§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the research or testing work carried out by (a) the Building Research Establishment and (b) The British Board of Agrmént regarding cavity insulation, since the reply by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 6 June 1984.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Building Research Establishment has continued its research programme into the effectiveness and performance of cavity fill insulation. The research has assisted the preparation and publication of British standards which ensure that the insulants are correctly installed so that maximum thermal benefit may be achieved with minimum danger of rain penetration or ingress of any substances likely to cause irritation to the occupants. A survey of reported incidents of rain penetration of insulated cavity walls mainly in new private housing has been carried out with the collaboration of BEC, BBA and the NHBC. The provisional findings are being discussed with those who collaborated in the study and other interested organisations with a view to publishing a report of the study. Work continues on the effectiveness of water repellant treatments to the external wall in preventing rain penetration on the effect of the width of the cavity on the risk of rain penetration of insulated walls.
The British Board of Agrément continues to test and assess products and systems for cavity wall insulation. 41 agrément certificates for these have been issued since June 1984 here are currently 40 certificates valid for built-in full and partial-fill products, and 37 for injected systems.
The board has collaborated with the BRE and others in the recent survey of rain penetration of insulated cavity walls.
The BBA's surveillance scheme, by which the board monitors the quality of work done by approved installers of injected systems, was improved and extended in 1985, notably to increase checks on companies' methods of management and control of products used.