A Formaldehyde Home Inspection is designed to ensure safe levels of exposure to formaldehyde vapor. Formaldehyde gas has been known for many years as a powerful irritant able to contaminate the air in a house, however it wasn’t until the installation of urea formaldehyde foam insulator (UFFI) in houses that state and federal agencies started to focus their attention on the negative impacts of overexposure.
Exposure to formaldehyde vapor can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Moreover, tests have shown it caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Many homeowners realized the need for energy conservation after the oil embargo of 1973, and they began installing insulation or additional insulation in the exterior walls of their homes. Roughly 500,000 houses were insulated with UFFI. The amount of formaldehyde released depends on the quality of formulation and installation, but the amount also increases under hot and humid conditions.
By the end of the 1980s, more than 1,500 complaints were filed with the CPSC revealing adverse side effects associated with the release of formaldehyde gas from UFFI. In ‘82, the CPSC banned the use of UFFI in homes, but just one year later the ban was overturned by a U.S. Court of Appeals.
Formaldehyde Home Inspection – Sources of Contamination
Nowadays, the UFFI is no longer considered a major source of formaldehyde air contamination. Formaldehyde levels decline rapidly to below 0.1 parts per million (ppm) within the first year after the UFII installation. Some people may be more susceptible to formaldehyde, but most adults do not experience any ill effects from exposure below 0.1 ppm. And since the UFFI was installed years ago, any vapors would likely be negligible by now.
On the other hand, formaldehyde is widely common in many household and construction products, including plywood, particle board, chipboard, plastic laminates cosmetics paper products, cleaners, carpets, drapes, even tobacco smoke. Symptoms of formaldehyde exposure typically resemble those associated with a cold or allergies, and they usually cease once exposure is discontinued.