In a process for producing open-celled rigid foams by reactinga) polyisocyanates withb) compounds containing hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanates, in the presence ofc) water,d) if desired, organic compounds acting as physical blowing agents,e) catalysts, auxiliaries and/or additives,the compounds containing reactive hydrogen atoms used are substances having the structure I: ##STR1## where m is 0-15n is 0-1o is 0-15p is 0-1q is 0-15r is 0-1s is 0-15t is 0-1u is 0-10v is 0-15x is 1-5y is 1-4 or mixtures of 1-3 where r+n.noteq.0z is 0-3z.sub.i is 0.1-3R.sub.1 is an aliphatic structure without OH groups based on the structure of polyhydric alcohols, preferably ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,3-butanediol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, glycerol, pentaerythritol, where these substances can also be used in the esterification as any mixture among one another and R.sub.1 can therefore also be a mixture of the corresponding structures,R.sub.2 is the radical of a polycarboxylic acid without COOH groups, eg. adipic acid, terephthalic acid, o-phthalic acid,R.sub.3 is an alcohol radical like R.sub.1.