Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether expanding polyurethane foam is defined as filler material under his Department's guidance (a) paragraph 12.7 of Fire safety: Approved Document B2, published in 2006, 2010, and 2013 and (b) paragraph 12.6 of Approved Document B2, published in 2018.

Expanding polyurethane foam is used for a wide variety of purposes. The application of the guidance in paragraphs 12.6 and/or 12.7 of the approved document to the use of expanding polyurethane foam would need to be considered on a case by case basis. These products are commonly used as a joint sealant and as such would not be covered by paragraphs 12.6 or 12.7, but there may be other circumstances, such as being used as a void filler between two layers of construction in an external wall, where paragraph 12.7 would apply. The guidance in approved documents should be considered in full and in the context to the requirements of the regulations themselves.