Page 3 - Icynene v. Rigid Foam Ebook
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Here are nine comparison points you need to know FIGURE 4. A cold weather exterior continuous insulation
application of Icynene ProSeal Eco medium density spray foam
(for full details on these points, download the free in Michigan - November 2014.
White Paper “The Performance Benefits of
using Medium Density Spray Foam in Continuous
Insulation Applications.”
1. CODE COMPLIANCE allows some folks who don’t want to take full advantage
of the system the ability to add redundancy as a
Energy codes are requiring higher thermal performance supplemental water barrier.”
values in walls, particularly in the form of exterior
continuous insulation. Using spray foam dramatically The proper use of an exterior continuous insulation
increases the effective thermal performance of a wall system would result in the elimination of large thermal
since most thermal bridging is eliminated, resulting in bridges that often plague a building, such as perimeter
increased wall energy efficiency and occupant comfort. concrete floor edges and exposed concrete and steel
structural columns and beams.
The notion of using spray foam stems from these more
stringent code changes, which have highlighted need for With R-values for Icynene’s medium density products
three things: continuous insulation, a continuous air ranging from R-4.9 to R-7 per inch of thickness, spray
barrier, and a water-resistant barrier. foam typically meets or exceeds the thermal performance
of comparable thickness rigid foam insulation board
“Yes, it’s possible to use other products for those things, products. With its greater thermal resistance, the use of
but it requires multiple products often with multiple spray foam insulation can lead to reductions in overall
installation steps, with added cost when you can do it wall thickness over foam board designs, thereby providing
with one product that accomplishes many steps in one,” a building owner with additional value.
Duffy says. “That raises the possibility of efficiency,
reduced cost and shorter construction schedules, and Furthermore, because it is fully adhered to the substrate,
there are fewer opportunities for convection and/or air
FIGURE 3. In this window head detail, the spray foam working in leakage around the insulation to reduce its performance.
conjunction with the thru wall flashing create a water resistive This advantage becomes even greater when walls are
barrier that facilitates any accumulated moisture in the wall non-rectangular/odd-shaped or the wall has penetrations
cavity to drain out via the weep and drip edge flashing systems. like anchors, attachments, fasteners or piping that board
products have a difficult time fitting around.
2. AIRTIGHTNESS
For an exterior insulation application, medium density
spray foam products have the advantage of creating a
continuous insulation and air barrier layer in one step.
With no board joints to tape, airtight performance
becomes much easier to deliver along with cost and
construction schedule savings that impress general
contractors and owners alike.
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THE EVOLUTION OF INSULATION ™
