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Session
X
1997-98
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
Publisher
Statement on what are the latest results of the research into rain penetration in cavity walls. [HL 219]. - Includes fact that Building Research Establishment (BRE) research report in Library and have asked for precautionary checks to be carried out on the condition of galvanised steel wire wall ties in...
Statement on what are the latest results of the research into rain penetration in cavity walls. [HL 219]. - Includes fact that Building Research Establishment (BRE) research report in Library and have asked for precautionary checks to be carried out on the condition of galvanised steel wire wall ties in...
Asked by
Lord Gregson
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hayman
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
19 January 1998
Answered on
19 January 1998
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Insulation; Standards; Safety; Research; Building Research Establishment; Rain; Corrosion; Formaldehyde
Date
19 January 1998
Reference
HL 219; 584 c215-6WA
House
House of Lords
Statement on the latest results of his Department's research into rain penetration in cavity walls.
Statement on the latest results of his Department's research into rain penetration in cavity walls.
Asked by
Bill Etherington
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 January 1998
For answer on
19 January 1998
Answered on
19 January 1998
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the latest results of his
Department's research into rain penetration in cavity walls. [24238]
Angela Eagle: On behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions the Building Research Establishment has
undertaken research into water penetration in cavity walls filled with insulation.
As part of my Department's ongoing programme of research into rain penetration in cavity walls, I have, in consultation with my hon.
Friends the Minister for London and Construction and the Minister of Local Government and Housing, asked for precautionary checks to
be carried out on the condition of galvanised steel wire wall ties in a representative sample of homes with cavity walls filled with
insulation. This follows the preliminary results of research which indicate that there is a possibility that the life expectancy of
green coloured galvanised steel wire wall ties might be shortened when used in conjunction with Urea Formaldehyde foam cavity fill.
The tests were undertaken on dwarf walls without the protective features found in real houses. I wish, therefore, to establish
whether the effects indicated in the BRE research occur in real houses.
I want to stress that there is no conclusive evidence of a safety risk involving galvanised steel wire wall ties in cavity wall
insulation. But it would be wrong if, as a result of the preliminary findings, we did not investigate quickly and thoroughly whether
or not the possible problems with green coloured galvanised steel wire wall ties in some cavity fills were occurring in people's
homes. This is a prudent, precautionary measure and I have asked that further research be carried out as soon as possible.
The expert, independent, advice I have received from the BRE is that, while it believes that its initial findings indicate the need
for a wider study, it is strongly of the view that it would be premature to place any firm interpretation on its findings until it
can be established whether they are representative of conditions inthe UK housing stock.
While the number of homes containing galvanised wire wall ties with a green film, in cavity wall insulation, is a small portion of
the housing stock, it is prudent to carry out these precautionary checks which will be extended to examine other forms of galvanised
wire wall ties in cavity fill.
BRE's test results show:
Accelerated corrosion has occurred to galvanised steel wire wall ties which have been coated with a green identification film when
embedded in moist urea formaldehyde foam cavity insulation.
Whilst there was visual evidence of corrosion of "grey" (without the green film) galvanised steel wire wall ties embedded in moist
cavity fill insulation, the measurement of loss of zinc was too small to be significant.
No significant corrosion was found in either form of galvanised steel wire wall tie embedded in moist blown mineral wood or mineral
wool batt cavity insulation.
There was some visual evidence of corrosion on both types of galvanised steel wire ties at the gap which occurs between the masonry
and all three types of wet insulation.
Stainless steel wire wall ties showed no signs of corrosion irrespective of the cavity fill material and exposure.
There results were obtained from experimental walls after 12 and 18 months subject to regimes of accelerated exposure. Copies of
BRE's Research report have been placed in the House Library.
Subjects
Housing; Insulation; Research; Building Research Establishment; Rain; Corrosion; Formaldehyde
Date
19 January 1998
Reference
24238; 304 c378-9W;304 c374-5W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of (a) alternatives to medium-density fibreboard and (b) low or zero formaldehyde emission fibreboard in do-it-yourself home construction.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of (a) alternatives to medium-density fibreboard and (b) low or zero formaldehyde emission fibreboard in do-it-yourself home construction.
Asked by
Brian Jenkins
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 November 1997
For answer on
17 November 1997
Answered on
17 November 1997
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to
encourage the use of (a) alternatives to medium-density fibreboard and (b) low or zero formaldehyde emission fibreboard in
do-it-yourself home construction. [16065]
Angela Eagle: The Department does not consider medium-density fibreboard a risk to health to individuals involved in do-it-yourself
activities. Therefore, the Department does not have a policy to encourage the use of alternatives.
Like other types of particle board, medium-density fibreboard can give off formaldehyde gas (used in resin bonding) but only in
exceptional cases is this likely to cause problems--such as acute sensory irritation. However, fibreboard with low or zero
formaldehyde emissions is available on the market and my Department is encouraging its use in general advice to professionals and
the public.
Subjects
Health hazards; Timber; Formaldehyde
Date
17 November 1997
Reference
16065; 301 c4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the safety exposure limit, in parts per million, for formaldehyde emissons set by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) other EU member states; and what international figures his Department has evaluated. - Inc...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what is the safety exposure limit, in parts per million, for formaldehyde emissons set by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) other EU member states; and what international figures his Department has evaluated. - Inc...
Asked by
Brian Jenkins
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 October 1997
For answer on
4 November 1997
Answered on
4 November 1997
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the safety exposure limit, in
parts per million, for formaldehyde emissions set by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) other EU member states; and what
international figures his Department has evaluated. [13865]
Ms Angela Eagle: Formaldehyde has a maximum exposure limit (MEL) of two parts per million for an eight-hour time weighted average
and for a 15-minute reference period under the Control of Substances hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).
