SPFA Forms Advisory Council for New PCP Certification Program
SPFA recently held its Board of Directors meeting and produced several actions, including the agreement over a formation of an Advisory Council for the new PCP certification program consisting of representatives from general construction and industry. The Board also directed staff to form a Task Group with NAHB representatives to complete a reference document on SPF for homebuilders, and committed to bringing more accessible resources to its members similar to the recent webinars on ventilation practice, building science and the new OSHA NEP.
Start Planning for SprayFoam Convention & Expo, Jan. 26-29, 2014
Join your industry for the SPF event of the year! Imagine the possibilities:
-Network and develop valuable connections.
-Find solutions to your pressing business needs.
-Learn about advances in the SPF industry.
-Get the training you need to be the best.
Industry-Level Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for SPF in Progress
In November 2012, SPFA released final reports that documented the SPF industry's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. This announcement and detailed report can be found by clicking here. This study documents the detailed results of the overwhelmingly net-positive environmental impacts of generic LD, MD and roofing SPF products from cradle to end-of-life. The six impacts studied include primary energy demand, global warming (carbon footprint), ozone depletion, eutrophication (nitrogen release), smog and acidification (acid rain). While the study met all requirements of ISO-14040 and 14044, the results need to be summarized in a third-party environmental product declaration (EPD). EPD's, following the Product Category Rules (PRC) for insulation, provide an important verification of the results that assist in product selection under sustainable building programs such as USGBC's LEED, IgCC, GreenGlobes and other similar programs. UL Environments will be the most likely developer of the SFPA's industry-level EPD. For more information on the EPD development, please contact Rick Duncan, Technical Director of SPFA at rickduncan@sprayfoam.org.
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Polyurethanes Conference Debuts New Workshop on Environment, Health & Safety
 Attendees at the 2013 Polyurethanes Technical Conference can look forward to a new pre-conference workshop on the environmental, health and safety (EHS) issues related to diisocyanates. Hosted by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council, the conference will take place Sept. 23-25 in Phoenix. Titled "Introduction to Environmental, Health and Safety Issues Relative to Diisocyanates," the workshop will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22, 1-5 p.m. During the workshop, industry experts will discuss the fundamental concepts of EHS regulations, industrial hygiene, toxicology, medical surveillance and exposure controls.
ASHRAE Names New Distinguished Lecturers
ASHRAE has named eight new Distinguished Lecturers who provide Society chapters with noted authorities and speak on relevant topics that impact the built environment industry. This marks the 14th year of the Distinguished Lecturer Program, with over 1,600 lectures given since the program began in 1996. The total 77 Lecturers for the 2013-14 Society year represent 13 countries, including Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States. These lecturers are available to present on 345 topics and speak a combined 10 languages. The eight new Lecturers are: Donald Beaty, P.E., James Coogan, P.E., Marlene Linders, Bjarne Olesen, Ph.D., Douglas Reindl, Ph.D., P.E., Roger Schmidt, Ph.D., Gordon Sharp and Donald Wulfinghoff, P.E. For more information, click here.
CPI and BPI Offer Free Sprayfoam Training Continuing Education
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) and the Building Performance Institute, Inc., (BPI) added spray polyurethane foam (SPF) chemical health and safety training courses to BPI’s continuing education program. CPI’s training programs for High- and Low-pressure SPF Chemical Health and Safety are now eligible to contribute part of the requirements needed in earning a BPI credential. Each CPI course has been approved for 2-2.5 CEU by BPI.
Free Resources for Professionals, ASHRAE Annual Conference Highlights
BASF to Increase Global Capacities for Butanediol and PolyTHF
BASF will increase its global capacities for producing the chemical intermediate 1,4‑butanediol (BDO) and the BDO derivative PolyTHF® (chemical name: polytetramethylene ether glycol, PTMEG) within the coming two years. BASF’s annual BDO capacity will rise from 535,000 to 650,000 metric tons, its annual PolyTHF capacity from 250,000 to 350,000 metric tons. With respect to PolyTHF, BASF had already announced a capacity increase from 185,000 to 250,000 metric tons per year in August 2012. BDO and its derivatives are used for producing plastics, solvents, electronic chemicals and elastic fibers. The starting materials for the production of conventional BDO are natural gas, butane, butadiene and propylene. Click here for details.
Some of the articles in Summer 2013 issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional magazine include:
2013 SPFA CONTRACTOR AWARDS
>>SPECIALTY APPLICATION -- Complex Project on Residence Shaped Like Stack of Books
>>COMMERCIAL WALL FOAM -- Heavenly Results: LDS Temple Calls Upon SPF to Rise to Occasion
CHECKLIST -- How to Reduce Exposures During SPF Application
NEW COLUMN! SPEAKING SENSIBLY -- Are You Ready to Grow with the Improving Economy?
