Acoustic foam smell

[richardstringer1993]

Hey ya guys can anyone tell me how long it takes for the smell of new acoustic foam to disappear? It's giving me a headache and I feel a bit dizzy, I only put it on the walls earlier today.

Thanks.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Acoustic foam tiles dont usually smell of much, and whatever production fumes there are normally dissipate within an hour or two in a ventilated room.

You don't say what you've used to fix your tiles in place, but the standard adhesives can be pretty unpleasant. I've felt quite unwell after some of our Studio SOS makeovers when working in poorly ventilated rooms.

I'd open all the doors and windows and let the sir blow through for a day or so if the source is glue fumes.

[richardstringer1993]

I used spray glue to fix them to the walls, the foam didn't smell earlier but now the room smells very bad for fumes. I have the windows open but i'm panicking because I suffer from anxiety and I read that the fumes are carcinogenic and very dangerous.

I feel dizzy and my head feels hot inside. I don't know whether to take it all down or not because i'm scared.

[ajay_m]

The glue solvent should evaporate as it hardens but it may take a couple of days. I would ventilate the room to the outside and avoid going in for 24 hours and then see how things are.
It is highly unlikely to present a significant cancer risk as solvents are fairly tightly regulated these days, but it could certainly give you a headache. Relax, it'll be ok in a day or two.

[richardstringer1993]

Thanks, I have to keep going in there because I live in a flat and it's the living room and I have to walk through it to get to the kitchen and the front door. Ican breathe properly, it's just my head feels hot inside and I feel dizzy and that's what's scaring me.

This is what I used :
https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/tur ... ray-308559

[Sam Spoons]

If it's the glue that's causing the fumes then I'd think you can be pretty sure there isn't be anything harmful in there. You don't say specifically what acoustic foam you have used but the same applies, if it's intended for domestic or workplace use the regs are pretty strict and it's highly unlikely that it will contain anything harmful. I totally understand your anxiety having read that foam/adhesive fumes can be carcinogenic but the internet provides a wealth of misinformation, some deliberate, some ill informed and some simply out of date but I would consider any product I bought in the last 25 years to be harmless in any significant sense.

[richardstringer1993]

These are the ones I bought, you get fourteen tiles for the £52.99 and the tiles are 100mm thick, I have to say it definitely has dampened the sound in my living room a lot so they are effective. But they do smell quite a lot, I was a little worried before I bought them that they'd be any good for that price but I was surprised how good they've done.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AFW100-Pro-Aco ... C72&sr=8-5

[Hugh Robjohns]

As I said, and others have confirmed, it's the spray glue that smells and is giving you the symptoms you're describing. I've suffered the same symptoms for the same reasons. It's always best to spray the glue on the tiles outdoors if you can... but too late now!

You'll need to ventilate the room as thoroughly as you can. The smell and side effects will clear in a day or so with good ventilation.

I would strongly advise you don't sleep in the room. Keep the door closed from your bedroom and keep windows open if its safe to do so to ensure plenty of fresh air. There is no carcinogenic issue, but the fumes will leave you a really bad hangover if you stay in the room.

If you're really anxious about it, can you stay with a friend for a night or two?

[richardstringer1993]

I had a little smell of the foam up close last night and it's not the adhesive it is defionitelty the fumes from the gasses, I sprayed a little bit of adhesive onto a piece of paper and smeled it, it's not the adhesive it's absolutely the foam that smells. But anyway i'll see how bad it is in the few days time, it'd help if there was a breeze I have all the windows open in the living room and kitchen trying to help the air blow through but there's no breeze at all.

[Wonks]

What acoustic foam did you use? Can you provide a link?

[Martin Walker]

What acoustic foam did you use? Can you provide a link?

Richard already did, above:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AFW100-Pro-Aco ... C72&sr=8-5

Given his current problems, let's try to refrain from the sculpted/solid acoustic foam discussion

[richardstringer1993]

I used a scraper and have removed all the foam and throw it in the wheelie bin. My health is more important than the foam cost, i'm sick of feeling dizzy, having a headace and feeling sick. It's a shame because the foam did brilliant at dampening room reflections but I can't stand the side effects of toxic VOC's in my living room.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I'm glad you're happier, now.

[richardstringer1993]

Do you know anything about acoustical cotton batts? I've been reading how it's made from recycled cotton fibers and so there are no VOC's and it doesn't cause any kind of irritation and is said to be effective as sound absorbtion. Not as good as mineral wool or fibreglass but good nonetheless. I'm talking about this kind of thing :
https://www.atsacoustics.com/recycled-c ... ieces.html

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yeah, it works to a degree.

They're usually too fragile to glue to the wall — and I still think your problem was the glue (or actually the gas in the glue can), not the foam —so you'll need to build frames to support it, and cover it with breathable cloth to keep loose fibres in and dust out. Just like using mineral wool slabs, really.

It's not usually flame retardant, either, if that's a concern.

[richardstringer1993]

When I took the foam off the walls and just I put it in the bin outside I could still smell the foam, the glue smelt different it was the foam that was emitting VOC's.

I don't mind building frames for the cotton batts plus my living room is pretty big, I had 4" foam up so I have the space to put 4" acoustical cotton batts up. I could build thin wood frames for them to keep weight down and then maybe hang them on the walls, the problem seems to be finding a company in the UK that does the acoustical cotton batts it seems they're only available in the USA.

[James Perrett]

Another alternative that I've had recommended to me by a reputable acoustic consultant are the polyester panels sold by EQ Acoustics.

https://eqacoustics.com/products/friendly-fibre

[richardstringer1993]

Thanks i'll email them, if it's 100% polyester then it should mean no VOC's.

[Mike1125]

Hello everyone,
I can see that acoustic foam has a bad reputation but I believe the problem is with the glues personally if its purchased with a peel off adhesive backing I'm sure the problem wouldn't happen. I have purchased acoustic foam for my studios with a adhesive backing and never have had any problem with smell. The foam manufacturer i used are wonderful, and do have guides to let the foam air out especially after it has been enclosed during transit, and the smell is normally gone after a day or two if there is a foam smell. I will link where I get my acoustic foam which i get using there service for fitment.
Acoustic foam cut to size:
https://www.anyfoam.co.uk/
Hope this helps everyone if it does please let me know new to this forum and would love to talk to different people.

[Sam Spoons]

Usually the issue with 'acoustic foam' is not so much the smell but it's efficiency compared to Rockwool or similar based panels. That and the fact that most of the Amazon/ebay 'acoustic foam tiles' are too thin and only deaden high end leaving the mid range and bass intact which results in a boxy sounding room.

The OP seems sure the smell he encountered was definitely emanating from the foam and has taken reasonable steps to be sure of his conclusion.