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The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Building Envelope Committee (BEC) has developed and published several new TechDocs and TechTips in 2019.
Nearly two years ago, the BEC decided to reorganize and update the TechDocs related to below-grade applications of SPF insulation. Starting with SPFA-140 “Spray Polyurethane Foam for Exterior Subgrade Thermal and Moisture Protection”, the BEC published an update in early 2019. This document focuses on the application of closed-cell SPF insulation on the exterior side of below-grade walls. In 2019 the BEC also developed two new TechDocs addressing the application of SPF insulation on the interior side of below-grade walls and SPF insulation below sub-grade concrete slabs.
SPFA-152 “Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation for the Interior of Basement and Crawlspace Walls” provides contractors and design professionals with important details regarding installation of SPF on the inside of crawlspace and basement walls, including best practices for insulating and air sealing the foundation-framing interface. SPFA-153 “Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation for Below-Slab Applications” includes best practices for using closed-cell SPF prior to the installation of sub-grade concrete slabs. Details include addressing proper drainage and soil gas control using SPF.
With the update to SPFA-140 and publication of SPFA-152 and 153, contractors and design professionals now have a complete series of best-practice documents for the application of SPF on all subgrade building assemblies.
See below, under SPF Tech, for specific information and links to these documents.
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Winners of the industry awards program highlight some of the most noteworthy 2019 projects completed by contractors in spray polyurethane foam insulation, roofing and specialty applications, as well as in elastomeric coatings.
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President Trump announced a total ban on travel from European countries to the United States for the next 30 days, beginning on Friday at midnight, in a bid "to keep new cases" of coronavirus "from entering our shores." The restrictions, he said late Wednesday, do not apply to travelers from the United Kingdom.
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While most U.S. real estate impact has been contained to businesses with direct ties to China, material supply chains that begin in China on which construction sites and developments rely could start to be affected by disruptions as the crisis stretches on.
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SPFA has long-advocated that Spray Polyurethane Foam is a no-brainer companion to any construction projects utilizing solar or other forms of alternative or distributed energy generation. These power generating sources are typically placed in service at a slightly higher investment cost. Why would a customer do that and place these sources in service on a building that leaks like a sieve? We don’t think that makes a lot of sense either. Tell your DG customers that they are missing a big part of the equation by not sealing and insulating their buildings with the best option.
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The Chemours Company is formally inaugurating its new innovation center, The Chemours Discovery Hub, on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. At the Discovery Hub, Chemours will deepen its research partnership with the University of Delaware and perform experiments alongside professors and students to develop new applications for its products. Additionally, the company will use its facility to attract and recruit potential interns, co-ops and employees.
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Welcome New SPFA Members:
5 Star Energy Solutions, LLC – Terryville, CT
Builders FirstSource – Charleston, WV
Choice Insulation and Fireplace – Jefferson, GA
e.w. banks consulting llc – Houston, TX
Ecofoam – Ridgeland, MS
H3 Polymers Inc – Holliday, TX
J & J Insulation Services, LLC – Ellensburg, WA
LEED Insulation – Fort Pierce, FL
Melesco Builders Inc. – Charlottesville, VA
Nelligan Insulation, Inc. – Lynchburg, VA
Silverdale Insulation LLC – Bozeman, MT
Spray Foam Solutions – Orrville, OH
TurboTek, LLC – Shermans Dale, PA
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Energy codes require that below-grade walls must be insulated in most climate zones. In certain climate zones, insulation around and below footings, as well as frost-protected shallow foundations1, may also be required. An effective means to insulate below-grade surfaces, especially during new construction, is the application of closed-cell foam to the exterior side of below grade walls. This application provides a continuous, air-impermeable water-resistant layer of insulation around the entire perimeter of the building.
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For this document, the terms basement and crawl space are used interchangeably, referring to the portions of buildings that are primarily below grade. Some codes specify the interior heights and percent below grade in their definitions of basements and crawl spaces. This document addresses any portion of a structure that is below or on grade underneath or at the lowest level of an occupied structure.
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The building science industry has researched and written a large body of information on heat, air, and moisture control in below-grade applications. Please refer to document regarding Information relevant to the use of SPF in these applications.
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Based on results from an experimental study conducted on a single laminated veneer lumber
(LVL) beam substrate, SPFA suggests using adhesion primers to improve adhesion of SPF to
engineered wood products (EWP) substrates where adhesion is a problem. Other mechanical
surface preparations to the LVL beam in this study show no statistical improvements and the
use of stapled fabrics appear to lower adhesive strength. The details of this study are provided
in this document.
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Building assemblies typically include wiring and plastic piping made from thermoplastic materials which can soften and melt at elevated temperatures. Electrical wiring such as NM-B (Romex) as well as low-voltage wiring for LAN cables, TV cables and speaker wires use thermoplastic PVC jacketing and insulation. Plastic piping and conduit are made from thermoplastic materials such as PVC, polyethylene (PEX) and ABS.
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In recent years, several foam manufacturers have introduced high-lift or high-loft mediumdensity
closed-cell spray foam insulations. Using new formulations that reduce susceptibility to
peak exothermic temperatures, these high-lift foams may be sprayed at maximum pass
thicknesses from 4” to 8”, depending on product, without having charring or burnout.
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It is becoming more common for the SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP) to appear in Specs. Sometimes the Specification requires a PCP Certified Installer/Master Installer, other times a Contractor Company or Supplier Company Accreditation is required. In either case, when this spec or RFP hits the hand of a company who wants to submit a proposal for the job, but doesn’t yet have the certification – that is when the SPFA PCP team received the panicked phone call asking ‘How quickly can we meet this certification requirement?’
The SPFA PCP team is here to help you earn these credentials so that you can avoid the panic. Simply contact certdirector@sprayfoam.org for details on how you can become certified or have your company become accredited.
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CJ Spray
Eagan, MN
CJ Spray is a manufacturer and distributor of spray foam insulation and coatings equipment. Our Field Service Technicians provide service, support and training to customers across the nation. Service calls (diagnosis and repair) occur in house, at customer’s facilities and on active job sites. Support is offer both over the phone and onsite. Training is typically performed in the field but may be conducted in a classroom facility. Communication and interpersonal skills are key to developing customer relationships.
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