Sprayed
into walls as a liquid that expands and cures to create
an insulating “shell,” spray
polyurethane foam insulation offers many “greener”
qualities. As noted earlier, it requires less
thickness than fiberglass to achieve the same R-value,
making it more energy efficient. It also
meets many other “greener” criteria. It
will not shrink and adheres to the surrounding structure,
so there is no settling and no air gaps. It has no
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no
formaldehyde. Recognized for ENERGY STAR certification
and LEED credits, it is becoming very popular as a
clean, green, long lasting insulation. One writer
notes “it is an insulation and an air barrier
that promises a tighter home with less dust and mildew,
ensuring better indoor air
quality.”24 SPF insulation is available in two
forms – open-cell and closed-cell. Open-cell
SPF
insulation, such as NCFI’s Sealite™, is
less costly and has slightly higher R-values than
fiberglass or cellulose, while closed cell products
like NCFI’s InsulStar High Performance
Insulation offer the highest R-values available as
well as improved structural wall strength while acting
as an air barrier.
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