California Spray Foam Insulation Rules Pass Muster, Court Says

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control acted within its authority when it added certain spray foams as a priority product under the state’s “Green Chemistry” law, an appellate court affirmed.

Under the Green Chemistry law, Safer Consumer Products regulations were set up to identify and regulate chemicals of concern which have adverse public health or environmental effects. Products that contain those chemicals are identified as “priority products” and are more heavily regulated—through restricting use, prohibiting sales, and engineering safety measures.

American Chemistry Council and General Coatings Manufacturing Corp. challenged the department’s decision to list spray polyurethane foam—used for insulation—as a ...