Why is spray foam for attic insulation not worthy of SEAI grants?

NIMAN

I recently got a quote to have Icynene expending insulation sprayed in my roof spaces, but was told that it doesn't qualify for any grants at all.

I was wondering if its as good as the marketing says, why would the Government exclude it from their grant scheme?

Is it just that they haven't got round to assessing it yet?
Or is there any other reason it doesn't qualify?

http://www.uksprayfoam.co.uk/loft-insulation/

caesarthechimp

Lets say you had a "normal" attic with mineral wool above the ceiling, and also ventilated eaves. If you spray foamed the rafters, you would still have cold air circulating between the two types of insulation. Therefore your new rafter insulation would be pointless.

If you had a vaulted ceiling, it would make more sense then. But you'd still have to be careful that the roof timbers had some ventilation or protection from condensation.

Its can be a good solution for bit of roof that sticks out at ground floor level on a 2 storey house.

NIMAN

There is a type of spray foam that is breathable, so would suit the purpose.

Just for info, I emailed this same question to SEAI and they replied and said they had passed it on to their technical dept and they would be in contact......heard nothing....and that was maybe 10 days ago.

If I ever get a reply, I'll update.

BryanF

Best to Search the forum, this has been covered countless times before

Calahonda52

The building science is important here so lets just float a few ideas here.

Existing best practice for in slope roof insulation, with a non breathable roofing felt, is that a 2" air circulation gap is left between the in slope insulation and the non breathable felt, and eaves carriers are used to collect the cold air from the ventilated soffits and pass it into the 2" gap.
.

If we accept the science behind the above, and therefore accept that the associated building practice is kosher, then explain to me how a blow and go solution using spray foam can pass muster, without the use of breathable insulation baffles which I have never seen used on sprayfoam jobs that I didn't project manage.

The breathable baffles allow the two inch gap to be created.

This link will shed some light on a lot of building concepts
https://www.nsai.ie/S-R-54-2014-Code-of-Practice.aspx

OP as for SEAI, 10 years might get you there

NIMAN

Still heard nothing from SEAI......good customer service there.