SAFETY FIRST -- Effect of Ventilation Rates on Applicator Exposure During SPF Application
If you didn't receive this issue in the mail or via email and would like to be on future distribution lists, click here to sign up.
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 SPFA 2013 National Contractor Excellence Award Winning ProjectsCongratulations to all the winners in the 2013 Annual SPFA National Contractor Excellence Awards. These projects are examples of SPF’s unique performance, applicability and appeal. In upcoming issues of SPRAYFOAM Professional, various winning projects will be spotlighted.
Here is the full list of winners:
>>Arizona Foam & Spray: Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
>>Spray-Tec Inc.: Bluegrass Community and Technical College Newtown Pike Campus
>>Southwest Spray Foam LLC: Television Personality Steve Thomas
>>Smart Choice Insulation & Roofing, Inc.: The Flour Tower
>>West Roofing Systems, Inc.: Boulevard Terrace & Neal Terrace Apartments
>>Honeywell Building Envelope Solutions: 206,000 sq.ft. re-roofing over BUR with extensive removal
>>Biofoam: Fermilab
>>West Roofing Systems, Inc.: Playhouse Square 14th Street Theatre Roof Reconstruction
>>Insulate SB, Inc: The Book House
>>J. Calman Industries: Coastal Progress – Marine Vessel
SPFA Member Benefits
SPFA knows there are lots of organizations out there that would like to have you in their membership. But if you are in, or getting into, the sprayfoam business, we are the place for you. We work hard to represent you well and give you value back for your support. Click here to find out more.
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Source: NathanF, www.offthegridnews.com
From the standpoint of preppers and off-the-gridders, wise and careful use of energy is an imperative. There are no two ways about it: If you are attempting to make a go of it as an independent homesteader, energy efficiency and conservation are the cat’s meow, the bee’s knees, and the sundae with the cherry on top all rolled into one.
Source: ScienceDaily.com
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have clocked the fastest-possible electrical switching in magnetite, a naturally magnetic mineral. Scientists using SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser found that it takes only 1 trillionth of a second to flip the on-off electrical switch in samples of magnetite, which is thousands of times faster than in transistors now in use. The results were published July 28 in Nature Materials.
By Chuck Soder
Yup, one of the world's most popular actresses and beautiful women is now practically, kinda, sorta, a member of my family. Ms. Johansson, along with her crew and two small dogs (one of which is purple), moved into the Lakewood home/palace in May, before she started shooting scenes around town for "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."
Sure, the movie ruined my commute to downtown Cleveland for a few weeks and would never have been shot here if it weren't for the state tax credit, but I can't complain. My extended family has benefited from her stay in a number of ways.
My father-in-law, Dick West - who owns West Roofing Systems of LaGrange, which also won a contract to fix the roof of a warehouse that housed explosives for the movie - received a sizable rent payment to get out of town for a few weeks....
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SPF Professional Certification Program (PCP) Updates
Since SPFA completed development of the SPF Professional Certification Program (PCP) and publicly rolled it out at its annual convention and expo in February, already almost 800 tests have been administered. SPFA members and partners, including Gaco Western, Premium Spray Systems, Demilec, Bayer Material Science, and the ABAA Conference have all hosted testing sessions. More sessions are scheduled over the next several weeks at locations including CertainTeed, Sprayfoam Nation, Conklin, Premium Spray Systems, Quadrant Urethanes, and NCFI, with more getting scheduled all the time. SPFA is working presently on the development of a Contractor, Distributor and Manufacturer Firm Accreditation program to complement the new certification program. To find out more about the program, enroll, register for a test, or get set up for one of the upcoming testing locations, email admin@spfapcp.org or call (866) 222-5000 and simply state what you want to do. They will either process you or get you with the right people.
Spray Foam Nation will be offering SPFA Master Installer Exams every Friday in July and August. The 3-Day Training Plus SPFA Certification will be July 17-19, and 5-Day Training Plus SPFA Certified Combo Package on Aug. 5-9. Contractors will be able to take prep courses and exams that will earn them SPFA Certification for various levels (Assistant, Master Installer and Project Manager) as well as taken advantage of hands-on training.
In a June 19 press release, the Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) of the American Chemistry Council announced its support of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance's (SPFA) new Professional Certification Program for sprayfoam applicators. The Coalition strongly supports this new program that will continue to expand the ongoing efforts of the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry to create the highest standards of quality and professionalism for its customers.
