In determining how you should insulate and seal your new building, consider the following 7 criteria, which we employed in providing our customers with a more efficient insulation method.  We discuss both why and how we established these criteria on our About Us page.  

While there are many different insulation products and methods available today, Enviro Foam's PF-7300-0 Soya (a CCMC approved Soya-Based 2 lb. Closed Cell Urethane Spray Foam) is the only product that meets and exceeds every one the following 7 criteria.

The 7 Criteria of Highly Efficient Insulation  

1) Constant High R-Value

R-Value is a measurement of thermal resistance. A higher R-Value means a greater ability to resist heat flow. Enviro Foam has the highest R-Value (7 per inch) of any insulation product available today.  Also, unlike Fiber Insulations such as Fiberglass, Cellulose, and Rockwool, Enviro Foam has a “real world” R-Value which is not affected by external forces.  Studies by the US Department of Energy found that Fiber Insulations loose half of their R-Value when outside temperatures reach -28°C. Similar tests found the same effect from wind, with Fiber Insulations loosing half of their R-Value when exposed to a 15 km/h wind.

2) Monolithic Air-Tight Barrier

Since Enviro Foam is spray applied as a liquid and then expands 20 to 30% it fills every single nook, cranny, crevice, hole, crack, and gap.  This results in a monolithic, or continuous, air-tight seal of the building, which exceeds 500 times the National Building Code requirements.  This is extremely important, since 80% of a buildings heat loss is through convection, or air-infiltration.  Just ¼ inch of Enviro Foam eliminates nearly 100% of heat loss through convection.  Since Enviro Foam is applied after all the mechanical systems are complete, all surface penetrations are completely sealed.

3) Monolithic Moisture-Proof Vapour Barrier

The Canadian National Building Code (NBC) gives a Vapour Barrier rating to materials with a permeability rating of less than 60 ng. The Alberta Buliding Code requires a permeablity rating of less than 45 ng. Permeability, rated in ng, is a measure of the transference of grains of water through a material at a standard vapor pressure and temperature.  Enviro Foam meets the requirements of the Alberta Building Code as a Vapour Barrier, and accomplishes this low permeability due to its Closed Cell structure.  Open Cell spray foams like Icynene and Sealection have permeability ratings of over 400 ng and are not classified as Vapour Barriers by the NBC. 

Study: Field Performance of Spray Polyurethane Foam: The Role of Vapour Diffusion Control by Graham Finch, B.A.Sc. & John Straube, Ph.D. of The University of Waterloo. Download PDF

4) Increased Structural Performance

Enviro Foam has a density of 2lb. / cu. ft. and a Closed Cell structure, which increases shear and racking strength by 300%.  As a Code Approved Vapour Barrier, Enviro Foam eliminates moisture build up inside walls which eliminates mold, resulting in longer durability and increased structural integrity.  A building sprayed with Enviro Foam is also much quieter; it decreases the noise from both the exterior environment and interior mechanical systems.  Another major benefit of Enviro Foam is improved indoor air quality.  Since it creates an air-tight structure, dust and other exterior pollutants can’t enter the building through the walls.  As well, Enviro Foam does not contain formaldehyde, bleach, or any other VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) where other forms of insulation like Fiberglass and Cellulose do.

5) Environmentally Friendly

Enviro Foam is made from annually renewable Soybean oil and recycled plastic bottles.  It is also the ONLY Spray Foam Insulation product availalbe in Canada that utilizes a Zero Ozone Depletion Substance (Zero ODS) blowing agent.  A building that is insulated and sealed with Enviro Foam will also use 50% to 80% less energy, reducing fossil fuel usage and decreasing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. According to the 2003 NRC Survey of Household Energy Use, the average 2000 sq. ft. home can reduce it's GHG emissions by 4.1 tonnes, the equivilant of taking 676 SUVs off the road.

6) Standard Construction Methods Apply

Since Enviro Foam is applied at the same time in the construction process as Conventional Insulation, there is no interruption or alteration to the construction schedule.  Everything from framing, plumbing, and electrical to interior and exterior finishing is exactly the same.  Other insulation methods like Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) require drastic changes, which result in increased time and money.

7) Cost Efficient

While the initial cost of insulating and sealing your building with Enviro Foam is 3-4 times higher than using Fiberglass, it will actually add value to your home and put money in your pocket every month.  Some of the initial cost is offset by the ability to downsize the heating and cooling systems. The remaining extra cost may only affect your mortgage slightly, maybe a few dollars every month, but by using 50% to 80% less energy you could save hundreds of dollars every month on your utility bill, and add thousands of dollars in value to your home. According to the Home Appraisers Journal "A homes value increases $20 for every $1 of annual energy savings." With the rising costs of energy, your savings will continue to grow for the entire life of your building. 

If you would like to learn more about Enviro Foam and Spray Foam Insulation in general, please visit our How Enviro Foam Works page, our Why Enviro Foam Is Better page, and our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you have any more questions or would like more information please Contact Us directly. We look forward to helping you "save more than just your money."