What are VOCs and How Do They Affect Homeowners?

What are VOCs and how do they affect homeowners? Posted: 28 Mar 2017 05:00 AM PDT VOCs – otherwise known as volatile organic compounds – are defined as gases that are emitted from certain materials, whether they are solid or in liquid form, and can include a variety of chemicals. According to the EPA, VOCs can typically have higher concentrations indoors, in some cases up to ten times higher, than outdoor concentrations. These emissions can have varying degrees of short-term and long-term health effects.  Nowadays, consumers are increasing becoming aware of VOCs and their effects on humans. As a result, consumers have become savvier in understanding the various types of products available in the market and selecting products that identify as low VOC. While VOCs do not sound appealing, there have been significant developments by manufacturers of chemicals and building materials that reduce the exposure to building occupants. Where are VOCs found? The EPA states that VOCs can be found in an array of household products and materials from paints, waxes, aerosol sprays, cleaners, pesticides, craft materials, office equipment, furnishings and building materials including insulation. You may find many of these everyday household materials and products after a quick search through your home.  Effects from exposure to VOCs can vary between individuals depending on the chemical as well as length of exposure and level of VOC emissions. Effects can include irritation of the nose and throat, nausea, dizziness and headaches among other effects. Although the presence of VOCs and their effects are not pleasant, there have been steps taken by many manufacturers to reduce our exposure to VOCs. For example, the paint industry has been very active in developing paints and varnishes that are considered low VOC. These active steps by manufacturers are helping to ensure that consumers are aware of what VOCs are and how they can reduce their exposure to such emissions. How to reduce exposure to VOCs The EPA offers consumers an array of recommendations to reduce exposure to VOCs.  There are several recommendations including: Do not mix household products together Increase ventilation when using a product Only purchase in quantities that will be used immediately Avoid storing open containers Meet or exceed label precautions Keep out of reach of children and pets How is the spray foam insulation industry responding to VOCs? Like the paint industry, the spray foam insulation industry is responding to VOCs and developing products are considered low VOC. As the spray foam insulation industry leader, Icynene has been committed to the responsible development of spray foam chemistry for over 30 years. Icynene’s leadership position in the category has seen the development of several spray foam insulation products including Icynene Classic Max, Icynene Classic Max Select, Icynene ProSeal and Icynene ProSeal LE. Each of these spray foam products is identified as a low VOC spray foam insulation material. And it doesn’t stop there; chemists and building scientists at Icynene continue to develop spray foam innovation to meets the ever changing requirements of modern commercial and residential construction as well as the demands of architects, builders and homeowners alike. Icynene has gone further to ensure that their spray foam insulation products are evaluated by UL Environment to gain and GREENGUARD Gold certification.  Icynene Classic Max, Icynene ProSeal and Icynene ProSeal LE have received GREENGUARD Gold certification. Furthermore, Icynene spray foam insulation products meet the criteria set by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). As a result of Icynene’s low VOC innovation, building occupants are able to re-occupy a home or building after just two hours and in some cases 1 hour after the spray application following active ventilation as prescribed. What is GREENGUARD? GREENGUARD Certification has been widely adopted as a trusted standard for low-emitting products. More than 400 green building codes, standards, guidelines, procurements policies, and rating systems recognize or reference GREENGUARD Certified products. The GREENGUARD Gold Certification standard includes health based criteria for additional chemicals and also requires lower total VOC emissions levels to ensure that products are acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. What is CHPS? CHPS is a collaboration to address energy efficiency in schools. The program covers all aspects of school design, construction and operation. CHPS develops tools that help make schools energy, water and material efficient, well-lit, thermally comfortable, acoustically sound, safe, healthy and easy to operate.  CHPS sets a specific set of criteria that must be met by building materials to allow for use in the construction of schools. Where does LEED fit in? Low emitting materials  are addressed in LEED v4 with the intent to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage air quality, human health, productivity, and the environment. Architects can receive credit toward LEED certification in addressing low emitting materials including interior paints and coatings, flooring, interior adhesives and sealants as well as ceiling, wall, thermal and acoustic insulation. How can architects and builders help? Architects, designers and builders can all take steps to encourage the adoption of a low VOC approach in design and construction. Through educating and working with their clients in understanding what VOCs are, how they affect building occupants and the low VOC options that are available in the market, architects and builders can create high performance, energy efficient and positive spaces to live, work and play.  For More Information Call Therma Seal- 561.775.9703 or visit us at www.thermaseal.net

6700 Sq. Ft. Warehouse Space with Icynene Classic Max

Therma Seal Insulation Spray Team just completed a 6700sf warehouse in one day!  Not only was the job completed in a timely and thorough manner, look how pretty that foam looks!

