Why Spray Foam?
In a word—AIRSEAL.
R-value is a measurement of conductance, one of the three ways heat is transferred. The rated R-value can be substantially affected by another method, convective, or air movement. Standard insulation materials such as fiberglass and to a lesser degree cellulose can lose a substantial portion of the rated R-value due to air movement. These materials rely on house wrap and poly to perform whereas spray foam is redundant in that it is its own air barrier.
This coupled with spray foams’ ability to fit every size or shape of area means that uncontrolled air movement through the building envelope can be easily mitigated. Not only does this substantially affect the cost of conditioning the indoor environment, it makes it much more comfortable.
Uncontrolled air movement through air permeable insulation can result in increased utility bills, decreased comfort, and the possibility of condensation moisture forming inside the enclosed shell of the structure, which could lead to other problems such as mold and structure decay. Spray foam greatly reduces the occurrence of these problems.
Why Icynene Spray Foam?
Icynene:
♦ Provides a form-fitting insulation with integral air barrier
♦ Doesn’t shrink, crack, settle, or decline in R-value over time maintaining the continuity of your building envelope
♦ Contributes to a healthy indoor environment by reducing the infiltration of dust, allergens, and pollutants and by
not having any dangerous chemical offgasing:
- No formaldehyde
- No VOC’s (after 30 days aging)
- No PBDE’s (chemical additives for free retardance)
- No CFC, HCFL, or HFC blowing agents (no global warming potential)
♦ Is water vapor permeable and allows structural moisture to
diffuse and dissipate—will not entrap moisture in materials to
which it is applied
♦ Is hydrophobic and does not wick water—if forced to take on
water under pressure, it dries out with no resulting loss of
performance
♦ Is non-flammable, no fuel contribution to fire—if consumed by
flames fueled by other materials, Icynene has a low flame
spread of less than 20 and smoke developed rating of less than
400 (ASTM E84 Test)
♦ Contributes to a quieter home due to the air sealing, resilient
nature of the product
