Clark Foam has Quit Business

albert · Post by **albert** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:00 pm

This is from the EPA documentation I found on the internet and mentioned earlier, there is no mention of CO2 as a by-product or any other greenhouse gases.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is converted to a less toxic material called prepolymer by reacting the TDI with a polyester polyol resin (polyol) within 24 hours of delivery. The use of the just-in-time inventory practice is intended, in part, to minimize the amount of TDI and TDI-bearing resins present on the premises and minimize the period of time that TDI is present on-site to reduce the risk of a release. During batch processing, the exothermic reaction between TDI and polyol releases heat that raises the batch temperature to a design temperature of 140. This temperature is maintained for 16-20 hours by continuous injection of polyol. Once the reaction is complete, the prepolymer is allowed to cool to and is then transferred to Tank 62 for storage. As needed, the prepolymer is pumped from Tank 62 to the weighing and mixing station where it is mixed with additional polyols and poured into molds to form polyurethane foam surfboard blanks.

The only concern I saw in their documentation was of a release of the TDI from leaks in tanks, pipes or accidental release during delivery of the TDI. There was no concern over by-products release, and no reports of accidents over the last five years.

http://www.rtknet.org/rmp/sum7/CA/fac100000087078

Also, there is some info on TDI effects on humans (the only one cited is chronic lung function decline), and its non carcinogenic.

http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0503.htm

kneecaps · Post by **kneecaps** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:07 pm

I heard a few moths ago that Clark's non-compliance with current standards was grandfathered in.
Apprarently not all of the regulations were grandfathered in (or at least not enough).

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:17 pm

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:36 pm

kneecaps · Post by **kneecaps** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:39 pm

Ugly.

Opportunities abound for the Aussies, Chinese, etc. We need foam!

Good point, Beeline.

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:24 pm

Grubby is a great guy. When we starting Surfrider and needed funding for a project he would always save our butts.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:37 am

Why doesn't the EPA go after the people that infect our oceans with pollution that make us sick when we surf

Bryn · Post by **Bryn** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:49 am

Now is the time to push the friendlier materials that don't kill our playground and make them accessible and affordable. Shifting production elsewhere will surely just be a waiting game until either the environment gives up or another law will stop it again. We should surely all be striving towards materials that work with not destroy the world we enjoy. Progression is the key and a cleaner way seems the logical solution and who knows maybe a blank with better properties than anyone imagined will rear its head in the process. Maybe Clark is actually doing the surfing world a favour!

Definitely feel for all the small shaping/glassing outfits that are going to struggle with it but where there's a will there's a way.

Kind of on topic, those interested in the environment might want to have a little read of this http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn8398.html the pics of UK beaches in the snow the other week may become a more regular occurence. 5mm suits all year... i do hope not!!

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:08 am

Bryn · Post by **Bryn** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:37 am

Hi Scott,

The blanks we've been using are from Oz although we do have Homeblown blanks produced in Cornwall http://www.homeblown.co.uk/
Looks like they've started to push their product outside the surf industry also. They have a pretty good range of sizes available although i've heard mixed reports about the consistency of the foam.

Seabase was the main Clark supplier over here http://www.seabase.ltd.uk/home.htm and looks like they are still trading Clark blanks as normal with no mention of the situation as yet. Guess they haven't updated their site!! They are/were the main supplier of Clark blanks to UK and European shaping houses though.

Its going to be very interesting to see what knock on effect this all his to the surf industry World wide in the next few months... Lets just hope there's a positive outcome on all levels!

kneecaps · Post by **kneecaps** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:27 pm

For what it's worth...
Here is the website for the CA EPA (South Coast Air Quality Management District - SC AQMD)...
http://www.aqmd.gov

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:39 pm

Just got the latest news.... all the surf shops on 41st Ave in Santa Cruz have put a hold on selling any surfboards. Local TV channel just interviewed my son on this subject and is sending a crew out into the field for footage.

There has been an emergency meeting called for tonight by all Santa Cruz area surf industry owners.

dang.....................

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:03 pm

doc · Post by **doc** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:32 pm

Being lazy, I'll repost something I wrote elsewhere concerning this and somebody asking why Clark didn't relocate:

Well, you want to put yourself in Gordon Clark's place for a moment;

Let's say you're 70 years old, you've been at this for over 45
years.

You have been dealing with the most half-baked, half-witted,
ungrateful, whining lot on earth: surfboard makers and surfers; who
consistantly misuse ( overshape ) your product and then bitch about
the quality.

You have been dealing with the EPA, OSHA, Orange Nazi County and the
second most half-witted lot on earth, Californian yuppie neighbors.

Staying in business, and that's you, 'cos your kids have other
things to do - it means you spend the rest of your life working for
virtually zero, as your profits and probably your life's savings are
likely to go on anti-pollution gear and becoming a jobs program for
environmental lawyers.

What would you do? Move, at 70, to a whole new location? To do what?
Make maybe a few bucks before you croak, after new plant and
various remediation deals at the old plant are paid for, with no
guarantee that the environmental regs wherever you go won't change
overnight and you have to go through it all again?

Right.

I have been watching this, and basicly Mr. Clark apologised for the
short notice, but hey, in an industry that is STUPID enough to
base itself around a single-source product made by a company with
some environmental issues dating back a while...well, my sympathy
and best wishes go to Grubby Clark rather than those whining about
not being able to get their Clark blanks.

The man pretty much revolutionised surfboard construction, and he
picked this time to move on. Can't blame him, I'm getting a bit sick
of this biz myself for many of the same reasons.

And the surfboard industry can move on too. Polyurethane foam and
polyester resin is 1930s tech, there are new and better technologies
there waiting to pick up where Clark left off. Maybe it's high time
they did.

doc.....

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 3:07 pm

Shops in San Diego and San Francisco have added $100.00 plus to the price of boards. One shop in SF had already sold more boards by lunchtime today than they usually do on a good weekend day.Ken