Energy Efficient Upgrades with Icynene Spray Foam and PACE

Therma Seal Insulation Systems is now a member with RenewPACE Florida. With the RenewPACE program you can receive 100% financing for your #Icynene Insulation System. There are flexible payment terms, no pre-payment penalties, and if you ever decide to sell your home, the balance can carry over to the new owner. See the video below to learn more about this great program designed to encourage #greener housing in our beautiful state of Florida. 
Therma Seal Insulation Systems :
www.thermaseal.net 561.775.9703

Q&A on Icynene and Wine Rooms

Below is a back and forth between Therma Seal and one of our customers becoming educated on the effective use of Icynene Proseal to optimize temperature control in wine rooms.

I do like the spray insulation and believe it will offer a superior product but have a few questions. If you want I can speak directly to the rep if you want to provide the contact info to save you the time.

1)     What about credits for the 3” and 1” specified AP foiled polyiscoyanurate foam sheating?  Yes…I forgot to mention that…we also have to get a credit for the insulation that presently shows on the plans.

2)     I assumed the installed ceiling clips served two purposes to hold in the 1” sheating and to attach the 5/8” greenboard. Can we leave the clips, spray on ceiling insulation and still screw 5/8” to clips (not sure we get R-value but it must be better than the 1” proposed board.)  They have a problem using anything less than a 2-1/2” stud on a ceiling installation becasu they have to make sure that they leave a minimum ¼” air gap from the back of the drywall to their spray insulation and it difficult to get their insulation dead flat when it’s applied horizontally and it’s difficult if not imposible to carve it back because it gets so hard…they can explain this in more detail.  Correct, however if a ceiling grid is created below the concrete floor with a 2.5” gap we can apply above the grid directly to the concrete

3)     Would like more detail on how the product hardens before we can consider eliminating mesh. Regardless, I still think the studs on the framed wine wall should be 12” OC.   They’re goin to prepare a sample so you can see how hard it is and they insist that with their product in the wall the wall becomes tremendously impenetrable…plus I think the elimination of having twice the amount of screws to deal with could be some sort of a moisture benefit in the long run.  I would prefer to state table top hard, such that an electric saw would be required to cut through, and/or sledge hammer.

4)     What is the R-Value of the Icynene Classic Max at the various thicknesses

a.      block walls at 3-1/2” (perhaps we can reduce to 2-1/2” here to net the same designed wall thickness)  They said they need to get 3 inches of their product on the block walls to get the same overall R factor that we get with the current system…they need the 3-1/2” studs so they can maintain the air gap between the back of the drywall and their foam.  There is synergy of benefit when utilizing spray foam is that it provides the benefit of an “Air Seal” with “R Value”.  Consequently, once an air seal achieved no additional benefit received in that department with additional foam.  Since, R-Value is only the measure of conduction, the foam efficiency has diminishing returns beyond the R13 (1.875”) level.  Thus the effectiveness of say R13 Icynene exceeds the effectiveness R21 conventional products.  The primary reason for the Icynene Closed Cell is to eliminate all air gaps and kee the indoor temperature form mixing with warmer air, eliminate chance for mold or mildew.  This wine room will be adequately sealed with a minimum 2” of Icynene.   The Icynene registers at an R7/inch of aged application.

b.      ceiling at 2-1/2” (we have plenty of room here) or ceiling at 1” if we leave clips. If we go to 2-1/2” ceiling studs maybe we just leave clips anyway as they will be completely covered.  That’s a possibility but we’re not talking any great cost to remove them…I suggest we get rid of them so we don’t have to put the 2-1/2” studs between them.  Yes, preferred or as mentioned above no clips just 2” air space above grid.

c.      interior walls I assume at 4-1/2” thick of spray insulation?  I thought we have all 3-1/2” studs…which they can get 3 ibches of insulation in…how would we get 4-1/2”  Correct 3.5” studs will be adequate.

Not All Foam is Created Equal.

Watch this 14-day time lapse video which shows how Icynene spray foam insulation does not absorb water compared to other spray foams. Icynene spray foam insulation won't absorb or retain moisture like others. Icynene maintains an air seal even after seasonal building contractions.

Icynene Classic Max- Water Absorption Comparison

In the unfortunate event of a roof leak, see how Icynene spray foam compares to its competitors

ICYNENE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

WHAT IS THE ICYNENE INSULATION SYSTEM®?

The Icynene Insulation System® is a complete insulation, air and moisture barrier system that windproofs and seals wall, floor and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, at baseboards and where walls meet windows and doors. This means that outside air (either hot or cold) cannot seep through walls, causing drafts or cold spots. It also means that humid interior air cannot enter the walls and condense. 

The system combines a material with a Certified Service providing any builder or homeowner with a truly cost effective method of energy efficient construction. The material is polyicynene foam (see Product Specifications ), an organic material developed from products of the petrochemical industry similar in composition to many that are already in home use today. The service is a custom installation on the building site by trained and Certified Installers, providing a custom insulation fit into any size cavity. 

