DOW BLUE BOARD, NO NO!

[EL RAY]

I started wondering if using DOW blue board was really safe for aquaponics. Well the anwser was "NO" after calling the 1-888 # on the product pdf, I said I'm looking to purchase a large quantity of blue board for Aquaponics, he said ok let me take down all your information. He took my name, address, business name, phone # and then said that DOW did not endorse my application for their product and could not give me the contact information for a distributor. I asked why, he said it was because chemicals from the foam board product would leach and be absorbed by the plants, I asked but he would not list the chemicals. I then stated US Gov. was certifying organic produce grown with their product and he stated, they knew and did not endorse the application. We spoke a little more before him thanking me for my time and hung up. He was quite mono-tone, seriously professional and polite before he hung up. So I found 2 suppliers of Expanded polystyrene board, they do endorse the application, and the one I purchased from in Chino,CA. even gave me a tour of the manufacturing facility.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Jon, Kudos for constructively moving this issue forward for Aquapons in the United States who (for whatever reason, real or imagined) wish to avoid DOW, Owens Corning and Insulfoam, poly-iso boards et al. Hopefully your efforts will bear fruit and give folks a superior product alternative to what is currently available there.

El Rays supplier in Chino is Insulfoam manufacturing Facility, 5635 Schaefer Avenue  Chino, CA 91710

Maybe now that he's become acquainted with the particulars of  the concern over XPS, and knows what it is that he should try to avoid and why, he can hussle to arrange something with them that is truly a somehow safer or different/better alternative to DOW, Owen Corning etc...Instead of just getting someone at the Chino factory to say "Aquaponics? Umm...Sure why not?"...Shit, I should charge him my regular consulting fee, but we'll chalk this one up as pro bono for those unfortunate enough to come from the 'shallow end of the gene pool'.

At any rate, keep us all posted on your progress with the EPS company from New Mexico. I know I'd sure be interested in using a product like that.

Have fun surfing. If you ever want to go cross country skiing in November swing on by

[Tony Cabe]

Hi All,  I'm to the point in my setup for rafts and I'm confused by this thread.  We have the Beaver Plastics product as a choice but what was the verdict for the Dow product?

When I read the Dow MSDS looking for some of the details referenced here I saw:  "Extruded styrenic polymer foam containing a halogenated flame retardant system."  I did not see specific references to the chemicals mentioned here.  Is the Dow product considered safe to use?

Thanks,

Tony

[Farcry305]

Some people take this hug a tree, save a leaf nonsense .  Wait dont eat a salad unless you grew it in a bubble pumped with only certified (by someone) the best possible air and food..LOL

Wondering if im the only one who eats out at restaurants. Just something to think about. 

[MyKisa]

you could buy a sheet and demand an MSDS sheet I would think

[David Schwinghamer]

Damn, Ive been using the Owen Corning pink board in one of my water beds since May of 2012! Have eaten all sorts of peppers and lettuce from it. Its great I find out about toxins now, f**k it im going back to dirt.

[Bob Terrell]

You don't seem to have fallen dead yet, so enjoy your peppers and salad
 
David Schwinghamer said:

Damn, Ive been using the Owen Corning pink board in one of my water beds since May of 2012! Have eaten all sorts of peppers and lettuce from it. Its great I find out about toxins now, f**k it im going back to dirt.

[Greg Garriss]

Every day a new adventure.

I've used DBB for aquaponics for the past 8 years with no problems ( twitch... ) . But I've been looking at replacing the older rafts with a different hole pattern. Unfortunately, the Lowes here on Hawai'i island only carries the pre-scored 2" thick version but I can special order 20 - unscored 1" sheets for $900. 1-1/2" is unavailable.  HD only sells 2'x2' pink sheets.

I called Dow for another source.. Nice conversation up to when I told them what the application was. Then the rep told me they did not support that app and could not / would  not refer me to any sales dept.  Now I'm thinking of what shipping to Hawai'i from Canada is like...

[Suzanne Hayes]

You can always ask for an MSDS sheet.  They are required by law to provide those.  You can also probably find the information here:

http://www.msds.com/

[Michael & Kristine Stoddard]

Ditto, I feel more confused at the end than I did at the beginning.

Tony Cabe said:

Hi All,  I'm to the point in my setup for rafts and I'm confused by this thread.  We have the Beaver Plastics product as a choice but what was the verdict for the Dow product?

When I read the Dow MSDS looking for some of the details referenced here I saw:  "Extruded styrenic polymer foam containing a halogenated flame retardant system."  I did not see specific references to the chemicals mentioned here.  Is the Dow product considered safe to use?

Thanks,

Tony