"The SPF industry has for many years and will continue to support the safe and appropriate use of SPF," said SFC Senior Director Lee Salamone. "SPFA has created a first-rate certification program to continually raise the bar on safety, performance, quality and professionalism among SPF industry professionals and help give building owners confidence when choosing an SPF applicator."
SPFA launched its new Professional Certification Program at the Spray Foam 2013 Convention & Expo. The program was developed in compliance with the ANSI/ISO 17024 standard. Individual certifications will be available at four different levels in the two categories of insulation and roofing. To become certified under SPFA's new program, individuals must pass an exam and meet various criteria for any level of certification they would like to achieve. It is a progressive program with each level based on the candidate passing the exam for the previous level.
SPF is an excellent insulation choice for building owners. It insulates and acts as an air barrier, both of which are critical to making buildings comfortable and reducing heating and cooling costs.
Gaco Western, a leader in innovative spray foam insulation products, is pleased to announce that the company has made a commitment to ensure GacoWallFoam contractors are certified under the SPFA Professional Certification Program by January 1, 2015.
Demilec USA Holds SPFA Certification Seminar
Demilec USA, LLC held a preparatory seminar June 25-28 to assist contractors and installers to certify under the SPFA Professional Certification Program. The goal was to prepare the attendees to take the SPFA examinations for the various levels of installer (applicator) certification, plus there was a day of business training and a full day of hands-on training including spray technique, troubleshooting and equipment maintenance. On the final day of training, all students had the opportunity to take the tests for any of the SPFA certifications. For details on future SPFA Certification training with Demilec, click here.
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Bayer MaterialScience LLC has rejoined the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and will support its efforts to raise industry standards for spray foam application training and certification.
The SPFA has designed a sprayfoam insulation contractor certification program that requires applicators to have the necessary background, training, and testing to install spray polyurethane foam safely. Bayer, who had developed its own applicator training program, will now recognize the SPFA Insulation Master Installer certification as comparable to the Bayer bronze accreditation level for spray polyurethane foam application.
Bayer will work with the SPFA to improve their current certification program, as well as expand its coverage to include contractor companies, distributors and manufacturers. As an industry leader, Bayer recognizes the importance of customer accreditation and for every spray foam applicator to have the proper safety and application training. Bayer will continue its efforts through the SPFA, the Center for the Polyurethane Industry’s Spray Foam Coalition, the Insulation Contractors Association of America and other organizations to advance spray polyurethane foam product stewardship along the value chain.
Renewing its membership in the SPFA will give Bayer an added opportunity to support the industry through product stewardship, codes initiatives, research, and educational programs to connect with customers.
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June 25, 2013, OSHA announces new National Emphasis Program for occupational exposure to isocyanates. The official announcement can be found here, and the associated Directive found here. This National Emphasis (aka enforcement) Program is directed at roughly 20 industries using isocyanates, including spray polyurethane foam insulation and roofing.
"This is a major development, perhaps the most impactful regulation affecting the industry in recent memory," said SPFA Executive Director Kurt Riesenberg. "I find the intent of the NEP understandable taking into account the focus of the federal agencies on SPF specifically and Iso generally, but there are several elements of this enforcement program that are very, and surprisingly discomforting, and we are going to need some close work with OSHA to get it worked out," he continued. The concerns range from the Directive atypically casting a wide net to include targeted companies with fewer than 10 employees, the mandated minimum number of inspections OSHA regional and local offices are going to conduct and the selection process of those to be inspected, and a question over the treatment of PEL for isocyanates in the SPF installation environment. "SPFA has developed a very good working relationship with OSHA and other agencies over the past four years and looks forward to working on these issues with them and on the members’ behalf," said Riesenberg.
Members are strongly encouraged to review the requirements and expectations of OSHA inspectors that can be found in the Directive. This is a priority for OSHA. Resources and teams of inspectors are being tasked to this, and at least one SPF contractor already had an inspection scheduled within days of the announcement.
Check the SPFA website, member-only section, Twitter and Facebook pages along with Sprayfoam Professional magazine for up-to-date information on this subject as it becomes available.
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 SPFA Looks for Input on Draft of Builders Handbook At the 2013 NAHB IBS show in Las Vegas, SPFA offered a compendium of spray foam technical, safety, contractor certification, and installation information of specific interest to home builders during one of the sessions, "What You Need to Know When Working with Spray Polyurethane Insulation for Residential Buildings." To accompany the session, a draft of the SPFA Builders Reference Handbook was released. The document is a draft and will evolve with input received from builders. You are invited to download this document for free and let us know where we can make it better.
The call for papers for a conference focused on the design, construction and operation of buildings in developing economies has been extended until Aug. 16.
