Spray foams (insulation)
Encyclopedia
Spray foam insulation is an alternative to traditional building insulation such as fiberglass
. A two-component mixture
comes together at the tip of a gun, and forms an expanding foam that is sprayed onto roof tiles,concrete slabs, into wall cavities, or through holes drilled in into a cavity
of a finished wall.
Spray foam insulation is typically non-toxic. After being sprayed, it expands to roughly 100 times its original volume. As a result, it is able to fill vacant air gaps, and will expand and contract in relation to the building.
through walls, windows and doorways. Buildings treated with spray foam insulation typically insulate as much as 50% better than traditional insulation products.
Insulation that is sprayed in buildings protects against moisture, which provides the benefit of reducing the chance of harmful mold
and mildew
. Eliminating mold growth reduces the likelihood of rotting wood in a home, and allergic reactions to mold spores.
In addition to building temperature
and moisture control, spray foam insulation is often used to reduce noise. Foam insulation serves as a barrier
to airborne sounds, and reduces airborne sound transfer through a building's roof, floor and walls.
In the United States, homes treated with spray foam insulation often qualify for state and federal tax deductions.
is the term given to thermal resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value of an insulation product, the more effective the insulation properties. 1.8-2 pound polyurethane
foam has the highest R-value of readily available insulation used in homes and buildings.
Polyurethane is a closed-cell foam insulation material that contains a low-conductivity gas in its cells. As a result of the high thermal resistance of the gas, spray polyurethane insulation typically has an R-value around R-7 to R-8 per inch. In comparison, blown fiberglass typically has an R-Value of only R-2 to R-4 per inch.
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
. A two-component mixture
Mixture
In chemistry, a mixture is a material system made up by two or more different substances which are mixed together but are not combined chemically...
comes together at the tip of a gun, and forms an expanding foam that is sprayed onto roof tiles,concrete slabs, into wall cavities, or through holes drilled in into a cavity
Cavity
A cavity is a hole. It may refer to:*Dental cavity, damage to the structure of teeth*Body cavity, a fluid filled space in many animals where organs typically develop*Cavity wall, a wall consisting of two skins with a cavity....
of a finished wall.
Spray foam insulation is typically non-toxic. After being sprayed, it expands to roughly 100 times its original volume. As a result, it is able to fill vacant air gaps, and will expand and contract in relation to the building.
Benefits
Spray foam insulation saves on energy costs and lowers utility bills. Studies by the US Department of Energy show that 40% of a home's energy is lost as the result of air infiltrationInfiltration
Infiltration may refer to:*Infiltration , a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning term for air leakage into buildings*Infiltration , downward movement of water through soil...
through walls, windows and doorways. Buildings treated with spray foam insulation typically insulate as much as 50% better than traditional insulation products.
Insulation that is sprayed in buildings protects against moisture, which provides the benefit of reducing the chance of harmful mold
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
and mildew
Mildew
Mildew refers to certain kinds of molds or fungi.In Old English, it meant honeydew , and later came to mean mildew in the modern sense of mold or fungus....
. Eliminating mold growth reduces the likelihood of rotting wood in a home, and allergic reactions to mold spores.
In addition to building temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
and moisture control, spray foam insulation is often used to reduce noise. Foam insulation serves as a barrier
Barrier
A barrier or barricade is a physical structure which blocks or impedes something.Barrier may also refer to:-Physical barriers:* Automatic full barriers, which serve to block roads at railway crossings...
to airborne sounds, and reduces airborne sound transfer through a building's roof, floor and walls.
In the United States, homes treated with spray foam insulation often qualify for state and federal tax deductions.
Thermal Resistance
R-valueR-value
R-value can refer to:* Properties of materials:**R-value , the efficiency of insulation of a house**R-value , stability of soils and aggregates for pavement construction...
is the term given to thermal resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value of an insulation product, the more effective the insulation properties. 1.8-2 pound polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
foam has the highest R-value of readily available insulation used in homes and buildings.
Polyurethane is a closed-cell foam insulation material that contains a low-conductivity gas in its cells. As a result of the high thermal resistance of the gas, spray polyurethane insulation typically has an R-value around R-7 to R-8 per inch. In comparison, blown fiberglass typically has an R-Value of only R-2 to R-4 per inch.