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About Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF)
What is SPF?
SPF is Sprayed
Polyurethane Foam, a closed cell roofing and insulation
material that is rapidly gaining market share in today's
construction industry.
What are the
advantages of SPF?
SPF has the highest
R-value of any insulation material. Because it is spray
applied, it forms a seamless monolithic barrier that
prevents air and water infiltration SPF systems are
referred to as "self flashing" because they can be
applied to vertical surfaces such as parapet walls and
roof penetrations in a contiguous manner, thus
eliminating seams and cold joints, the main source of
drafts as well as roof leaks
We can insulate and
seal the inside stud walls, including the cracks,
crevices and perimeter of your new building with
spray-applied polyurethane foam that is far more
effective than traditional conventional insulation
products. Our SPF spray-applied UL and ICBO approved
products provide exceptional thermal properties for
temperature control in the extremes of both heat and
cold of the Northeast.
Polyurethane foam insulation improves air quality and
saves energy.
Field-Applied
Urethane Foams Has Also
Field applied urethane
foam is a spray-applied or injected rigid plastic
building insulation which has all the desired components
for a quality thermal envelope. These include:
- High R-value per
inch
- Vapor control
- Air infiltration
sealing
- Added strength
No other insulation
system consistently provides the field installed
performance levels of field-applied urethane foam
plastics. Urethanes do not suffer from significant
R-value drift caused by wind and low ambient
temperatures.
Application of
Urethane Foams
- Sprayed onto open
surfaces
- Stress-skin Panels
- Rigid Foam Board
- Foam Sealant
Properties of
Urethane Foams
- SPF foam adheres
directly to all building material surfaces forming a
seamless and permanent coverage over and around any
complex shape.
- SPF foams form a
continuous monolithic air barrier that remains for
the life of the building.
- SPF foams form a
continuous monolithic vapor retarder, providing damp
proofing and flashing detail flexibility.
- SPF foams form a
continuous water-proof barrier resistant to damage
from wind driven bulk moisture infiltration.
- SPF foams provide
a higher R-value per inch than any other
field-installed insulation materials.
- SPF foams provide
a complete superior-performance 1-step insulation
system installed by a single trade that results in
the benefit of one contractor accountable for
thermal envelope performance.
SPF foams (closed-cell) can be installed to add
shear and compressive strength to building
envelopes.
Polyurethane Foam
Properties
The R-value of foam
is higher per inch than other types of insulation
- The R-value of
insulation materials is dependent on ambient
temperature and wind conditions. Independent tests
show that at 18 degrees F, with a 15 mph wind, the
theoretical R-value of urethane foam drops from 19
to 18, while batt insulation drops from 19 to 7.
- In retrofits with
smaller existing framing sizes, this means that
buildings can still be insulated to meet current
code requirements.
- In new
construction this means that smaller framing sizes
(lower lumber costs and larger rooms) can still be
insulated to today's energy efficient standards.
- Plumbing can be
installed in outside walls without freezing because
only a thin layer of foam is required between pipes
and the outside sheathing.
- This is effective
in bays with steel columns, which have a very small
space available for insulation between the steel and
the sheathing.
Foam is a good air
sealant
- Air leakage is the
number one cause of poor building performance. Foam
insulated homes out-perform conventionally insulated
homes without requiring complicated and
labor-intensive air sealing details.
- Because foam is
air tight, it performs better in windy conditions
and resists R-value loss.
- Batt insulation
has virtually no air sealing ability and has to rely
on other components of a total thermal envelope to
maintain performance levels.
- Air leakage at
penetrations creates an environment for
condensation. This affects overall performance and
can compromise indoor air quality (bugs, mold, and
rot). Condensation can also lead to premature
structural failure in structural framing and
sheathing materials.
· Independent testing shows that urethane insulated
buildings can perform as much as ten times better
than today's energy standards.
Closed-cell foam has
a very low permeance or potential for water vapor to
pass through it
- This provides
protection against moisture transport into the
insulation with its related potential for
condensation. Vapor that remains on the inside (the
warm side) will not come in contact with cold
surfaces where the dew point can be reached.
- Imperfections in
vapor retarders are less critical with closed-cell
foams.
- Indoor humidity
levels are more easily maintained at healthy levels
if vapor cannot escape during dry winter weather.
Closed-cell
Polyurethane foam is not susceptible to damage from
short term wet conditions
- PUF will not be
damaged by roof leaks, foundation leaks, or
condensation.
- PUF can be used
below grade and in masonry construction and not
sustain damage from water penetration.
- PUF sealants can
help to protect structures against wind-driven rain
penetration.
Foam bonds to the
structure
- Foam will not
compress or settle.
- Foam adheres to
steel decking on flat roof structures providing
effective insulation where venting is impossible and
there is no framing cavity to support other types of
insulation.
Foam can have
structural advantages
- Foam can help to
resist wind shear.
- Foam can serve to
reinforce exterior sheathing and windows.
- Urethane foams are
used in structural panels and other composite
structures.
- Foam can be walked
on or nailed into without damaging its performance.
It can also be washed without damage.
Foam systems perform
well for some types of sound control
- Both open and
closed-cell foams provide good sealing against
air-borne sound transmission.
- Both open and
closed-cell foams provide good STC ratings against
air-borne sound transmission.
- No low-density
insulation materials are effective against
structure-borne sound. Double layer structural
systems, resilient structural materials, or massive
structures are the best defense against
structure-borne sound.
Editor's note:
People often have a negative response when
they hear the word foam. It may be from the 1970's when
urethane foam was often confused with urea formaldehyde
foam or because it was originally made with CFC blowing
agents. Insulex's urethane foam has no formaldehydes and
has not been made with CFCs since 1993, well before the
Environmental Protection Agency required it
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