Organized by ASHRAE along with the Philippines Chapter, the "Efficient, High Performance Buildings for Developing Economies" Conference will take place April 24-25, 2014, in Manila, Philippines. It is co-sponsored by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and endorsed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
Abstracts (400 or less words in length) are due Aug. 16, 2013. If accepted, papers are due Nov. 15, 2013. Submittal information can be found at www.ashrae.org/Developing2014.
Call for Papers for ASHRAE 2014 Annual Conference
ASHRAE is seeking papers for its 2014 Annual Conference in Seattle, Wash., June 28-July 2, 2014.
The Conference addresses broad topics in the application of technology to practice, specific applications in ground source heat pumps, O&M and indoor environmental quality, as well as new reports on research taking place worldwide.
The second annual Research Summit seeks papers that report on HVAC&R research with particular emphasis on high performance building design and its role in a clean energy economy, and brings together researchers to present and discuss the latest research. Papers describing ASHRAE-related research are encouraged as well as papers from societies and associations worldwide.
As with past ASHRAE Conferences, the Seattle Conference also seeks papers addressing advances and practices across HVAC&R systems, equipment, fundamentals and applications.
Conference paper abstracts are due Sept. 23, 2013. Upon acceptance, papers will be due Jan. 9, 2014. These papers undergo a single-blind review.
Full technical papers are due Sept. 23, 2013. Papers submitted for review must be both technically accurate and clearly written. These papers undergo a rigorous double-blind review and will be published in ASHRAE Transactions.
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The Building Codes Assistance Project releases regular updates on building energy codes through its quarterly BCAP Newsletter and weekly Code Alert Bulletin.
BCAP Newsletters are quarterly summaries of what's been happening at the Building Codes Assistance Project and building energy code progress around the nation. To access the full archive, click here. Here are some of the recent alerts:
>>New General Alerts
DOE - Department Releases Building Performance Database >>Ongoing General Alerts
DOE - Department Issues Final Rule on Energy Efficiency in Federal Buildings
BCAP Code Alert Bulletins are released weekly by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its website, the Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN). Code Alert Bulletins are designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption and implementation of building energy codes. The bulletins highlight immediate opportunities to influence state and local policy outcomes, indicate code status, and recommend contacts for action. If you know of activity that should be on this bulletin or would like to sign up for this bulletin, contact Matt Kerns at (202) 530-2252 or mkerns@ase.org.
Building Codes Assistant Project: Annual Report 2012
BCAP is a team of the Alliance to Save Energy and -- by working in collaboration and partnership with stakeholders across the country and around the world -- is making enormous strides by driving energy efficiency through creation, adoption and effective implementation of building energy codes. One of the most important accomplishments of 2012 was the creation of the National Energy Codes Collaborative, which will ensure future success by maintaining strong lines of communication and coordination among the many important groups and organizations working to advance dynamic building energy codes. See news release here.
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Alliance to Save Energy Efficiency News
Updates from ASE include:
For complete list of ASE's Efficiency News articles, click here.
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Building Science Fundamentals is a two-day seminar that teaches the basic knowledge needed to design and build durable, energy efficient, affordable and healthy buildings. The registration fee for this seminar is $795.
The 2013 Polyurethanes Technical Conference will be held September 23-25, 2013. CPI is now accepting poster abstracts for the conference. Poster abstracts are due August 22, 2013.
Building industry professionals are heading to Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort with a real purpose - to learn the science and above code strategies behind energy efficient and high performance building practices, to understand new regulations and legislative measures, and to capitalize on increasing opportunities.
Designed for current users who want to take it to the next level, this class will enhance the quality and speed of your WUFI results. Tips and tricks, hands-on practice with advanced examples, and discussion of field validation exercises are all part of this advanced seminar. The registration fee for this seminar is $395.
Commercial Building Energy Audits, part of the ASHRAE Learning Institute fall online course series, includes a summary of materials essential for performing ASHRAE Level 1, 2 and 3 audits; time-saving tips for energy auditors; how to hire an auditor; what to ask for in a comprehensive audit report; how to build a successful energy efficiency retrofit team; tips to make site visits quicker and more effective; tools to make analysis of billing data and energy savings faster and more accurate; and tools to perform diagnostics using measured data.
Building Science Experts’ Session is an annual two-day seminar that focuses on advanced building science topics. This session is intended to provide thought provoking professional development for experienced building industry professionals who are interested in healthy, durable and energy efficient new and old buildings. The registration fee for this seminar is $795.
Since 1975, World of Concrete has been the industry’s only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. Featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits, innovative products and technologies, demonstrations and competitions, an education program, and the information you need to help sustain and grow your business.
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