Showing posts with label Polyurethane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Polyurethane. Show all posts

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Importance of the Climate Zone Map

In order to provide the insulation material for your building, the BASF educates contractors to reference the the U.S. Department of Energy's climate zone map. The map breaks the United States up into two main areas: dry and moist, and further breaks it down into eight zones.


Each zone has specific requirements for how spray polyurethane foam should be applied. To spare you with all the technical jargon, SPF is applied differently from one zone to the next, depending upon climates.

"Both open-cell and closed-cell spray foam are air impermeable and can help to reduce energy losses and avoid condensation by increasing the airtightness of the enclosure if the enclosure is properly designed and the spray foam is properly installed. Open-cell foam is vapor permeable so care must be taken in colder climates to minimize the risk of vapor diffusion wetting of the exterior sheathing. Hybrid applications, known as “flashand- batt” or “flash-and-fill” or “combo systems” consist of spray foam against the exterior sheathing covered with a layer of fibrous insulation. Spraying foam directly against exterior foam insulation is also possible as a hybrid approach but care must be given during the foam application process." Spray Foam Guide, Building Science Corporation 2011.

As a performance-based mid-western spray polyurethane roofing and air barrier company we take understanding the reasons behind the different applications very seriously. We are committed to providing our clients with nothing less than an exception final product so continual staff education in SPF design and installation is a priority.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

10 Things Made of Polyurethane

We don't normally spend our days wondering about what things are made up of. We like to leave that to the scientists, engineers and young children who can marvel at floating balloons. However, sometimes it is good in the understanding of a substance to know other areas that it can be used.

When we ran across this post on a blog from The Polyurethane Group, we thought it gave some great (and surprising) examples of the uses of Polyurethane.

10 Things Where Polyurethane is the Key Component:
  1. Bowling Balls
  2. Surfing Boards
  3. Roller Coasters 
  4. Soccer Balls (or European footballs)
  5. Insulation
  6. Bandages
  7. Denim 
  8. Polyurethane Coastal Protection
  9. Polyurethane Fridges in Swaziland, Africa
  10. Green Roofs
Read the entire post, "10 polyurethane applications you would not have thought of" here.