Foam Board

Did an inspection this morning for a client buying a FSBO.
.
There where two serious concerns with the Bungalow 40+ years old it had a #1 100 amp amalgamated Fuses service and many Aluminum circuits.

I explained to the young man buying the home that he should make sure to get insurance before he removed all conditions .
In my area many insurance companies will not give coverage for aluminum.

#2 the basement was completely covered with Foam Board,
now all experienced Home Inspectors know how bad Foam Board is .
But many newer HIs might not
http://www.cdc.gov/NASD/docs/d001001-d001100/d001007/d001007.pdf I explained that Foam board must be covered or removed as it gives of a hazard gas ( I believe it is cyanide?) and burns very fast .
Example 3 weeks ago I had the wifes car started it in the garage and the ignition switch started to smoke shut it down still smoked I started the car and quickly got it out of the garage .
Before I even was out of the car it was burning .
Got my dog out of the Back set gust in time . I ran into the garage grabbed a portable phone called 911 .
While I am talking to the Fire dept two Cruisers where on a call 300 feet away .
They arrived while I was on the phone and fired their ex tinguser into the inside of the Car .
I now had my hose and was spraying water I live about 300 yards from The fire station .
They where there in a very short time I got some of the smoke and WOW! it sure hit me One of the policemen got it too and was off work for a couple of Days .
Less then 5 plus minutes our car was gutted .
Moral of the story CYA Write up all foam Board and if the dash smokes get the car out of the garage
It goes fast and is deadly.

Roy Cooke

For Canadian reference content:
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd178_e.html
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd218_e.html
http://www.ulc.ca/about_ulc/Page.asp?Page_ID=955

Thanks Claude,

Good call Roy!

Great Call Roy!! I had a realtor and another inspector call me on this…2 weeks ago. Nice too see some info flowing again.