BPF: Specifier Briefing On EPS In Construction
British Plastics Federation Expanded Polystyrene Groups online EPS Specifiers Briefing covers: Why specify EPS - Attributes and applications; What is EPS made of - Production and composition; How does EPS perform - Standards and performance; What are EPS sustainability credentials. (PDF)
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CARB: Guide To Open-Cell vs Closed-Cell Foam
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings online guide describes performance benefits and potential performance limitations of open-cell and closed-cell spray polyurethane foam. (PDF)
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Fine Homebuilding: Buyers Guide to Spray Foam Insulation
Fine Homebuilding says there are two main types of spray foam: open-cell spray foam, which has a density of about 1/2 lb. per cu. ft.; and closed-cell spray foam, which has a density of about 2 lb. per cu. ft. The higher the density of the foam, the greater the R-value per inch.
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GBA: Closed-Cell Foam Beats Open-Cell Foam
Green Building Advisor article by Neal Ganser says closed-cell foam beats open-cell foam as it accomplishes all of the requirements for long-term sustainability of the building envelope, has a higher R-value, and is less vapor-permeable than open cell foam.
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GBA: Open-Cell Foam Beats Closed-Cell Foam
Green Building Advisor article by Jim Coler says open-cell foam beats closed-cell foam for above-grade residential applications because it is breathable, less expensive, and greener.
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FSC: Foam Sheathing Coalition
Foam Sheathing Coalition serves as a manufacturing driven organization focused on developing solutions to building code issues and promoting the proper technical use of foam sheathing to the construction industry.
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FSC: Resource Site On Foam Sheathing
Foam Sheathing Committee (FSC) of the American Chemistry Council provides information and resources on foam sheathing materials, applications, and procedures.
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SPFA: Resource Site On Spray Polyurethane Foam
Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance offers information and resources including what spray foam is, applications, case studies, energy & environment, health & safety, FAQs, technical information, and more.
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Building Green: EPA Takes Action On Spray-Foam Health Risks
Building Green says the US Environmental Protection Agency has released a new action plan for chemicals used in spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation. The action plan leaves open questions about how far EPA will go to clamp down on these products, but it’s safe to think of this as a shot across the bow from EPA for the SPF industry.
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Building Science: Exterior Insulation Analysis At Vancouver Field Exposure Facility
Building Science report Vancouver Field Exposure Facility: Phase III Exterior Insulation Analysis report compares the moisture related performance of an exterior insulated wall to the performance of two other common construction methods, side-by-side. There were no measured or observed moisture related durability concerns of the wood structural sheathing when 1.5" of exterior insulation was installed. (PDF)
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Building Science: Movement Of Cladding Installed Over Exterior Rigid Insulation
Building Science report Initial and Long Term Movement of Cladding Installed Over Exterior Rigid Insulation covers impacts of different fastener types in the system capacity, impact of screw shaft bearing on the insulation material, impacts of material expansion and contraction on the pre and post compression forces in the assemblies, and if deflection movement for heavier weight claddings can be mitigated by denser fastener spacing. (PDF)
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Buildings: Published R-values Not Consistent With In-Service Performance
Buildings article by National Roofing Contractors Association says it does not consider the use of long-term thermal resistance to be appropriate for design and in-service purposes. NRCA's longstanding position is that the published R-values for polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foams are not consistent with actual in-service performances of these products.
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Fine Homebuilding: Spray Foam Durability
Fine Homebuilding Q & A says current generation spray-polyurethane foams make cured foam very chemically inert and stable, suggesting they will last much longer and retain their flexibility and mechanical integrity more reliably.
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GBA: Avoiding Global Warming Impact of Insulation
Green Building Advisor says new data from Environmental Building News shows that the high global warming potential of certain foam insulation materials counteracts a lot of the environmental benefit of high insulation levels.
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GBA: Installing Spray Foam In Cold Climates
Green Building Advisor says before spraying can begin, an insulation contractor must verify that the substrate is warm and dry. If spray foam is installed on a cold, damp surface, the foam won't adhere properly.
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IRC: Energy Rating Of Polyurethane Spray Foam Walls
Canadian Institute for Research in Construction describes a research project to assess the thermal and air leakage characteristics of spray polyurethane foam walls as well as conventional wall assemblies. (PDF)
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IRC: Exterior Insulation & Moisture Accumulation In Retrofit Of Exterior Walls
Canadian Institute for Research in Construction studied the effect of adding different exterior thermal insulation materials on the hygrothermal response of wood-frame walls in a cold climate. It showed that the air and vapour permeance of the exterior insulation materials not only affected the flow of moisture to the outside during wintertime periods of air exfiltration but also affected moisture inwards flow during humid early summer conditions. (PDF)
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IRC: Long Term Thermal Resistance Of Closed Cell Foam Insulation
Canadian Institute for Research in Construction paper provides a comprehensive scientific outline of research activities that have been carried out at NRC-IRC on the aging of closed-cell foam insulation and its practical implications on the North American construction industry. (PDF)
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JLC: How Safe Is Spray-Foam Insulation
Journal of Light Construction Q & A discusses whether polyurethane spray-foam insulation has any risk for the installer and the homeowner, and are if there are alternatives.
