Spray foam insulation frequently asked questions

What is spray foam?

Foam Comfort uses a Soya based Closed Cell 2 Pound Polyurethane Spray Foam insulation. It is Sprayed into a cavity or on to a surface, in walls or on ceilings where ever tradition isulation would be used. As a result, it helps to keep the heat inside during the cold months and the hot air outside when it's warm. Think of it as a thermal envelope. While regular fiberglass insulation can be easily installed by the homeowner, spray foam insulation isn't a do-it-yourself project. A professional will need to be called in.

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What are the benefits of spray foam insulation?

Helps stop air and moisture infiltration thereby by eliminating an environment for mold spores and bacterium to take hold
helps save on energy costs
can add strength to a building structure
helps keep dust and pollen out
barrier to vermin and bugs

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What is R Value? (The R Value Myth)

R value insulation ratings are used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. House Insulation should be purchased based on its R value, not thickness or weight. One type of insulation maybe thicker or thinner, but if the R value is the same they should insulate equally.

R value performance testing is done in a 70 F environment with no air movement. Ironically enough, when you need insulation the most you're generally not in these ideal temperatures or conditions. This can result in the rated house insulation R value being higher than the actual effective R value.

The R value in house insulation is substantially lowered when there's any air or water/moisture leaks. This is why traditional fiberglass insulation is often ineffective. In addition, it becomes a breeding ground for dangerous molds.

1 inch of insulation is = to 30 inches of concrete.
There are different types of house insulation materials, each having a different R value.
A comparison of various insulation materials are:

House Insulation R value of Blown in Cellulose Insulation is 3.70 per inch
House Insulation R value of Fiberglass Insulation is 3.14 per inch
House Insulation R value of Expanded Polyurethane foam is 6.9 per inch

Thermal Performance Myth. There is a widespread belief that all insulation materials of equal R-value will perform equally.

Thermal Performance Fact. While insulations of equal R-value perform equally in the controlled conditions of a laboratory, they do not all maintain that R-value in the walls and ceilings of a building. Some give off gasses to the atmosphere and suffer a decline in efficiency, while the performance of others ia vulnerable to the installers' shortcomings.
'Thermal Drift' as this phenomenon is politely called, results from the failure of materials to fill all cavities completely, thus leaving air pockets which permit air movement inside the cavity. Further 'drift' occurs with some materials if the insulation is not fully protected against air infiltration, both from the interior and the exterior. Commonly used insulation may well perform at a fraction of its' nominal rating depending on installation, how well it fits the cavity and how well it's protected from air infiltration.

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What type of Spray Foam do you use?

Foam Comfort uses Polar Foam 7300 and Polar Foam 7300- Soya, both are Closed Cell 2 Pound Polyurethane Foam Isulation

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What is the Difference Between Open-cell and Closed-cell Urethane Foams?

Open-cell foam is soft - like a cushion or the packaging material molded inside a plastic bag to fit a fragile object being shipped. The cell walls, or surfaces of the bubbles, are broken and air fills all of the spaces in the material. This makes the foam soft or weak, as if it were made of broken balloons or soft toy rubber balls. The insulation value of this foam is related to the insulation value of the calm air inside the matrix of broken cells. The densities of open-cell foams are around 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound per cubic foot.

Closed-cell foam has varying degrees of hardness, depending on its density. A normal, closed-cell insulation or flotation urethane is between 2 and 3 pounds per cubic foot. It is strong enough to walk on without major distortion. Most of the cells or bubbles in the foam are not broken; they resemble inflated balloons or soccer balls, piled together in a compact configuration. This makes it strong or rigid because the bubbles are strong enough to take a lot of pressure, like the inflated tires that hold up an automobile. The cells are full of a special gas, selected to make the insulation value of the foam as high as possible.

The advantages of the closed-cell foam compared to open-cell foam include its strength, higher R-value, and greater resistance to the leakage of air or water vapor. The disadvantage of the closed-cell foam is that it is more dense, requiring more material, and therefore, more expense. Even though it has a better R-value, the cost per R is still higher than open-cell foam. The choice of foam should be based on the requirements for the other characteristics - strength, vapour control, available space, etc.

Both types of foam are commonly used in most building applications. Some are inappropriate in specific applications. For example, you typically would not use open-cell foam below grade where it could absorb water; this would negate its thermal performance because water is a poor insulator compared to air. Closed-cell foam would be a good choice where small framing sizes need the greatest R-value per inch possible. Basically, the choice depends on the conditions of each installation. We routinely select from a wide variety of foam systems with varying characteristics, depending on the particular requirements of our clients' projects.

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What is “stack effect”?

Stack effect is the movement of air into and out of buildings, chimneys, flue gas stacks, or other containers, and is driven by buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs due to a difference in indoor-to-outdoor air density resulting from temperature and moisture differences. The result is either a positive or negative buoyancy force. The greater the thermal difference and the height of the structure, the greater the buoyancy force, and thus the stack effect. The stack effect is also referred to as the "chimney effect", and it helps drive natural ventilation and infiltration.

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What are greenhouse gas emissions?

Greenhouse gases are components of the atmosphere that contribute to the Greenhouse effect. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities such as burning of fossil fuel and coal.[1] Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the concentrations of many of the greenhouse gases have increased as a result of human activity, resulting in such natural phenomenon as melting of polar ice caps, more severe weather patterns and changes in flora and fauna.

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