South Florida benefits greatly from the use of Icynene spray foam for is keeps the hot out and the coolness in!

Our company is a full service insulation company in new custom residential, commercial, and existing homes.  If you live in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, or any of South Florida's coastal cities, Therma Seal is the Icynene Gold Circle dealer for your job to be done in a professional and timely manner.

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After

Pictograph of how Spray Foam Works

Here is Why Foam Applied by Therma Seal is Best

Spray Foam	Fiberglass & Cellulose
Icynene Spray Foam Stops Air Leakage
Spray foam insulation is like a warm windbreaker jacket — it stops the cold air from passing through.	Fiberglass and cellulose insulation are like a wool sweater - if there's any breeze, it doesn't keep you warm. Even if they're very thick to give an extremely high R-value, they'll still let air leak out of your home and increase your energy bill.
Spray Foam Insulation for Homes is a Modern Material
Spray foam insulation is a modern material that's been used for over 25 years.	Fiberglass is an old technology, and cellulose is little more than shredded newspaper. So modern types of insulation are becoming more popular.
Spray Foam Fills Gaps
Spray foam insulation expands up to 100 times to fill gaps — ensuring maximum insulation.	Fiberglass and cellulose are extremely difficult to install perfectly — the spaces that are left add up to the size of a basketball in the average home — leaking enough air to fill two blimps each day!
Icynene Spray Foam Insulation Protects Your Home From Water
Many open cell spray foam (such as Icynene LD-C-50) drains water rather than holding it, and most closed cell spray foam doesn't let it in at all.	Cellulose is made from shredded newspaper, and drinks up water. Fiberglass batts and cellulose don't repel water — the water stays in place and may damage your home as well as reduce how well the insulation works. This is one of the leading contributors to mold development — and it also decreases R-values, meaning you spend more on energy.
Spray on Foam Stays in Place
Spray foam stays in place – it doesn’t settle or sag, vertically or horizontally. It moves with the house as it settles. Spray foam insulation is completely solid when it sets, doesn’t produce any dust, and doesn’t let dust or other pollutants pass through to your home.	Fiberglass and cellulose settle and sag over time, leaving gaps that compromise insulation. Fiberglass and cellulose can be dusty and allow dust and other pollutants to enter the building.
Icynene Spray Foam is Healthier
Many spray foams (such as Icynene LD-C-50) don’t contain formaldehyde, HCFCs, HFAs, or HFCs, and doesn’t give off harmful emissions once installed.	Most fiberglass contains formaldehyde, and may emit formaldehyde fumes into your home.
Spray Foam Doesn't Attract Pests
Many spray foams do not provide a source of food for rodents, termites, or other nasty critters. As a home insulation, spray foam also doesn’t make for good nests.	Fiberglass and cellulose can be torn apart by pests, and some even use them for nesting.
Spray Foam Isn't Easily Damaged
Spray foams harden to a dense material that isn’t easily damaged.	Exposed fiberglass and cellulose are easily damaged – insulation in areas such as basements and attics may be compromised by cats, children, moving boxes around, and other general usage.

Therma Seal Resolves Mold Issues Throughout Palm Beach County, Florida This Summer.

Everyone knows moisture problems can lead to the presence of mold and mildew, destroying a homes physical integrity and overall health of a home.  Mold and mildew begin to form where moisture is left to stagnate in a closed, warm environment.  A  common cause of moisture in South Florida typically occurs where HVAC ducts or registers sweat due to "hot attic syndrome."

Therma Seal's unvented attic system with Icynene spray foam provides both a solution and a prevention from mold and mildew.

James Finck

If your home was a cooler...

     Picture a beautiful, hot beach day in sunny South Florida.  You have a cooler for your refreshments and another for your hot sandwiches.  The logic of a cooler is to keep your cold stuff colder for longer and vise versa for warmth.  Obviously a cooler is a lot more effective when there is a tight seal and the lid is all the way shut.  You are essentially trapping in the coolness to maintain a consistent temperature within.
      Now equate this cooler concept with your home energy usage.  Wouldn't you like to shut the lid on your home to maintain consistent temperature and prevent energy hemorrhaging? This is where the Icynene Insulation System comes into play, creating an effective seal and "shutting the lid on your cooler."
     Icynene spray foam mitigates any air leakage within your attic system and ultimately renders all your soffit venting useless.  By creating an unvented attic system, you can expect a dramatic decrease in attic temperature, the new temperature will be roughly 6-8 degrees higher than the temperature in your living room.  Put all the pieces together, you have decreased the temperature of the environment in which your a/c mechanicals and duct work are operating, and you can expect your a/c to be running a whole lot less, keeping you more comfortable and cutting cooling costs in half.
    Therma Seal Insulation are the experts in commercial and residential energy solutions, serving the Sunshine State.

