The Facts The VTDigger Missed About Spray Foam

A recent VTDigger piece included common myths about spray foam insulation (SPF). Below are the top six myths about SPF and the actual facts.

MYTH #1: Vermont can meet its climate goals without the use of spray foam.

FACT: Spray foam insulation is the most effective insulation product because it offers the highest R-value per inch and it air seals without the use of additional products. Vermont needs to leverage the most effective insulation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meet its bold climate goals.

• The Vermont Climate Council Seeks To:
  • “Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions From The Transportation, Building, Regulated Utility, Industrial, Commercial, And Agricultural Sectors; Achieve Net Zero Emissions By 2050 Across All Sectors.” (S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, December 2021)
• “Buildings Are The Source Of About 40% Of The Worldwide Heat-Trapping Emissions, So Reducing Those Emissions Is Considered Essential To Dealing With Climate Change.” (The Fort Morgan Times, 5/25/22)
  • “Building Operations Are Responsible For 27% [Of CO2 Emissions] Annually.” (Architecture 2030, Accessed 6/1/23)
• “Switching To Spray Foam Could Reduce Total U.S. GHG Emissions By 3.5% Annually.” (Huntsman, Accessed 10/12/22)
  • “Open-Cell Spray Foam Has An R-Value Of About R-3.7 Per Inch, While Closed-Cell Spray Foam Has An R-Value That May Be As High As R-6.5 Per Inch.” (Fine Homebuilding, Fall 2017)
• “Air Leakage Accounts For 25 Percent To 40 Percent Of The Energy Used For Heating And Cooling,” Air Sealing Can Prevent Leakage And “Results In Lower Energy Bills.” (Energy Star, Accessed 6/1/23)

MYTH #2: “But because it’s made completely from fossil fuels, spray foam still arrives with a high amount of ‘embodied carbon.’”

FACT: Many spray foam contractors use products manufactured with recycled plastic water bottles, otherwise destined for landfills or the ocean, or renewable raw materials, like soy oil.

• “On Average, Up To 10,000 Recycled Plastic Bottles Go Into Each Home Insulated With Spray Foam.” (Spray Foam Magazine, 12/1/20)
• “HBS Foam Production Uses Over 250 Million Recycled PET Plastic Bottles Every Year. Reducing The Size And Reliance Upon Harmful Landfill Sites.” (HBS, Accessed 5/30/23)
• Elastochem’s Use Of Recycled Plastic Bottles In Closed-Cell Spray Foam Products Has “Prevented Over 200 Million Plastic Bottles From Ending Up In Landfills” Each Year. (Elastochem, 11/22/22)
• Spray Foam Products Such As HBS’ HEATLOK SOYA HFO Contain “A Total Of 22% Recycled Plastic And Renewable Soya Oil.” (HBS, Accessed 5/31/23)

MYTH #3: Perfect spray foam insulation “is difficult to accomplish in real Vermont conditions” and Vermonters “are especially vulnerable to the risks of poor spray foam installation” and “below 40 degrees Fahrenheit is the absolute cutoff for proper application.”

FACT: Spray foam has been installed in cold climates for over 60 years. Applicators should refer to the manufacturer’s installation guidelines. Between manufacturers and industry training, contractors and homeowners have access to qualified, competent applicators.

• “SES Foam’s Nexseal Winter Was Tested Over An Entire Winter Season In Fairbanks, Alaska And Is Certified As ‘Arctic Tested, Alaska Tough!.’” (SprayFoamMagazine, 2022 Issue)
• Products Such As Foam-Lok 2000 3G Closed-Cell Spray Insulation Recommend Ambient Temperatures From 25 To 122 Degrees Fahrenheit. (Cameron Ashley Building Products, Accessed 6/1/23)
• Elastochem’s Insulthane Extreme Closed-Cell Spray Foam Offers A Winter Blend That Is Recommended For Use On Substrate Temperatures Between -10 And 25 Degrees Celsius.” (Elastochem, Accessed 6/1/23)
• Ontario, Canada, Contractor: “Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) May Be Used In All Seasons.” (Reitzel Insulation Ontario, 3/17/21)
  • Reitzel Insulation Has Completed Over 100,000 Projects In Over 46 Years. (Reitzel Insulation, Accessed 5/31/23)
• “Winter Blends Of Closed-Cell Spray Foam Made To Work Within Very Defined Temperature Ranges” While Utilizing Heating Methods, To Ensure Temperatures Remain At The Required Levels. (Chicago Green Insulation, Accessed 5/30/23)
• “The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) “Offers An ‘Industry’ Certification.” (ProFoam, Accessed 6/1/23)
  • The SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP) “is the only SPF industry certification program developed and operated in compliance with the internationally recognized ISO-17024 standard.” (org, 5/30/14)
• Additionally, ProFoam Offers Training Courses That Cover “All Aspects Of Spray Foam Application, Building Envelope Training, Building Codes, Sales, Marketing And General Business Practices.” (ProFoam, Accessed 6/1/23)
• Huntsman Building Solutions’ Contractor Agreement Requires Spray Foam Applicators To Be “Certified Under The CPI High Pressure SPF Health And Safety Training Program That Can Be Found At www.SprayPolyurethane.org.” (HBS, Accessed 6/1/23)
• ThermoSeal Offers “Online And On-Site Spray Foam Training.” (ThermoSeal, Accessed 6/1/23)
• SprayWorks Offers “free spray foam training online.” (SprayWorks, Accessed 6/1/23)

MYTH #4: “It would take about 10 years of energy savings for a home with spray foam insulation to match the carbon savings of a home with dense-pack cellulose and rigid foam board insulation.”

