[Greenbuilding] Spray Foam Descriptions

[JAY WALSH]

FYI - Foam info

When talking about spray foams you need to make the distinction between the
two types of spray foams, open-cell and closed-cell, as they are very
different.

The closed cell polyurethane foam generally has an insulation R-Value around
6.8 per inch and a perm rating of 1.0 perm per 3" of foam. 
Icynene foam is a type of open-cell low-density polyurethane foam with an
R-Value of about 3.8 per inch with a perm rating of about 10 perms per inch
(very vapor open).
Below is a link to a description of these two types of foam and is the most
comprehensive explanation I have found. It speaks to insulation value,
permeance, fire rating and safety and health issues.
http://www.insulstar.com/PDF_Files/Mason_K_Article_Open_Closed_Cell_SPF.pdf

Also, one of my Energy Star clients is also a foam installer and he sent me
some info on the Fire Retarder spray he uses on his exposed foam applications
(mostly crawlspaces) to meet the code for fire protection (Massachusetts).
Here is a link to additional information for fire protection. 
http://www.contegointernational.com/

Sincerely,
JayWalsh
Energy Star and LEED for Homes Rater




> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:10:22 -0400
> From: "Rob Tom" <ArchiLogic at yahoo.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] PU & adobe
> To: "GB REPP" <GREENBUILDING at listserv.repp.org>
> Message-ID: <op.tx8vfkkiffylj4 at edg-d0726062bd2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; delsp=yes;
> 	charset=iso-8859-15
> 
> On Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:21:58 -0400, wmdorsett at sbcglobal.net  
> <wmdorsett at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> > Vadurro, Rob, EMNRD wrote:
> 
> >> PU foam is vapor permeable and waterproof, good
> >> characteristics to have, and it seems to stick to adobe (and everything
> >> else!) just fine. I've not heard of any long term problems,
> 
> 
> I can't take the time to look it up right now but I'm pretty sure that the 

> vapour permeability numbers for pee-you foam straddles both sides of the  
> "one perm or less" rating which classifies a material as being effectively 

> a vapour barrier.
> 
> The numbers 0.4 to 1.6 perms come to mind but it wouldn't hurt to check.
> 
> So for a 4-inch thickness of pee-you foam (as the OP had mentioned), I  
> think that one can safely assume that the foam will not be vapour  
> permeable at all.
> 
> The problem (WRT fire) with most foamed plastic insulations is not so much 

> the potential for flame.
> 
> It's the smoke and to a lesser extent, the hazard that is created by the  
> molten material dripping onto exposed flesh. I'm not sure if these would  
> apply to pee-you foam so it's another thing that should be checked.
> 
> In most fires, it's the smoke that kills, not the flame.
> Being burned by molten chemicial goo dripping onto a buildings occupants  
> may not kill 'em, but it wouldn't be pleasant either.
> 
> -- 
> === * ===
> Rob Tom
> Kanata, Ontario, Canada
> < A r c h i L o g i c  at   C h a f f Y a h o o  dot  C a  >
> (winnow the chaff from my edress in your reply)
> 
> 
>