By virtue of its low permeability to air, its adhesion to other building materials and its flexibility, The Icynene Insulation System® becomes much more than just insulation. It provides superior air leakage control, moisture control and sound control in addition to insulation, thus becoming a one step insulation, moisture/vapor barrier, wind barrier system. The Icynene Insulation System® takes the place of building wrap, fiberglass, polyethylene vapor barrier, tape, foam and caulking, and eliminates the labor intensive work associated with air-tightness detailing when insulating with conventional insulation products. 

Unlike ''loose fill'' insulation methods that do not wind proof building cavities, the air sealing characteristics of The Icynene Insulation System® provide virtually the same R-Value in the field as it does in the laboratory where the R-Value is measured. Cold air in winter and hot muggy air in summer just cannot pass through polyicynene foam like it can through most other insulating materials. 

ARE THERE BUILDING CODE APPROVALS?

The product was evaluated by the Canadian Construction Materials Center of The National Research Council's, (NRC), Institute for Research in Construction. Health and Welfare Canada examined the NRC emissions tests. The Ontario Ministry of Housing, Materials Evaluation Commission evaluated it and the Council of American Building Officials National Evaluation Service also evaluated it. 

Icynene® complies to the BOCA, SBCCI and the ICBO Uniform Building Codes and the Canadian National Building Code. It has been evaluated by the Council of American Building Officials National Evaluation Service. It has been the subject of research projects by the NAHB Research Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Oak Ridge National Laboratories , Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

Health problem concerns associated with other building products in recent years such as asbestos, urea formaldehyde and glass fibers, lead Canadian Authorities to dictate the ground rules for acceptance of new building materials. The Icynene® product became, to the best of our knowledge, the most extensively tested insulation material on the market today. The testing included the most sensitive emissions tests developed to date, tests that few other building materials have ever been through. 

ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBLE FOAM?

A foam that adheres to building materials, like Icynene insulation, must remain flexible in order to maintain its air seal. Buildings expand and contract with changes of season and temperature. If the foam is rigid, it will inevitably develop hairline cracks along the studs and ultimately the air seal will be destroyed. 

ADVANTAGES OF THE ICYNENE INSULATION SYSTEM® ?

As well as simplifying the construction process for the builder, Icynene® Insulation eliminates the major causes of building envelope problems, air-borne moisture movement and entrapment. Blower door tests have shown that a steel framed home insulated with Icynene® Insulation, and with no polyethylene vapor barrier, measures 1.2 ACH at -50 Pa. depressurization. This is well under the 1.5 ACH50 rating for the most energy efficient home. Heating and cooling costs are typically reduced by 30 to 50%, and smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment can be used. 

For the homeowner the advantages are:
Compared to other technologies, The Icynene Insulation System® is a less expensive method of building an energy efficient home.

A more energy efficient home means that energy costs can usually be reduced between 30 and 50%.

A more comfortable home, free from drafts and cold spots.

A quieter home because Icynene® creates a continuous sound barrier against outside noises.

A healthier home - when used with a mechanical ventilation system, superior indoor air quality provides your family with a much healthier place in which to live.

WHAT IS ICYNENE®INSULATION MADE OF?

Icynene® insulation is a water-based formula that contains no formaldehyde, CFCs or HCFCs. The insulation has the texture and look of angel food cake and is made up of millions of tiny cells. These cells are filled with air and provide permanent control of air and airborne moisture movement. There are no VOCs detected in Icynene after 30 days. See Specification Tables for more physical data. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CURE?

The foam is created in seconds after spraying. You can watch it expand within seconds to 100 times its original volume, literally before your eyes. It completely cures within a few minutes. 

DOES THE FOAM ABSORB WATER?

No, it looks like a sponge but it is actually hydrophobic, i.e., it repels water. If placed in water it will float and on removal it will dry rapidly and loose none of its insulating properties. 

DOES THE FOAM ENTRAP MOISTURE?

Icynene® Insulation is a breathing foam, and any moisture in the building's concrete or lumber can escape through the insulation as the building dries out, thus eliminating any risk of rot or mildew. 

DOES THE FOAM CHANGE PHYSICALLY OVER TIME?

No, it is inert. Its physical and insulating properties are constant. 

ANY WORRIES ENVIRONMENTALLY ?

No, the product is environmentally safe. 

FLAMMABILITY AND FIRE-RATING?

Icynene® Insulation contributes no fuel in the event of fire and it will not sustain flame upon removal of the flame source. However, like fiberglass, it will be consumed by flame, and gypsum board or other acceptable thermal barriers are required by applicable building codes. 

WHAT DOES THE SMOKE CONTAIN?

Smoke from Icynene® foam, like that of all organic materials including wood, is a complex of many gasses. The major components in the smoke from Icynene® Insulation are carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. By the time the material is burnt, the fire will have been raging for at least 15 minutes. 

ANY HARMFUL EMISSIONS?

Icynene® is safe for both you and the environment. Icynene® is water-based, and does not produce formaldehyde, CFCs or HCFCs. It has been extensively tested in both Canada and the United States and found to have no VOCs detected after 30 days. 

The product is in fact recommended for use in homes for many environmentally concerned or sensitive people. The Icynene Insulation System® has been selected for use in the American Lung Association Health House projects. 

