Faqs

Guardian Polymers, Inc.

™

Does Spray Foam Insulation adhere to metal studs?
Spray Foam Insulation adheres well to steel studs and other natural materials such as cement board, wood, etc. commonly found in residential and light commercial construction. Areas not requiring Spray Foam Insulation must be protected from over spray, since Spray Foam Insulation will adhere to almost all surfaces in the home.

What are the acoustical properties of Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray Foam Insulation has excellent sound absorption properties and sound transmission properties. For a 2" x 6" wood cavity insulated with Spray Foam Insulation the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is 75 and the Sound Transmission Coefficient (STC) is 49.

Are other trades (workers) allowed in the general area of the application of Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray Foam Insulation shall be installed on site by qualified, certified installers trained in the proper safety and handling of the chemicals. Other trades persons should be kept away from the immediate area where spraying is conducted.

Will Spray Foam Insulation eventually push out the dry wall? Does it cause dry wall bowing?
Spray Foam Insulation will not push out the drywall once it is sprayed into an open wall cavity and trimmed to the size of the cavity.

Can Spray Foam Insulation be sprayed directly on a clean and dry ductwork? Is taping of ductwork joints required?
Spray Foam Insulation can be sprayed directly on a clean and dry ductwork if the service temperature is less than 180°F. Taping is not required because the air leakage through Spray Foam Insulation is very negligible.

What is the cold weather limitation to the application of Spray Foam Insulation?
The minimum substrate and ambient temperature application of Spray Foam Insulation is 45°F. It has been observed that in conditions lower than 45°F, the yield of the product reduces.

What is the long-term stability of Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray Foam Insulation is stable over the long term. It will not settle or compact over time. It offers constant aged R-value and is chemically and physically stable under normal conditions between (-60°F and 180°F).

Are there health concerns with Spray Foam Insulation?
No! Spray Foam Insulation is a clean product. It meets off gassing requirements of CGSB 51.23-92 for new residential construction. No toxic or carcinogenic products were detected.

What is the flame spread characteristics of Spray Foam Insulation? And during the fire testing, was any dripping noticed?
The flame spread classification of Spray Foam Insulation as tested in accordance with CAN/ULC S102 is less than 500 and in accordance with ASTM E-84 is a class 1 (21) at a thickness of 6". The fire testing was conducted from the top of the Steinner tunnel without any product dripping during and after tests.

Are there any compatibility concerns with other building materials?
Spray Foam Insulation is stable in presence of most solvents found in binders, bituminous materials, wood preservatives and sealers. It is resistant to facers containing plasticizers, fuel, mineral oil weak acid and weak bases typically found in residential and light commercial construction materials.

Does Spray Foam Insulation contain urea formaldehyde, CFC or HCFC's?
No! Spray Foam Insulation does not contain urea formaldehyde, CFC of HCFC. This insulation is a semi-rigid, urethane, open cellular plastic foam, where water is incorporated as the sole blowing agent.

Is Spray Foam Insulation environmentally certified?
Yes, Spray Foam Insulation is an ecological product certified by an independent agency: "the Environmental Choice Program (EPC-40) of Environment Canada".

What is building envelope?
The thermal envelope or closed attic approach is a new development for hot and humid climates. A growing body of research from ASHRAE, D.O.E., FSEC (Florida Solar Energy Center) and the Building Science Corporation, suggests that ventilating an attic may be counterproductive. The traditional methods of attic ventilation (gable vents, turbines, soffitt and ridge-vent assemblies) do eliminate a small amount of heat, but this method tends to bring, into the attic, large volumes of moist air.

Furthermore, recent research from Partnership to Advance Technology in Housing indicate that when we place air distribution systems and/or duct work in an unconditioned space we may incur a large energy penalty (up to 30%)

Do code jurisdictions accept the closed attic approach?
Yes and no. The original research that has become the basis for crawlspace and attic ventilation was conducted in 1942. A lot has changed in 58 years! Our network work closely with the building science community, as well as code officials and we can normally get approval for this new approach.

Ventilation removes moisture, doesn't it?
The manufacturers of ventilation equipment make a strong argument to support their product offerings. The reality is a little different. In hot and humid climates the only air available (for ventilation) tends to be humid. You cannot solve a moisture problem with more moisture. Research also indicates that if you bring moist air into your attic or crawlspace during air conditioning season you will be flushing cool or cooler surfaces with warm moist air. This temperature and humidity clash tends to cause condensation.

Remember to consult your local building official - they do have the final authority.

What about the closed attic approach in mixed climates?
Insulating the underside of a roof rather than a ceiling creates many other benefits. . . (DeWitt March 11, 2002).

How much does Spray Foam Insulation cost compared to other insulation methods?
Spray Foam Insulation is considered to be more expensive than most conventional insulation however it cannot be compared to conventional insulation. When using the Spray Foam Insulation system it actually air seals the building and eliminates energy robbing air leakage and the associated problems with moisture mold and mildew and condensation problems inside the walls. When calculating the actual cost you need to consider the possible need to downsize HVAC systems, eliminate building wraps and eliminate a significant portion of the material and labor costs associated with an air-sealing approach. You can't compare the cost of something that works against the cost of something that doesn't.

Will Spray Foam Insulation help with odors within the home?
Yes, odors are typically a problem of a leaky wall because they can travel through the outlets and cut outs of shared walls of the home. Reducing the air leakage of these walls best minimizes odors.

What happens to the shavings of Spray Foam Insulation when trimmed flush with the studs in a full cavity application?
The shavings should be disposed in accordance with Federal and local regulations. Normally a landfill is considered acceptable since the product is not hazardous. In some jurisdictions, the shavings can be used to fill voids in the attic of a home.

Can Spray Foam Insulation be applied in an existing wall?
We do not recommend that Spray Foam Insulation be applied in existing walls. However, we have had good results in using Spray Foam Insulation in the attic and in the crawl space (if applicable) without disturbing the walls in a retrofit application. The reason for this is that a large portion of your energy loss is caused by the “chimney effect” – hot air rises therefore creating air movement within a house. If you cap off or seal the chimney (the attic) with Spray Foam Insulation you have greatly cut down on air movement within the house and wall assemblies and therefore have made your house a tighter structure. Some specialty installers have installed spray foam in existing walls not containing insulation by cutting a 6” high by cavity width hole between each stud then spraying up the cavity, down the cavity then finishing off by spraying the remainder where the hole has been cut. This process can be very labor intensive with mixed results. For a job to be done right you would also need to make use of a thermal imager to make sure there are no gaps and voids in the installation. With this approach you need to weigh the cost versus the energy savings.

Is it possible for a homeowner install this foam on their own?
Spray Foam Insulation has to be installed by a certified contractor with specialty proportioning equipment. The installer has been trained to work with the chemicals involved and has also been trained in building science to provide the best installation possible.