FAQ's
Why Doesn’t the
Manufacturer Market the Foam?
Won’t Sealing My House Airtight Lead to Indoor Air Quality Problems?
What is the
Difference Between Open and Closed Cell Foams?
What Constitutes a Vapor Barrier?
What is a Perm Rating?
What is the Perm
Rating of Open and Closed Cell Foam?
Does it Lose R-value Over Time?
How Long has Closed Cell Been
Available?
How Long has Open Cell Been
Available?
What can Foam be Applied Too?
How Long Does it Take to cure?
What is Off Gassing?
How Long does it Off Gas?
How Long Does Spray Foam Last?
Does the
Insulation Promote Rodent or Insect Growth?
What About Bacteria or Fungi?
What Does it do to My Electric
Wiring?
Does Spray Foam Contain
Formaldehyde?
Does the Foam Shrink?
Will Closed Cell
Foam Add Strength to My Structure?
What Effect Does the
Foam Have on Sound Travel?
What is BPI?
What is NYSERDA?
o
Spray foam is a two-part mixture of liquid components that expand rapidly on
contact forming solid foam that completely fills all cracks and spaces leaving
an airtight seal.
Why doesn’t the
manufacturer market the foam?
o
There are hundreds of uses for polyurethane foam.
It’s up to the end users to promote their own applications.
Won’t sealing my house airtight lead to indoor air quality problems?
o
JAG Construction monitors this issue on projects that have a large amount of
insulation work done. We are
certified by NYS to measure exactly the correct amount of air that should be
entering the house. If it is too
tight we do make corrections.
What is the
difference between open and closed cell foams?
o Open cell foam has cells that are open; they will absorb moisture quite like a sponge.
o
Closed cell foam has
a closed cell structure that does not absorb moisture.
What
constitutes a vapor barrier?
o
A perm rating of 1.0
or less is a vapor barrier. High
perm ratings mean that the material allows vapor to pass through it relatively
easily.
o
A perm (Permeance)
measures the number of grains of water vapor that pass through a square foot of
material per hour.
What is the perm
rating of open and closed cell foam?
o
The perm rating of
fiberglass is over 100 perms, open cell foam is around 16 perms, and closed cell
foam has a perm rating of 1.0 at 2 inches, constituting a vapor barrier.
Does it lose
R-value over time?
o
It is possible for the R-value to decrease slightly over the time it takes it to
stabilize. This could result in a
loss of R-value from a 6.8 down to a 6.5 with closed cell foam.
How
long has closed cell been available?
o
Closed cell foam was
developed over 70 years ago in the 1930’s.
How long
has open cell been available?
o
Open cell foam has
not been around nearly as long as closed cell foam.
-
Sealection 500 was developed in 1992
-
Icynene
was first created in 1986
o
Foam can be applied
to many things. If you can paint it
with un-primed paint then the spray foam will stick to it.
How long does it
take to cure?
o
It takes about six
seconds to rise, but around 24 hours to fully finish curing.
o
Off gassing is the release of fumes during the reaction-taking place by the
mixing of the two components.
o
Off gassing only
last as long as it takes to fully rise, so it off gasses for about six seconds.
How long does
spray foam last?
o
Spray foam should remain functioning properly for the duration of the
structures’ existence.
Does the
insulation promote rodent or insect growth?
o
Foam insulation
offers no nutritional value.
Therefore it does not promote a favorable environment for rodent or insect
infestation.
o
Bacteria and fungi
need a food source in order to survive.
There is no nutritional value in polyurethane.
What
does it do to my electric wiring?
o
Foam can be sprayed
directly to electrical wiring.
Recessed lights and other fixtures may require a certain separation from the
foam to allow air circulation for cooling purposes.
Does
Spray Foam contain Formaldehyde?
o
No, there used to be a foam insulation product that did use formaldehyde, but
the foam used today is a completely different chemical product.
o
No, as long as it is
manufactured by an experienced technician.
Will closed cell
foam add strength to my structure?
o
Yes, it will
increase racking strength of walls by 250%.
What effect does the
foam have on sound travel?
o
Open cell foam can
be used as a considerable soundproofing material.
Closed cell on the other hand does not perform well as a soundproofing
agent.
o Building Performance Institute – Organization established to measure the knowledge, skills and competency of individuals impacting building performance. While also updating technical requirements through an open development process.
o New York State Energy Research and Development Authority – a public benefit corporation that strives to facilitate change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State’s energy, economic, and environmental wellbeing.
Contact Us
JAG Construction
290 Fisher Rd.
Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: 585-621-7040
Email: mikejag@jagsprayfoam.com
Proud Members of:
Cool Your World with
ENERGY STAR Home Tips
Find Local Financial Incentives at
Green Monroe- a
place to find rebates, subsidies, incentives and grants
available to the community of Monroe County to lower energy cost
and buy renewable energy.
