Information for Builders

The benefits of Spray Foam Insulation In your next construction project

The Benefits Of Spray Foam Insulation For Builders

Go beyond your client’s expectations with an energy-efficient home that delivers on performance, functionality and comfort year-round. Residential insulation such as Icynene spray foam insulation helps you differentiate your homes in many ways.

The Only Insulation That Recoups Its Cost

Help your clients save money on energy costs with Spray Foam insulation. Spray foam insulation offers numerous benefits that traditional cellulose or fiberglass insulation fail to provide. There are a few reasons why this kind of insulation is an ideal, energy-efficient alternative to its counterparts.

Optimal Energy Performance
Ongoing Savings

Homeowners and businesses can expect up to 50% possible savings on heating and cooling costs.

That’s because spray foam insulation expands up to 100 times its volume to fill gaps where heat and air conditioning can escape. Cellulose and fiberglass can be loosely packed, which can result in drafty spots or stuffy areas in a building.

Energy efficiency is a top consideration among homeowners in the market for insulation.

Spray foam insulation helps you give them exactly what they want. In fact, Spray Foam Insulation can help reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. Savings may exceed insulation costs in just three to four years on average. The investment then continues to pay off in the form of monthly savings for the life of the home.

Because less energy is needed to heat and cool a home with Spray Foam Insulation, HVAC capacity needs may also be reduced, saving you and your clients more money and possibly freeing up space within the design. HVAC design software can help you estimate the reduced heating and cooling loads.

Perfect for New Construction or Renovations

Spray foam insulation can be installed in new construction or existing buildings and homes. It adheres to wood and steel frames alike and is effective in any climate. Each home and business is different, and has different insulation needs.

Building Science
One Step R-Value & Air Sealing
Design Flexibility & Project Suitability

While most traditional insulation types only provide R-Value, building science shows us that an air seal, is imperative for total building performance.

Protecting against air leakage with spray foam means that homeowners can significantly reduce CO2 emissions and save up to 50% in energy costs related to heating and cooling. On average, the energy savings can exceed the installation price within three to four years. Plus, an energy saving air seal helps keep airborne pollutants, allergens and moisture out ensuring a healthier and cleaner indoor air environment.

Spray foam’s dual performance function of R-Value plus air sealing also means that the amount of building materials required is less and can also shorten construction schedules. Spray foam works for the life of the building, eliminating the need for replacement or additional materials and waste.

Spray foam insulation provides insulation R value and air-sealing in a single step. This is the only way to truly provide your clients with the most energy-saving value from their insulation costs.

When measuring the effectiveness of insulation, R value is the only factor most insulation manufacturers talk about because it’s all they offer. R value measures the ability to limit conductive heat flow (heat transferred through it). But the primary method of heat transfer is not conductive heat flow — it’s air leakage (convection). Air leakage can account for up to 40% of a building’s energy loss, and it cannot be stopped with traditional insulation. R value is important, but an airtight seal is equally important for achieving energy savings.

Flexibility for Applications – Builders can effectively seal any intricate or unique design without project delays.

Suitable for All Projects – Envelope Group offers an array of specialized formulas and can provide the correct insulation for any housing or renovation project regardless of climate zone.

Insulation Options for every project

Envelope Group Co can offer a wide range of open-cell, closed-cell and renewable spray foam insulation products will perform as specified for the life of the building giving you peace of mind and assurance in a quality insulation product. Depending on your project and requirements, open-cell and closed-cell spray foam insulation products have some key advantages.

Open Cell Spray Foam
Close Cell Spray Foam

Open Cell Spray Foam

R3.6 - 3.9 per Inch
5-1/4”- R20.5 wall complies with 2015 Energy Code
10”- R39 roof deck complies with 2015 Energy Code
Air Sealer

Benefits:

Spray in place insulation and air barrier
Vapor permeable
Breathes
Will accommodate long term creep and seasonal movements
Does not sustain mold
Rejects bulk water
Drains water through
Water commonly used for blowing agent
Suitable for interior applications only

Key Advantages of Open Cell

Soft, flexible and highly adhesive texture allows the product to retain a tight air seal during the normal structural movement/shifting over the life time of the building
Vapor permeable permits bi-directional drying of assemblies
When applied to the underside of a roof deck, will allow for bulk water to pass through and visibly expose the location of an exterior roof leak
Soft open cell structure allows for greater sound absorption versus closed cell structure
Using a water based blowing agent instead of a synthetic blowing agent reduces the environmental impact
Lower cost

Close Cell Spray Foam

R6.9 - 7.1 per Inch
5-3/4”- R39 roof deck complies with 2015 Energy Code
3”- R20.5 wall complies with 2015 Energy Code
Air Sealer
Class II Vapor Barrier

Benefits:

Spray in place insulation and air barrier
Low vapor permanence
Vapor barrier (class II VDR)
Rigid design adds structural reinforcement
Does not sustain mold
Rejects bulk water (even submerged)
Deflects water path
Blowing agent increases R value
Suitable for both interior and exterior application

Key Advantages of Closed Cell

Higher R-value per inch, easier to accommodate higher R requirement in narrow spaces or thinner wall capacity
Hard, rigid texture provides increased wall racking strength (if necessary)
Also suitable for exterior and below grade applications as it rejects bulk water
Lower vapor permanence, can be a class II VDR
Impact resistance

Spray Foam & Building Codes

When using spray foam insulation, you sometimes need to include other materials to meet code. Your builder or Envelope Group technician will check with the local code official to ensure that everything will meet their requirements.

Thermal & Ignition Barriers
Vapor Barriers By Climate

Thermal Barriers

If the spray foam insulation is used in any part of your home used as a living space, it should have a thermal barrier that has been tested and approved for use with the spray foam. Thermal barriers are designed to protect against direct fire damage to spray foam adjacent to living areas for at least 15 minutes. A thermal barrier might be a material such sheet rock, plywood or particleboard, or a painted-on fire proof coating.

Ignition Barriers

If the spray foam insulation is used in any unoccupied part of your home, such as an unoccupied attic or crawl space, it should have an ignition barrier that has been tested and approved for use with the spray foam. An ignition barrier is a fire protective coating designed to inhibit or prevent the start and spread of fire from a spark or direct heat on the spray foam surface. Ignition barriers are usually spray-on or brush-on coatings.

Cold Climates: Vapor Barriers

If you’re using an open-cell spray foam insulation in a cold climate, you’re usually required to have a vapor barrier or vapor diffusion retarder on the interior (warm in the winter) side of the insulation. This blocks moisture movement from inside your house to the outside, where it may condense and freeze. Vapor barriers / vapor diffusion retarders are typically membranes (plastic sheets) or brush-on coatings.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation typically doesn’t require a vapor barrier or vapor diffusion retarder.

Hot and Humid Climates: Vapor Barriers

If you’re using an open-cell spray foam insulation in a hot and humid climate you?re usually required to have a vapor barrier or vapor diffusion retarder on the exterior side of the insulation. This blocks moisture movement from outside your house to the inside, where it can cause mold and increase the amount of energy you need to cool your home. Vapor barriers / vapor diffusion retarders are typically membranes (plastic sheets) or brush-on coatings.