Cost-Effective Building Design Using Spray Foam

Spray foam is different. It allows an architect to use one product for many purposes: to achieve an air barrier, vapor barrier and provide effective insulation. Spray foam can provide you with a cost-effective building design and energy efficient building performance.

Designing with Spray Foam

Spray foam is an excellent way that you can incorporate energy reductions into your building design. The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) conducted a life cycle assessment of spray foam insulation. The results of the study show that the energy and environmental benefits from spray foam insulation used in new residential construction and commercial roofing retrofits far outweigh the embodied energy and embodied environmental impacts. Learn more about SPFA’s life cycle assessment of spray foam insulation.

Prevention

Spray foam helps control moisture. Open- and closed-cell spray foam can act as a moisture vapor barrier. In addition, sealing gaps and air leaks can prevent humidity and condensation within a building. Spray foam also helps prevent mold. By controlling moisture, spray foam can limit one of the key variables that can lead to mold growth.

Durability

Spray foam makes buildings more durable. Fewer moisture problems result in a more durable building. Also, medium density, closed-cell spray foam can be used to make wall assemblies stronger by increasing their racking strength.

Flexibility

Spray foam provides design flexibility. Spray foam expands to fill cavities, crevices, and gaps –even awkward or difficult to reach areas—allowing you to be creative with your design.

The energy and environmental benefits from spray foam insulation used in new residential construction and commercial roofing retrofits far outweigh the embodied energy and embodied environmental impacts.

Designing Spaces—Think Green™

Allyson Wilson from the American Chemistry Council serves as our guide through the world of spray foam insulation and its “green” benefits. Shown is a home undergoing an important renovation with spray foam.

Energy Reductions in Your Building Design

As much as 40% of a building’s energy is lost due to air infiltration. Gaps, holes and air leaks—which can all be prevented—can make energy bills unnecessarily high and let valuable resources go to waste.

New Building Codes

States and localities continue to adopt codes that encourage or mandate increased energy efficiency. Spray foam can help you meet or exceed stringent building and energy codes.

Spray foam is an air barrier. Effective air barriers are now an integral part of building codes and standards, and they can increase the efficiency of mechanical systems, which could allow for additional savings in reduced HVAC requirements.
Incorporating spray foam in your building design can help you achieve LEED certification or NAHB Green Building certification.
Some jurisdictions may offer tax credits, rebates, grants, or other incentives for architects and building designers who include SPF in their building designs.