What are people doing to minimize the off-gassing of the EPS? I've read where polyethylene and drywall are installed over the interior foam, but poly and drywall are both permeable. I've looked at plasters, but this adds significantly to the cost.

Ted, There is no off-gassing from EPS. It's inert, contains no formaldehyde and is non-biodegradable. If it lasts forever in a land fill, it will also last forever in your wall. You may be thinking about the flame retardant, HBCD. This is classified in Europe as a persistent substance, but no one has actually linked any negative health impacts to it.

I've read where the HBCD flame retardant as well as Bromine and Styrene are reasons the EU are backing off XPS and EPS.

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/hbcd/HBCD-partnership-invitation.pdf

Not to be a wise-guy, but the EU is also backing off coal, nuclear, oil and fracking.If you can find some evidence that there are negative health effects to HBCD, please post it on this forum. I have not heard of any. It's also my understanding that exposure to HBCD occurs in the manufacturing process, not after it's installed.

http://www2.buildinggreen.com/blogs/flame-retardant-used-polystyrene-be-banned-eu

HBCD released during EPS manufacturing as well as after application and I believe when in contact with (ground)water. High levels found in fish near textile plants.

I don't take it as a wise guy, but in my opinion, the US has lower standards and is often years or decades behind other nations in banning problematic substances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexabromocyclododecane This is not inert at all.

I have seen that article and several others like it. So what's wrong with those fish other than that they reportedly have "high levels" of HBCD in their bodies? Are they dying at an early age? Suffering from kidney failure or bone cancer? What exactly are the health hazards? For that matter, what are "high levels"? I have not been able to find that -- just the vague claim that it's "persistent". We've been using EPS with HBCD in construction for decades and I have not heard of any reports of actual negative health effects.

Really?

Thanks for the dialog. I sure like the concept, but need to find another solution.

Ted, the off gassing and hazardous properties of EPS are so low that the only thing that workers in our plants are required to were is safety glasses. There are plenty of articles out there for EPS and against EPS. The difficult part is distinguishing fact from fiction. EPS is approved by the FDA for direct contact with food, as as Bruce said, it is an inert material.

Every product has a "bad side" if you look hard enough. The Prius may be a great saver of fuel, but the batteries have a huge negative impact on the environment. For example.

Don't let a few articles scare you away from ICF, out of all the things that get put in a home, the EPS will likely be one of the least harmful.

Hi Brian-

I appreciate your comments, I really do, but styrofoam (EPS) as well as HBCD have been found to be carcinogenic. The more I read, the worse it sounds. Sealed in my house for the next 20 years while I breathe it. It's bioaccumulated. Not broken down. The fact that workers are allowed to breathe it during the manufacturing certainly does not mean it's harmless.

This is not convenient for all industries, I realize. I won't be posting further in this thread, as my goal here isn't to be an environmentalist, and I'm certainly not looking to argue. That wasn't my intent, either.

Thanks again for the info.

Ted,
As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you can show some evidence of your claim that EPS or HBCD are carcinogenic, we would be grateful for you to post it here. In the absence of such, scare mongering and spreading misinformation would be irresponsible and has no place here.

Ted,

What are you trying to achieve? Do you have some type of allergy condition?

This time I'm solidly endorsing Bruce's reply: EPS doesn't out-gas, because there is no gas to go out..... The blowing agent in EPS is pentane, and is nearly 100% used up at the instant the bead expands at the plant. While pentane is a VOC, it is not harmful in any concentration that could possibly reach a jobsite. Please visit an EPS manufacturing facility and see if anyone wears protective masks, either by law or by choice. (Save the time....the answer is never).

The steak you BBQ'd last night came on an EPS tray. The packing around your apples is EPS.

Excellent summaries on this issue at www.epsia.org
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