FAQ

• Continuous, seamless, no joints
• Can fill cracks, voids and holes
• Adheres to wood, metal, concrete, masonry, almost all plastics
• Almost totally impermeable to air
• High insulation value
• Durability and long service life
• Can be sprayed overhead, doesn’t sag
• Speedy, quick set, installation
• Doesn’t settle
• Only thermal insulation which is tested for VOC’s
• Can be used as a water barrier

• Foundations
• Crawl spaces
• Walls
• Header spaces
• Roofs
• Ceilings
• Interior walls
• Can be used as the primary air barrier material
• Can be used to connect other building materials together

Only trained, certified and licensed installers can install medium density spray polyurethane foam insulation into buildings, ensuring professional and consistent installations. The Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association Inc. uses the SPF Quality Assurance Program to train, certify and license the installers.

The installer must work for a Licensed Contractor who is responsible to ensure all the requirements of the CAN/ULC S705.2 Installation Standard is met and that all safety and building code requires are adhered to.

• It acts as a seamless insulation making it more efficient than any other material used in the industry
• SPF is airtight which eliminates all air infiltration or exfiltration
• It is durable and odourless
• It will not settle or shrink, making it stable
• Because SPF is light and versatile and has strong adhesive properties, it easily fills difficult to reach places and adheres to most clean surfaces
• It is quick and easy to install, making SPF an inexpensive alternative to other types of insulation.
• It reduces heating and cooling costs by maintaining a more controlled indoor air evnironment.
• By providing a controlled environment, air quality within the home can be cleaner and without external contaminants (dust, allergens, pollutants etc).

All manufactured materials will off-gas to some extent. Some building products will off-gas in large qualities

Medium density spray polyurethane foam meeting the CAN/ULC S705.1 Material Standard is the only building product that is tested for occupant conditions. The industry has then taken an unprecedented stance and required that all manufacturers meet a maximum limit of 1/100 of the government allowable limit. Manufacturers have met this requirement in less than 24 hours.

Low pressure SPF applications fall into two categories, sealant foam and insulation foam:

1. Low Pressure Sealant foam consists of one-component aerosol cans and two-component spray foam kits.One-component SPF aerosol cans typically hold from 0.5 to 2 lb. of SPF and are used for sealing cracks, crevices and small holes.  They are available at retailstores and are popular for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.Low pressure two-component kits consist of small A- and B-side pressurized cylindersconnected to plastic hoses and a disposable spray nozzle or gun. They are most commonly used by SPF contractors  for air sealing,patching and repairing of small areas of spray foam (up to 100 bd. ft).  The two-component kits can range from 5 to 30 lb. of material.
2. Low Pressure Insulation SPF systems consist of refillable cylindersof A- and B- components in sizes ranging from 50 to 100 lb. of material. The cylindersare typically pressurized to around 200 to 250 psi with a pumping capacity between 10-15 lb. per minute with a maximum hose length of up to 200 feet. Most systems are unheated and use equipment specific to the SPF system.

High Pressure SPF systems consist of A-and B components being transferred from unpressurized 55 gallon drums or larger tanks and pumped through a proportioner that heats and pressurizes the materials. The materials reach pressures ranging from 800 to 1500 psi and temperatures of 100-140°F as they pass through heated hoses and are mixed at the spray gun. Pumping capacity varies considerably depending on the size of the proportioner and can range from 10 lb. per minute to more than 45 lb. per minute throughhose lengths up to 350 ft.

There are two general categories of SPF insulation materials; open-cell, low-density (a.k.a. ‘half-pound foam’) and closed-cell, medium-density (a.k.a. ‘two-pound foam’). Both foam categories provide excellent insulation and air sealing. Although both are made using almost identical chemical reactions, there are some inherent physical property differences that often determine which product is chosen for a particular project.

Open-cell spray foam (ocSPF) has an open cell structure where the cells are filled with air. The open-cell structure renders soft, flexible foam, with a density of about 0.5-0.8 pounds per cubic foot (pcf). Still air is the primary insulation medium in ocSPF, fiberglass and cellulose. These insulations work by reducing the natural air movement within these materials thereby reducing the ability of the material to conduct heat. The R-value per inch of open-cell foam typically ranges from R3.6 to R4.5 per inch. Unlike fiberglass and cellulose, the fine cell structure of ocSPF makes it air-impermeable at certain thicknesses. The air-impermeability of ocSPF qualifies it as an air-barrier material, dramatically reducing air leakage through the building envelope, significantly lowering the building’s heating and cooling costs. ocSPF, like fiberglass and cellulose insulations, is moisture-permeable, and may require the installation of a vapor retarder in colder climates. .

Closed-cell spray foam (ccSPF) has a closed cell structure which yields a rigid, hard foam, with a density of 1.8-2.3 pound per cubic foot (pcf), and has been demonstrated to provide structural enhancement in certain framed buildings. These smaller cells trap an insulating gas, called a blowing agent. This blowing agent has a lower thermal conductivity than still air, and increases the R-value. Typical R-value per inch of closed-cell foam ranges from R5.8 to R6.9* per inch, making it a great choice in applications where clearance is limited. Like ocSPF, ccSPF is also air impermeable at certain thicknesses and and can qualify as an air-barrier material. The closed-cell structure of ccSPF makes it water-resistant, and is the only spray foam that can be used where contact with water is likely (e.g., below-grade concrete walls, in contact with the ground, or on exterior side of the building envelope). At a thickness of 1.5 inches, ccSPF has a moisture permeance typically less than1.0 perms and no additional vapor retarder is required for most applications.