SPFA Completes New Worksite Safety Signs  
SPFA recently completed two new safety signs for restricted access to worksites (No Entry and No Hot Work). These safety signs, produced by the SPFA Safety Committee, will be offered to the membership in the Members Only section of the website, and samples will be provided in the convention bags at the 2014 SPFA SprayFoam Convention & Expo. Digital files will be available for companies to download and print for their use. These signs should be used on all worksites to aid in compliance with the OSHA NEP and Hazard Communication.
SPFA Finishes Environmental Product Declaration for SPF
As a continuing step toward effective product and environmental stewardship, SPFA and Underwriters Laboratory Environment (ULe) conducted the necessary steps to complete an SPF Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which further validates the 2012 release of the SPF Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This Declaration, along with the LCA, are recognized by sustainability experts as additional verification of a product’s environmental performance. The EPD will be maintained on the ULe website, and a link will be provided as soon as it is available. Click here for a PDF of the LCA.
 SPFA Hits 1,000th Test Milestone on Certification The SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP), rolled out in February 2013 at the SPFA Annual Convention and Expo, hit a notable milestone in November 2013 with the completion of the 1,000th test. The test was administered by Sprayfoam Nation and the test-taker was Roy Murphy of Cambridgeport Sprayfoam in Massachusetts. SPFA congratulates Roy and Cambridgeport for their commitment and dedication to excellence, along with all of the early-adopters of the PCP program that have made it a rapid success.
SPFA Publishes Cold-Climate Hybrid Insulation Guidelines for Zones 4-7
In a continuing effort among the SPFA Building Envelope Committee (BEC) to issue guidance materials on hybrid insulation, additions to the previously published Hybrid Guidelines are soon available for download by members. The new content covers "cold-climate" Zones 4-7 and recently received approval from the SPFA Technical Oversight Committee (TOC). Members recognized that, while SPF is typically the insulation of choice, the marketplace practice of producing hybrid insulation systems is prevalent and would benefit from consideration of related issues. A Hybrid Insulation System is a combination of insulation types typically arranged so the SPF insulation acts as an air barrier and/or a vapor retarder, and the other insulation type contributes by adding R-value. The document will be available in the Member Only section of the website and a link will be sent to members as soon as the document is posted.
SPFA Committee Updates
>>Building Envelope Committee (BEC) – Mark Fortney, Gaco-Western, chair
On October 2, the BEC met in-person in Tucson, Ariz. Ten members attended. The committee members present approved a new hybrid insulation guide for cold climates and a code-compliant installation certificate to include insulation and fire-protective coatings. These documents will be published by SPFA within the next several weeks. In addition, an industry-level Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for SPF is complete and will be available on the UL Environment website later this year. New BEC projects include developing a foam thickness measurement procedure, extending AY-140 to include interior basement wall application, and working with the metal building industry to update our metal buildings guidance document. A new research project to measure the compatibility of SPF with low voltage wiring will be started this year. The next BEC meeting will be by teleconference on January 13, 2014.
>>Roofing Committee (RC) – Roger Morrison, Deer Ridge Consulting, chair
The RC met by teleconference on October 22. Included in the agenda was an update from the RICOWI and RoofPoint programs, an update on the new SPF Environmental Product Declaration. The Roofing Committee members present also selected three AY documents to update during the next year including AY-102, AY-127 and AY-110. Potential new projects discussed included developing a guidance document for SPF Roofing used with Photo-Voltaic installations and a guideline for SPF Roofing and Transition Membranes. The next meeting of the Roofing Committee will be an in-person meeting on February 25, 2014, one day before the International Roofing Exposition in Las Vegas.
>>Safety Committee (SC) – Joe Bolduc, Masco Contractor Services, chair
The SC met by teleconference on November 7. The primary goal of this meeting was to develop a comprehensive contractor safety program package free for SPFA members. This package will include templates for a Written Safety Program, a Respiratory Protection program, safety training and accident recording, among other items. The SC also discussed ways to help member contractors prepare for OSHA’s new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for isocyanates, and made plans to finalize the new SPFA jobsite safety signs.
If you are interested in participating on any of the SPFA technical committees, please contact Rick Duncan, SPFA Technical Director ( rickduncan@sprayfoam.org) or any of the committee chairs listed above.
SPFA Presents at the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry Annual Conference
SPFA staff including Kurt Riesenberg, Executive Director, Kelly Marcavage, Certification Director, and Dr. Richard Duncan, Technical Director, along with Bonnie Strickler, President of PUFF Inc, all presented at the CPI Annual Conference on various topics. The new SPFA PCP certification program was highlighted along with movement of the program to accommodate company accreditations and international delivery, and SPFA exhibited in the tabletop display area. Attendance was up again for several straight years. Congratulations to CPI for another great event.
SPFA Commits Resources on Sprayfoam to Homebuilders
The SPFA Board announced a commitment to complete a builder’s checklist on SPF to improve SPF contractor – builder communication. The checklist, expected to be surpassed over time with more materials oriented toward the builders and customers, will offer useful information on installation quality, health and safety, typical planning considerations for a worksite, and highlight information about SPFA’s Professional Certification Program (PCP) to inform and empower builders on the topics that are most relevant to them.
