Walls & Ceilings Architect/October 2007

Spray polyurethane foam eliminates gaps around electrical outlets and conduits Spray polyur ethane foam forms to every angle of the wall cavity. W ith the increasing demand for energy efficiency, better air quality and mold prevention, builders and insulation contractors are seeking better methods of insulation that ultimately offer the homeowner economic beneﬁts. Fiberglass batts or rolls and blownin cellulose are the most familiar choices of insulation. Today, however, spray polyurethane closed-cell foam insulation is becoming more commonplace. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation creates an airtight seal that results in considerable beneﬁts to a home’s fuel efﬁciency, air quality and structural integrity. It also contributes to mold prevention, a large concern among today’s builders, contractors and homeowners. Installing SPF insulation requires speciﬁc equipment and proper training. Additionally, adequate protection is needed, as SPF insulation poses some minimal respiratory hazards during the initial spraying or installation stage. Once installation tech- Spray polyurethane foam insulation offers tight seal, easy installation, economy By Dave Distler niques and safety procedures become familiar, contractors will ﬁ nd that SPF is easy to install and will contribute to greater energy economy for the consumer. to 48 percent in utility bills, with savings as high as 58 percent for homeowners with propane heating. One case study, for example, was of a homeowner who assumed an additional $58 in his monthly mortgage payment to ﬁ nance SPF insulation. However, he saved $108 on his monthly heating and cooling bills. Fiberglass and blown-in cellulose can leave cracks, crevices and leaks in a typical house, no matter how well the insulation is installed. SPF, however, expands upon contact to form an airtight seal. The R-Value, which measures resistance to heat transfer, is 6.5 per one inch of thickness for SPF, in comparison to 3.7 for blown-in cellulose and 3.4 for ﬁberglass batts. By creating an airtight, seamless and rigid seal, SPF insulation eliminates convection currents, the leading cause of heat loss, and maintains INVESTING IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY Even though SPF typically costs the consumer more, reduced energy costs will exceed the value of the initial investment. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) studies have found that heating and cooling account for 50 to 70 percent of the energy used in a typical home. According to the U.S. Government Energy Laboratory, as much as 40 percent of heating and cooling energy is wasted on compensating for air inﬁltration in buildings. The “Honeywell Report, Residential Insulation Case Studies,” has demonstrated that homeowners with SPF insulation can save 38 12 | Walls & Ceilings Architect | October 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Walls & Ceilings Architect/October 2007

Contents Trade News Silver Certiﬁed Airtight The Men of Steel Thinking Thermal Firestop 101 ICFs Create a Tight Envelope The Finish Line The Green Thumb Cracking the Code

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