Let us shut the lid on your home cooler!
561.775.9703

By:
William Finck
 

Great programs for home energy enhancements.

Throughout the state of Florida, there are more and more programs offering finance tools encouraging upgrades to home energy efficiency.  With constantly rising energy costs and higher costs of living, homeowners are beginning to do everything they can to keep their multiplier as low as possible.

One of the programs we employ essentially takes the cost of the upgrades and amortizes a loan over the course of 5, 10, or 20 years depending on the homeowners payment preference.  The payment is made through a non ad valorem property tax to create a savings that will exceed your payment.  This makes it possible for the homeowner to relish in the savings and comfort starting day one, without any out-of-pocket expenses.

Therma Seal specializes in the application of the Icynene Spray Foam System because of its superior air barrier qualities, commitment to the environment, and the long term solution to home insulation.  Utilizing Icynene will  reduce cooling cost by half when compared to traditional insulation, and will retain its true form for the life of the structure, and is also warranted by Icynene.  Spray foam is becoming the standard in new custom homes because more people are learning about the evolution in building science and the huge benefits of the unvented attic.

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Build Right.. Insulate Tight.

When is more not better, but worse?  

      In a vented attic where conventional insulation commonly referred to as Batt or Blown-in Fiberglass the story is all about R-Value.  The higher the R value the slower the transfer of those hot molecules to the cool side.  R does not stop the transfer, merely slows its transfer.  The venting is designed to allow the heat to escape, as beside their tendency to move form hot to cold, heat rises.  As this transfer occurs the attic actually can reduce its heat load and stabilize for example at 130* on a hot summer day.  If someone decides to add a lot more of this same insulation to an attic without proper care they risk creating a hotter attic space with an inadequate ability to naturally vent.

The new stabilized temperature rises and the risks of sweating ducts increases and with moisture and heat we play with a mold or mildew occurrence.

Application of spray foam is certainly more expensive than conventional insulation.  In some retrofit cases, a proper application is not achievable; Therma Seal(TM) has within it scopes of expertise, other plausible solutions for preventing assembly heat gain.

Therma Seal(TM) Insulation Systems has the experience of building science and the application of both spray and injection foam products.  Their focus is driven to provide sustainable energy solutions.  Therma Seal(TM) is the team to consult for options to improve your quality of comfort and add real value to all your property.  As registered providers for both FPL and Progress Energy they will support you with both the education behind choices and knowledge of rebates and other energy incentives.

Therma Seal is licensed, insured and experienced to provide you with valuable information and top quality service from start to finish.  As a customer focused and solution driven company we ask you to schedule a consultation and free estimate today by calling  (561) 775.9703 and please visit us at www.thermaseal.net  

Beyond the ceiling...Smart Insulation

INSULATION IS REQUIRED TO HELP YOUR HOME MAINTAIN COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.

The added benefit is lower cooling and heating costs by using material which not only slows heat transfer (R-Value) but stops air flow out of the home.

During Florida's blazing summer the heat gain to a home without a proper insulated assembly is tremendous.

As Florida homeowners, we are well versed in the heat and humidity effects on our comfort in this beautiful and tropical surrounding.  The correct insulation system helps to protect our home in windstorms, while drastically lowering our indoor humidity level and all while saving us $$$ each and every day.

I use "insulation system" with the purpose to share a quick lesson in building science. If we use an Air Barrier insulation product (Icynene) to provide an unvented air barrier envelope over our conditioned home, we stop the conditioned air leakage which easily escapes through minuscule passageways.  40% of lost energy costs in the average U.S. home is due to air leakage.

Therma Seal(TM)  provides these solutions to your home or building. A properly sealed home will cool quickly and retain that coolness for a long time. 

                The HVAC systems do not operate within a 140* attic space, working in overdrive.

                The lack of introduced humidity to the home offers a dryer and more comfortable environment.

                The air quality is improved and without humidity and heat the chances of mold/mildew drop to zero.