Professional Insulation Contractors in Lawrence, KS

Spray foam insulation is a micro-cellular plastic made from two components, an isocyanate and a polyol-based, resin blend. When mixed together they are applied as a liquid adhesive and expand in place to create an insulation and air barrier system.

Yes, like most building products, spray foam will burn in the presence of a flame. However, SPF is a thermoset material and will char and flake when burned, it will not melt and drip like a foam coffee cup. Additionally, most commercially available spray foams, intended for use in construction applications, meet Class I fire standards with a flame spread index of less than 25 and a smoke developed index of less than 450.

A thermal barrier or ignition barrier may be required depending on the application at hand. In general, spray foam should be separated from the interior of the building by a 15-minute thermal barrier, such as gypsum wall board. Special applications, like attics and crawlspaces, may omit the thermal barrier requirement in lieu of an ignition barrier. Additionally, some spray foam products have completed large scale testing, in accordance with AC 377 Appendix X, and can be installed in attics and crawlspaces without additional protection based on this testing.

As with any building system failure, the problem should be identified and repaired. Depending on your application and the type of foam in use, the identification process and difficulty of repair will vary.

Also, even if the spray foam upgrade costs an additional $10,000, when financed over 30-years, that adds less than $50 to the monthly payment, and with a typical energy savings that can be $100, $200 or more per month, the homeowner is in positive cash flow from day one.