Now that cold, wintry weather is around the corner, it is said to be only a matter of time before the rate of preventable deaths increases as a direct result of cold weather and fuel poverty. It is easy to see the hardship that the elderly and those living with illness have to contend with if they inhabit housing which is too expensive to heat. A cold and damp, or draughty home can trigger illness in susceptible people causing a surge in hospital admissions and sometimes death.
BUFCA, the trade association for the application of sprayed or injected polyurethane foam, has urged specifiers to increase the insulation levels in these properties to bring all households out of fuel poverty and bring them to a position where they can reasonably afford to heat their homes.
Households with insulated cavity walls are least likely to be in fuel poverty – 6.2% of households – according to the ‘Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics Report 2017’, published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (DBEIS). The report also highlights that around 2.5m households in England were living in fuel poverty in 2015, which increased by 0.4% compared to the previous year.
Wall insulation is normally the best way to improve the insulation in most properties. By injecting cavity wall insulation into the cavity this provides an insulating barrier and provides stability to the walls, avoiding the expensive job of replacing wall ties. The foam is particularly beneficial in hard-to-treat properties which are unsuitable for other materials, or for homes at risk of flooding, where other products might not survive.
BUFCA says that due to the expanding properties of the foam, air leakage, draughts and cold spots are eliminated, providing superior energy-saving insulation and carbon savings. To provide reassurance to customers who require injected cavity wall insulation a BUFCA warranty is available.
The Association says that homes which are well insulated will be far warmer and retain the heat for longer, resulting in lower fuel bills and occupants will be less susceptible to winter-related illness.
Installer members of the British Urethane Foam Contractors Association agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Professional Practice. Visit www.bufca.co.uk for a list of professional installers.
