Abstract: Cellular polyisocyanate polyadducts are prepared by reacting (a) isocyanates with (b) compounds reactive toward isocyanates and (d) water, by a process in which a polyester having 2 hydroxyl groups and based on the condensation of at least one dicarboxylic acid with at least one alkanediol and/or alkenediol of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, whose carbon skeleton has at least one alkyl and/or alkenyl side chain between the hydroxyl groups, is used as (b).