Big Green: RE: Spray Insulation & VOC's

[Andrew Gil]

Mona,

Yes, actually I've subscribed to EBN since the early 1990's and I visit BigGreen.com regularly and often. I still don't think of looking there for interpreting LEED requirements, but clearly I should, and will remember from now on. Having said that, you've answered my question ONLY because one of the articles that you've referenced referred to  spray insulation as a "plastic foam". I'm  not disputing that for a second, but the happenstance of one writer using terminology that a reader recognizes from a list of materials in a reference standard is a pretty tenuous connection as far as I'm concerned; again, I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be enforced, but since the REAL point is to help folks like us to know what/when/how matters, I think that at the very least, "spray insulations" should be listed more prominently in the SCAQMD (or LEED) list of Specialty Applications. To beat a dead horse; I've shared the very same article you sent me with quite a few people since it came out , have it in my electronic library and know it well, but think of a product description as a place to look for definition of a LEED requirement. Maybe this discussion will lead to that change?

Thanks so very much,

Andrew

Andrew M. Gil, AIA
Architect, LEED-Accredited Professional

HOLT Architects, P.C.
217 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
p. 607 273-7600
f. 607 273-0475
http://www.holt.com
From: Eigbrett, Mona [mailto:Mona.Eigbrett at hdrinc.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:09 PM
To: Andrew Gil
Subject: RE: Spray Insulation & VOC's

Hi, Andrew - out of curiosity I Googled your question. One website provides their 'answer': http://www.biobased.net/leed/index.php

Credit 4.1 - Low Emitting Materials: Adhesives & Sealants
Reduce the concentration of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
BioBased Insulation(tm) utilizes water as its blowing agent, therefore falls below the 50 VOC g/L less water limit that is set for plastic foams, and can be incorporated into a variety of substrate types and specific applications.
~~~~~
And here is a thorough (as usual) BuildingGreen link: http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/2005/1/1/Insulation-Thermal-Performance-is-Just-the-Beginning/

I suspect you know about both of these sources (but since I came across them, I thought I should send them).

Good luck!

Mona


________________________________
From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org [mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Gil
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 3:44 PM
To: Biggreen (biggreen at lists.biggreen.org); 'Greenbuilding' (greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org)
Cc: Leed at Usgbc. Org (leed at usgbc.org)
Subject: Spray Insulation & VOC's
Has anyone stumbled across the question of whether the LEED has VOC limits for spray insulation? We've assumed that it would, and that this would be covered under EQ-4.1 Adhesives and Sealants and the reference standard SCAQMD Rule 1168. However, even though there is definitions of, and/or mention of "aerosol -special purpose- adhesives", "foam" and "Polyurethane Foams", we don't see any product classifications or Specialty Applications that apply to this type of product. Of course I think that it SHOULD be covered, but the immediate question is whether inclusion is mandated and to what VOC limit?

Many Thanks,


Andrew M. Gil, AIA
Architect, LEED-Accredited Professional

HOLT Architects, P.C.
217 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
p. 607 273-7600
f. 607 273-0475
http://www.holt.com
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