The occupational exposure limits for other EU member states and worldwide, where information is available, is in the table below.
Under COSHH, employers are required to control exposures to formaldehyde to a level as low as is reasonably practicable and in any
case below the MEL. It is therefore misleading to compare the numerical value of the MEL with limits in other countries, where
limits have different definitions and applications.
Occupational exposure limits and guidelines for formaldehyde
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Country or Year Concentration Interpretation
region (mg/m{3}) (ppm)
Australia 1991 1.5 1.2 \ TWA; probable human
carcinogen, sensitizer
STEL
3 2.5 /
Austria 1982 1.20 1.00 TWA
Brazil 1978 2.30 1.90 TWA
Belgium 1991 1.2 1 TWA; probable human
carcinogen
2.5 2 STEL
Bulgaria 1984 1.00 0.80 TWA
Chile 1983 2.40 2.00 Ceiling
China 1982 3.00 2.50 TWA
Czech Republic 1991 0.5 0.4 TWA
1 0.8 STEL
Denmark 1991 0.40 0.30 STEL; suspected
carcinogen
Egypt 1959 6.20 5.00 TWA
Finland 1993 1.30 1.00 STEL, 15 min;
significant absorption
through skin
France 1991 3.00 2.50 STEL
Germany 1993 0.60 0.50 TWA; suspected
carcinogenic potential;
local irritant;
sinsitizer
Hungary 1991 0.60 0.50 Ceiling; probable human
carcinogen; irritant;
sensitizer
India 1983 3.00 2.50 Ceiling
Indonesia 1978 6.00 5.00 Ceiling
Italy 1978 1.20 1.00 TWA
Japan 1991 0.61 0.50 TWA; suspected
carcinogenic potential
Mexico 1983 3.00 2.50 TWA
Netherlands 1986 1.5 1.2 TWA
3 2.5 Ceiling, 15 min
Norway 1990 0.6 0.5 TWA; allergen; suspected
carcinogen
1.2 1 Ceiling
Poland 1991 2.00 1.60 TWA
Romania 1975 4.00 3.00 MAX
Russian Federation 1991 0.50 0.40 STEL; significant
absorption through skin;
allergen
Sweden 1991 0.6 0.5 TWA; sensitizer
1.2 1 Ceiling
Switzerland 1991 0.6 0.5 TWA; sensitizer
1.2 1 Ceiling
Taiwan 1981 6.00 5.00 TWA; significant
absorption through skin;
United Kingdom 1992 2.5 2 TWA; maximum exposure
limit
2.5 2 STEL, 15 min
USA
ACGIH{1} 1993 0.37 0.3 Ceiling; suspected human
carcinogen
0.02 0.01 TWA; potential human
carcinogen
NIOSH{2} 1992 0.12 0.1 Ceiling, 15 min
0.9 0.75 TWA
OSHA{3} 1993 2.5 2.0 STEL
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Key
{1} ACGIH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists--This is a non statutory body and the limits they prescribe are
only a recommendation.
{2} NIOSH: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health: A research institute whose limits are only advisory.
{3} OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration: The statutory agency whose limits apply by law.
MEL: Maximum exposure limit. MELs have a particular status under COSHH. Under the Regulations, there is a duty to control exposure
to substances with a MEL to a level as low as is reasonably practicable, and in any case below the MEL. This duty to reduce
exposures thus does not stop once the MEL level has been achieved, but continues until all that is reasonably practicable has been
done. This special status of MELs means that it is misleading simply to compare the numerical value of a MEL with a limit that
applies in another country, where limits have different definitions and applications.
TWA: Time weighted average. Both the long-term and the short-term exposure limits are expressed as airborne concentrations averaged
over a specified period of time. The period for the long-term limit is usually eight hours; the short-term exposure limit (STEL) in
the UK is 15 minutes but may be different elsewhere.
Subjects
Health hazards; EU law; Formaldehyde
Date
4 November 1997
Reference
13865; 300 c142-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the research centres whose work has been evaluated by his Department in respect of research into (a) exposure to fine wood dust and (b) exposure to formaldehyde particles; what contact his Department has...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the research centres whose work has been evaluated by his Department in respect of research into (a) exposure to fine wood dust and (b) exposure to formaldehyde particles; what contact his Department has...
Asked by
Brian Jenkins
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 October 1997
For answer on
4 November 1997
Answered on
4 November 1997
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the research centres whose
work has been evaluated by his Department in respect of research into (a) exposure to fine wood dust and (b) exposure to
formaldehyde particles; what contact his Department has had with them; and what contact is planned in the future. [13866]
Angela Eagle: Comprehensive reviews of the international scientific literature were undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) and considered by the Health and Safety Commission when advising on the setting of Maximum Exposure Limits for formaldehyde
and softwood dusts under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
Studies have been carried out on formaldehyde for HSE by the Medical Research Council toxicology unit. HSE has also commissioned
work on wood dust with the Health and Safety Laboratory. Future contact will depend on the nature of the new research commissioned
and the findings that emerge.
Studies on non-occupational exposure have been carried out for my Department by the Medical Research Council's Institute for
Environment and Health and by the Building Research Establishment, where long term studies are continuing. My Department will
maintain contact with these research organisations.
Subjects
Health hazards; Medicine; Research; Timber; Formaldehyde
Date
4 November 1997
Reference
13866; 300 c142W
House
House of Commons