FACT: Spray foam offsets its carbon footprint faster than other insulation products.

• “Spray Foam Products Have An Environmental Payback As Low As 8 Years Compared To Other Insulation And Air Sealing Products.” (org, Accessed5/30/23; SPFA, Accessed 5/30/23)
• “Spray Polyurethane Foam Has The Lowest Total Greenhouse Gas Contribution Despite Its Higher Production Emissions Because Of Its Air Impermeability.” (McKinsey & Company, 7/22)
• “Total Annual Energy Savings From SPF Versus Fiberglass Is Always Positive In All Climate Zones.” (SPFA, Accessed 5/30/23)
• “Qualities Allow Spray Foam To Better Reduce Carbon Emissions During The Use Phase And Offset Embodied Carbon In A Shorter Period Of Time Than Other Products.” (American Chemistry Council And Spray Foam Coalition, Accessed 10/12/22)

FACT: Switching to spray foam is the equivalent of taking millions of cars off the road, helping the environment and reducing total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

• If Every Single-Family Home In America Utilized Spray Foam Insulation, “It Would Be The Equivalent Of Taking 38.9 Million Cars Off The Road.” (WhySprayFoam, Accessed 10/12/22)
• “Insulation Is Highly Effective At Bringing Down Energy Use And Costs,” Homes That Are Insulated And Sealed Properly Could See Annual Energy Savings Of Roughly 15%, According To EPA Estimates. (FastCompany, 6/9/22)
• Spray Foam Insulation Gives Homeowners “More Control Over The Heating And Cooling Of Your Home – And Your Bills.” (Real Simple, 4/22/22)
• Adding Spray Foam In A Wall Insulated With Old Fiberglass Insulation “Could Cut Your Cooling Bill By A Third Or More – Forever.” (The Detroit News, 7/22/22)

MYTH #5: “Poor application can lead to extensive moisture damage, including rotted framing and toxic mold.”

FACT: Poor installation of any building material or type of insulation can lead to building issues.

• “Spray Foam Insulation Does Not Retain Water.” (Williamson Source, 9/6/22)
• Matt Sharpe, Senior Building Consultant At Efficiency Vermont: “I Think Those Concerns Would All Be Legitimate To Other Products As Well… The Performance Of The Work In General, No Matter What Material You’re Using, Is Very Important.” (VTDigger, 5/22/23)
• By Using Spray Foam, “The Risk Of Mold And Mildew Developing Under Your Home Is Reduced Or Eliminated.” (Williamson Source, 9/6/22)
• Cold Temperatures Weaken Bonding The Ability Of Mortar, Grout, And Adhesives When “The Water In These Components Freezes, Small Ice Crystals Can Completely Alter The Chemical Composition Of These Materials.” (Horst Construction, Accessed 6/1/23)
• Drywall That Is Installed At Temperatures Below 50 Degrees Face “Risk Issues Like Gaps, Cracked Drywall Mud, Poorly Bonded Boards, And Inconsistent Paint Color.” (Horst Construction, Accessed 6/1/23)
• “When Temperatures Dip Below 40 °F, The Chemical Reactions That Strengthen Concrete Slow Down And Can Lead To Weaker Concrete.” (Unique Paving Materials Corp, 6/18/23)

MYTH #6: “Spray foam is the best option for old, rubble-stone cellars and basements, but building science experts don’t recommend it for anywhere else inside homes.”

FACT: Spray foam is a safe and effective insulation from the attic all the way down to the basement.

• “Whether It Be A Retrofit, A Renovation, Or A New Construction, Spray Foam Can Be Applied Almost Everywhere.” (EcoStar Insulation, 4/30/21)
  • EcoStar Insulation Has Served The Greater Toronto, Canada, Area Since 2008 And Specializes In Spray Foam Insulation. (EcoStar Insulation, Accessed 5/31/23)
• “Manufacturers Have Optimized Products To Maximize Performance In Different Areas Of A Home Or Building.” (org, Accessed 5/31/23)
• “Spray Foam Is Versatile And Can Seal Wall Cavities, Exterior Walls, Crawlspaces, Attics, And Small Gaps And Cracks Throughout A House.” (org, Accessed 6/1/23)
• “DIYers And Pros Can Spray This Insulation Between Studs, Rafters And Other Spaces, And The Formula Expands In Place To Fill In All The Tiny Spaces That Fiberglass Batts Might Not Reach.” (Forbes, 9/26/22)