>>The Spray Foam Coalition of CPI has recently released a new document, Guidance for Best Practices for Installation of Spray Polyurethane Foam. The SPF Installation Guidance, which SPFA provided significant review and comment on, is intended to provide an overview of best practices to help professional installers use SPF effectively and efficiently to insulate homes and commercial buildings. It discusses considerations for the use and handling of materials as well as steps that help make the jobsite safe and secure. It also addresses health and safety hazards and offers steps to avoid potential issues. Steps and tips for installing, measuring, and inspecting SPF are included to supplement those offered by manufacturers. The document is posted here. 

>>The Spray Foam Coalition is finalizing a new Guidance on Ventilation for Interior Applications of High-Pressure Spray Polyurethane Foam. This new resource is intended to provide general guidance on ventilation of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) applications in new residences and during renovation and weatherization projects. Information is presented on workplace containment, ventilation design, considerations for fan size and exhaust and supply ventilation, as well as a discussion of considerations for how long to ventilate. The document is posted here. 

Recent studies that have been sponsored on the behalf of NYSERDA, insulated vinyl siding has demonstrated that it contributes to energy consumption savings as well as savings in CO2 emissions and energy costs, which means that insulated vinyl siding is capable of outperforming fiber cement when these environmental measures and energy measures are compared between the two materials. These studies were recently conducted by a group called Newport Ventures as a part of the High Performance Residential Development Challenge on the behalf of NYSERDA. The studies included the analysis of homes that were in Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills in New York. Click here for full article.