HOW IS THE ICYNENE INSULATION SYSTEM®INSTALLED?

There are two different ways to install Icynene® insulation — spray it onto any open surface and studded wall or pour it into an existing wall cavity when renovating. An Icynene trained, licensed Dealer must be used in both cases. 

With any open surface, Icynene® insulation can be sprayed on once electrical and plumbing services are in place. It then expands to 100 times its initial volume in seconds, permanently adhering to the surfaces of the surrounding building materials and sealing all gaps. 

For retrofitting existing walls, a slower expanding formulation of Icynene is used during renovations. The material is simply injected into small holes drilled into plaster or gypsum walls, or from the outside of the wall. 

HOW LONG HAS ICYNENE BEEN IN USE?

Icynene® Insulation has been on the market since 1986 and is in thousands of homes across the United States. It has also been featured in segments of ''This Old House'' and ''Your New House''. 

ANY ELECTRIC WIRING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS?

No, Icynene® Insulation has been tested and is not a concern to electrical authorities. 

IS THE INSULATION CORROSIVE TO METALS?

No, Icynene® Insulation is non-corrosive. It is neutral, neither acidic or alkaline. 

DOES THE INSULATION SUPPORT BACTERIA OR FUNGAL GROWTH?

Icynene® Insulation offers no food value; therefore it does not support bacteria or fungal growth. It also does not retain water, making it an unappealing environment for pests. 

WHAT ABOUT MICE AND TERMITES?

Icynene® Insulation offers no food value, but it would not present a sufficient barrier to their entry if they decided to gnaw through it. 

WHAT ARE THE ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES?

As an effective air seal, The Icynene Insulation System® eliminates the air gaps through which sound travels and is superior in controlling mid-range frequencies, which include the most common sounds, the human voice and stereo music. 

IS ICYNENE® UREA FORMALDEHYDE?

No. 

DOES ICYNENE® BREAK DOWN, SAG OR SHRINK?

No, Icynene® Insulation is stable. It does not shrink or sag. The reaction that creates Icynene® Insulation is irreversible and it cannot break down into its constituent parts. 

R-VALUE OF ICYNENE ®INSULATION?

R-value is derived from a controlled laboratory test of an insulation's resistance to conductive heat flow. Icynene's R-value is 3.6/inch, similar to fiberglass.

ARE THESE AGED VALUES ?

Unlike foams filled with CFC or HCFC, the R-Value of air filled foam does not decline as it ages. 

R-Value of an Icynene ®Insulated Wall or Ceiling? R-Values of insulating materials are measured in laboratories and are designated a nominal R-Value per inch. In the wall or ceiling of a building, most factory made insulation materials suffer a reduction in performance due to air leakage and infiltration. The insulating value of many building components may be as low as 50% of the nominal R-Value of the insulation they contain. 

By contrast, the insulation of a wall containing Icynene® Insulation will perform closely to the laboratory tested R-Value of the material and seal the wall cavity from air infiltration as well. 

The Icynene Insulation System® is particularly suited to steel frame construction. Icynene® expands 100:1 as it is installed, adhering to surrounding building components. It completely seals joints, crevices and voids, including difficult-to-insulate spaces such as steel stud ''U'' and ''C'' sections, double studs and non-standard stud locations. A continuous air/vapor barrier is formed around the building structure in a single application. 

AT WHAT STAGE IS THE ICYNENE INSULATION SYSTEM® INSTALLED?

The Icynene Insulation System® is installed after the windows, doors and roof are in, the electrical, framing and plumbing inspections are complete, and after any other electrical or mechanical system located behind the drywall is installed. It is the last installation to take place before drywall installation. 

HOW DO I ARRANGE FOR THE ICYNENE SYSTEM® IN MY HOME?

WWW.ThermaSeal.NET

Spray Foam Insulation: Compare Icynene to other insulations

Not all insulation is created equal.  Living in South Florida, especially in the coastal cities of Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Manalapan, keeping your attic cool and cutting your cooling costs is essential.  The Icynene spray foam insulation system will enhance air quality, and bring your mechanicals into a semi conditioned environment to cut your attic temperature considerably.  Call Therma Seal Today! 561.775.9703 www.thermaseal.net

Spray Foam Insulation: Icynene Dealer Profile - Thermaseal

Continuous Insulation- Icynene eliminates thermal bridging and at a lower cost than XPS board

A new high school in Prescott, Wisconsin is set to help change how commercial architects realize energy-efficient construction - thanks in part to the inclusion of Icynene spray foam insulation in a continuous insulation application.

Dealer Spotlight

Icynene Corporation highlights Therma Seal Insulation Systems as the preferred South Florida dealer and installer.  Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Manalapan, Jupiter, Davie, Miami Beach, Gulfstream, Golden Beach, Boca Raton, etc, call us today to learn more about how to make your attic energy efficient and fire safe!

Open Ceiling Office Space with Icynene Classic Max Spray Foam

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 

Dycom Industries 55,000+ SF office space utilized the Icynene Spray Foam System to beat the Florida heat and provide a working environment that enhances air quality and keeps the temperature controlled.