RICS Guidance on Spray-Foam Insulation

Introduction

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) sets the benchmark for professional standards across land, property and construction in the UK. In April 2022, RICS issued a technical note expressing caution over certain spray-foam installations, following reports of isolated workmanship failures. After extensive industry consultation and the submission of independent test data, RICS formally withdrew that note in January 2023 and clarified that, when installed strictly to BBA, KIWA and manufacturer protocols, closed-cell spray foam is both safe and effective.

RICS Timeline

  • April 2022
    RICS publishes a technical note highlighting a small number of substandard spray-foam applications, primarily where installers had deviated from approved methods.
  • Mid-2022
    Industry bodies, manufacturers and accredited installers furnish RICS with field data, case studies and test reports demonstrating compliant performance.
  • January 2023
    RICS withdraws the original guidance and issues a clarification: correctly specified, installed and maintained closed-cell foam meets all performance, structural and moisture-control requirements.

What This Means for Homeowners

RICS now confirms that spray-foam insulation need only adhere to five critical stages to guarantee safety and performance:

  1. Pre-Installation Survey
    Engage a qualified surveyor to conduct a full building-envelope assessment. This should include predicting moisture behaviour under different conditions.
  2. Approved Products Only
    Insist on foam systems carrying current BBA or KIWA certificates. Retain batch numbers and technical data sheets to prove the exact product used.
  3. Moisture-Management Plan
    A vapour-control layer or breathable membrane must be specified where required. Confirm that adequate ventilation—mechanical or passive—is in place to regulate humidity.
  4. Installer Competence
    Verify that operatives hold recognised training (BBA approved) and maintain up-to-date CPD records. Proper substrate preparation, mixing ratios and spray techniques are non-negotiable.
  5. Post-Installation Certification
    Obtain a complete report with photographs showing full coverage and moisture-reading logs demonstrating compliance with UK limits.

Download the RICS Checklist

For an at-a-glance summary of these steps, download the free RICS Spray-Foam Checklist (PDF):
Download the RICS Checklist

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