Energy Efficiency Properties Organic Insulation Composition of Spray Foam Insulation

 

In addition to traditional & effective spray foam, we offer sustainable green alternatives for winterizing and weatherizing your home. This page provides more information about the make-up of our insulating products.

 

Table of Beneficial Properties of Spray Foam Insulation: Rigid & Soft:

 

Type Rigid Soft
R Value @ One Inch ~6.4 - 6.8 ~3.4 - 3.8
Density 1.8 - 2.0 0.5
Flame Spread < 25 < 25
Smoke Developed < 450 < 450
Air Barrier Yes Yes
Water Barrier Yes No
Moisture Vapor Retarder Yes No
Permeance 0.9 & 2" 9.8 & 3.5"
Compressive Strength ~20 - 30 psi ~2 - 4 psi
Structural Yes No
FEMA Flood Resistant Class 4 No
Upper Temperature Limit 180 °F 140°F
Adds to Racking Strength Yes Minimal
Expansion Ration ~30:1 ~100:1

 

 

Natural Spray Foam Material “Ingredients”

 

Current green insulation choices that contain materials like soy and mushrooms can sound more like stir fry ingredients than parts of an energy efficient home, but homeowners who are quick to disregard these new products will find they’ve missed out on an opportunity to use healthy, eco-friendly building materials that out-perform traditional pink fiberglass insulation. Some green foam insulation materials include:

 

Blow-In Cellulose: Made from recycled newspaper treated with non-toxic anti-pest and fire retardant compounds. This insulation is much preferred to fiberglass and is gaining in popularity for its safety and insulating value.

 

Cotton Fiber Batt (Denim): Recycled denim is used to fill walls after it’s turned into Ultra Touch™ natural fiber insulation. This was used in a 2006 Habitat for Humanity building campaign that kept a dozen Baton Rouge homes well-insulated.

 

Soy-Based Spray Foam: Made from soy-based polyol, soy spray foam is used as a replacement for petroleum-based versions. Soy is an annually-renewable resource that cuts down on our need for petroleum products, and you need not worry about the natural material attracting pests.

 

How Spray Foam is Installed

 

Using specially-designed equipment, the installer sprays foam onto or between wall surfaces. This forms into a hardened cellular plastic material containing a low thermal conductivity gas which cures to the touch in 30 seconds. The exposed surfaces of the rigid foam resemble a hard, tan colored shaving cream.

 

Thermal Advantages


Spray foam insulation boasts high insulation value. It has the best resistance to heat flow (R value per square inch) of any readily available insulation. It allows for more insulation in a smaller space than conventional batt insulations, and performs well in controlling hot or cold temperatures. Keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer and save on energy bills with Doctor Energy Smart’s spray foam products!