

Thank god![:-monkeyd

[ghentjr]

The picture makes me think it is UFFI and not Great Stuff. Looks like it turns to powder based on the second pix.

[Erby]

Good bet, John. It was white not the typical great stuff yellow and it was a few years old.

In any case, it's a fine case of workmanship!

[ghentjr]

I agree with the workmanship issue but wouldn't want to see you hung by mis-identifying it to your clients. Even though it has probably off-gassed because of its age, it is still a Formaldehyde based product. One older home I inspected had this installed and had a chunk of missing plaster in a closet and it managed to fill the upper shelf engulfing a bunch of hand bags stored on the shelf.

[Les]

John likely is right. Does not look like Great Stuff.

[kurt]

It is not Great Stuff, but I don't think it's UFFI either. UFFI that I see always has a very distinct yellow color. Also, it'd be a little powdery by now, and some chunks broken off.

The panel looks too new to have been installed 35+ years ago.

So, what the heck is it?

[Tom Raymond]

Retro foam, Applegate R foam, or something similar. I know there is was at least one applicator in Kentucky. After two days of training with her crew I think it looks like her work. Last I heard she went bust.

[rkenney]

So, what the heck is it?

How about foam in place packaging?

[Scottpat]

Looks like Icynene foam.... My SWAG is that the walls were foamed during construction, this is done after the electrical is roughed-in. That foam will find every crack or hole and we now see how well it expands and seals everything.

Great find!

[rkenney]

So, what the heck is it?

How about foam in place packaging?

[hausdok]

I'm with Scott,

It's probably slow-cure icynene. You can shoot that into a wall cavity and it will take hours to fully expand and cure.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Carson2006]

If you would like an NEC reference, it seems to violate Article 110.12 (B), Integrity of Electrical Equipment and Connections; in case you'd like a reference.

Mr. C

[Neal Lewis]

The picture makes me think it is UFFI and not Great Stuff. Looks like it turns to powder based on the second pix.

When was the last time UFFI was used? And what is the age of the panel box?

I'd say there is a thirty year difference, at least.

[ghentjr]

http://www.carsondunlop.com/2011/12/ure ... nsulation/

[kurt]

Yeah, slow cure icynene.

[Erby]

I agree with the workmanship issue but wouldn't want to see you hung by mis-identifying it to your clients.

It's that looking out for each other that keeps us coming back here.

The panel was installed about 15 years ago in a 97 year old house that had been rewired. Other than the foam, the panel had been fairly nicely done. I'd bet it wasn't the electrician that put it there.

Report is long gone but I just told them:

The foam sprayed inside the panel is a contaminant. I don't know if it's flammable or not but it should be removed. I'd bet it's not approved for contact with energized surfaces in an electrical panel.

[Jim Katen]

If the foam worked its way onto any energized parts of the panel, or onto any connection points, I'd argue that the entire panel should be replaced.

[kurt]

Replacement is the prudent call.