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US DOE: Retrofitting Residential Envelopes Without Creating Moisture Issues
US Department of Energy report Retrofitting Residential Envelopes Without Creating Moisture Issues researched whether exterior retrofit of frame assemblies can be risky when impermeable insulating sheathings of relatively low thermal resistance are used. It found that there is virtually no moisture durability risk to the sheathing when water is drained repeatedly in the drainage gap between the exterior insulation and the sheathing membrane, provided there are no other moisture-related issues unrelated to the drainage cavity such as air leakage condensation, or bulk rain water leakage. (PDF)
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US DOE: Wind Pressure Performance For Wall Systems With Exterior Insulating Sheathing
US Department of Energy report High-R Walls for New Construction Structural Performance: Wind Pressure Testing is focused primarily on laboratory testing that evaluates wind pressure performance characteristics for wall systems constructed with exterior insulating sheathing. It will help to facilitate the ongoing use of non-structural sheathing options and provide a more in-depth understanding of how wall system layers perform in response to high wind perturbations normal to the surface. (PDF)
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BOABC: Sprayed Polyurethane Foam In Construction
Building Officials Association of BC online slide show presentation Sprayed Polyurethane Foam in Construction covers types of foams, comparison between open-cell and closed cell, standards for the foam industry, building code commentary, CUFCA and the quality assurance program, and resources for code officials. (PDF)
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Building Science: Exterior Spray Foam
Building Science describes why and how spray polyurethane foam (SPF), the high-density stuff, is the only product (so far) that can perform all of the functions of the principal control layers of the perfect wall including water control, air control, vapor control, and thermal control.
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Building Science: Guidance On Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes
Building Science report Guidance on Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes recommends solutions that provide durable and long-term water management using exterior insulating sheathing as part of the water management system. It is possible to tape or seal the joints in insulating sheathing to create a drainage plane and even an air control layer. There exists the material durability component of the tape as well as the system durability component being the taped insulating sheathing as the drainage plane.
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Building Science: Incorporating Thick Layers Of Exterior Rigid Insulation On Walls
Building Science online Measure Guideline: Incorporating Thick Layers of Exterior Rigid Insulation on Walls provides information on design and construction of wall assemblies that are using thick layers of rigid exterior insulation (in excess of 1.5 inches) that require a secondary cladding attachment location exterior of the insulation to be provided. (PDF)
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Building Science: Online Presentation On Continuous Foam Insulation
Building Science online webinar presentation Continuous Insulation addresses relevant building science principles, materials & methods of construction, practical insights and useful resources related to the appropriate integration of foam sheathing (continuous insulation) onto wall assemblies for code compliance and durable performance. (PDF)
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CCHRC: Manual On REMOTE Exterior Insulation System
Alaska Cold Climate Housing Research Centre online manual describes the REMOTE Wall System (Residential Exterior Membrane Outside insulation TEchnique) that provides a superior alternative that integrates standard frame construction with high insulation values and moisture control. (PDF)
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GBA: Getting Spray Foam Right
Green Building Advisor says spray polyurethane foam is an incredible material when applied correctly, but in the wrong hands it can be finicky.
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GBA: Rigid Insulation Rehabs
Green Building Advisor discusses what type, where, and how much rigid insulation should be used to retrofit exterior above-grade walls and roofs.
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Home Innovation: 2X4 Walls With 1-1.5" Exterior Insulative Sheathing
US Home Innovation Research labs Construction Guide: Next Generation High Perfromance Walls addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel sheathing (WSP) as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 inches thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing. It is applicable to low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height, in Climate Zones 3-5. (PDF)
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JLC: Retrofitting Exterior Insulation
Journal; of Light Construcion describes how to add rigid foam insulation to the outside of the building shell to dramatically increase R-value while reducing thermal conduction.
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US DOE: Cladding Attachment Over Exterior Insulation
US Department of Energy Expert Meetings report US DOE: Cladding Attachment Over Exterior Insulation summarizes discussions on issues surrounding cladding attachment and performance of walls with exterior insulating sheathing. Topics were split into the two categories of gravity load resistance and wind load resistance. They explored these topics from the perspectives of engineering design, laboratory testing, field monitoring, and practical construction. (PDF)
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US DOE: Cladding Attachment Over Thick Exterior Insulating Sheathing
US Department of Energy report Cladding Attachment Over Thick Exterior Insulating Sheathing is intended to help develop a better understanding of the system mechanics involved and the potential for environmental exposure induced movement between the furring strip and the framing. (PDF)
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US DOE: External Insulation of Masonry Walls & Wood Framed Walls
US Department of Energy online report External Insulation of Masonry Walls & Wood Framed Walls describes baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls. Wood furring strips (fastened through the insulation back to the structure) were used as a cladding attachment location. Water management details necessary to connect the exterior insulated wall assemblies to roofs, balconies, decks, and windows were created as guidance for integrating exterior insulation strategies with other enclosure elements. (PDF)
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US DOE: Guidance On Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes
US Department of Energy online Measure Guideline: Guidance on Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes describes how to provide durable and long-term water management solutions using exterior insulating sheathing as part of the water management system. (PDF)
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US DOE: Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes
Building America Solution Center describes how to install taped insulating sheathing to serve as the drainage plane for the wall system, and integrate all wall system flashing with the insulating sheathing drainage plane.
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