"One of the most important things we can do as an industry to maintain a high level of quality, safety and OSHA compliance on the worksite is to coordinate with those other stakeholder industries that typically share the worksite with us," said Kurt Riesenberg, Executive Director of SPFA. "The relationship and communication between builder and sprayfoam contractor in the field is essential for success, and that is reflected in SPFA working with the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) to facilitate similar conversations across our industries," he continued. Read more here.
Start Planning for SprayFoam Convention & Expo, Jan. 26-29, 2014
-Network and develop valuable connections.Join your industry for the SPF event of the year! Imagine the possibilities:
-Find solutions to your pressing business needs.
-Learn about advances in the SPF industry.
-Get the training you need to be the best.
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Sens. Portman and Shaheen, Reps. McKinley and Burgess Headline GEED, Nov. 20
Source: ase.org
Leaders from Congress, the White House, industry, non-profits, and state and local governments across the country are coming together to share and discuss how they are working to make the U.S. the world’s most energy-efficient economy one city and state at a time. Hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy, the 11th Great Energy Efficiency Day (GEED) will feature keynotes from Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas.) and David McKinley (R-W.V.), as well as two panels on the most pressing obstacles and breakthroughs in advancing energy efficiency at the state and local levels.
November 20, 1:30-5 p.m.
Cannon House Office Building, Caucus Room 345 – Washington, D.C.
ICC Disaster Response Network Supports Communities Damaged by Natural
Disasters
Anticipating the needs of jurisdictions for assistance in
the aftermath of the recent tornadoes that impacted 12 states, the Disaster
Response Network is active. Jurisdictions can access a
database of volunteers to assist with building damage assessment,
inspections and other code-related functions. More information is available on the ICC website. Click on the
"Disaster Network" tab in the "ICC Important Information" section or call the
Disaster Support Hotline at 888-ICC-SAFE (888-422-7233), ext. 5238.
Learn About Requirements of 2013 ASHRAE Standards at Learning Institute Courses
With new versions of ASHRAE’s energy, indoor air quality and thermal comfort standards being published this year, users face new requirements. Courses addressing the updates in those standards are featured at ASHRAE’s 2014 Winter Conference, Jan. 18-22, at the New York (N.Y.) Hilton. The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo®, held in conjunction with the Winter Conference, runs Jan. 21-23, www.ahrexpo.com.
Building Science Experts' Session Is Dec. 11-12
Source: buildingscienceseminars.com
Building Science Corporation is offering a two-day Building Science Experts’ Session seminar that focuses on advanced building science topics. On the first day, Dr. Joe Lstiburek and Peter Baker will discuss Multi-Family Podium Building Envelope Design, Construction and Commissioning. On day two, Dr. Joe Lstiburek will cover Ventilation in Single-Family and Multi-Family Buildings.
BPI's Building Analyst Testing Knowledge List Now Available
Source: bpi.org
On October 31, BPI announced that the Building Analyst (BA) certification will be upgraded on February 1, 2014. The final BA Testing Knowledge List that will become active on February 1 is now available. Building science best-practices are always evolving. There's a regular flow of new tools and techniques to learn and master. The Building Analyst (BA) certification exams are being updated to ensure that Building Analysts have command of the latest best practices in whole house energy audits. In addition to verifying increased proficiency, you get a higher level of confidence from your customers, your employer, the programs you participate in and the market at large.
Click here to view, or go to BPI.org>Documents>Testing Knowledge Lists.
Click here for more information on the BA certification upgrade.
Free Benchmarking and Measurement Seminar, Nov. 26
Benchmarking and Measurement – Evaluating Where You Are, Determining Where You’re Going will be taking place Tuesday, November 26, from noon-12:30 p.m. (ET). The presenter, Tad Radzinski, PE, LEED AP, SFP, is the president of Sustainable Solutions Corporation. To register, click here.
ASHRAE Technical Program Reaches for the Sky with Focus on Tall Buildings
Source: ashrae.org
A mini-conference on tall buildings is featured in the Technical Program at ASHRAE’s 2014 Winter Conference, Jan. 18-22, at the New York Hilton, New York, N.Y. The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo®, held in conjunction with the Winter Conference, runs Jan. 21-23, www.ahrexpo.com. For complete conference information and to register, visit www.ashrae.org/newyork.
Dr. Günter Oertel Dies at 81
Source: news.bayer.de
Researcher Dr. Günter Oertel died at the age of 81 in Leverkusen, Germany, Nov. 7. "Günter Oertel is considered one of the pioneers of polyurethane chemistry. His research resulted in more than 90 international patents and countless publications," said Dr. Joachim Wolff, Head of the Polyurethanes Business Unit and member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience.
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>>OSHA Schedules Public Meeting on Proposed Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Source: osha.gov
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled a public meeting
to allow interested parties to comment on the proposed rule to improve tracking
of workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA's proposed rule amends its current
recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of
injury and illness information employers are already required to keep under
existing standards, Part 1904.
The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday,
Jan. 9, 2014, at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Requests to
attend or speak at the meeting may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the
Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail or facsimile. The deadline to request to
attend the meeting as a speaker or observer is Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. See the
Federal Register notice
for more details
>>OSHA Releases New Resources to Better Protect Workers from Hazardous Chemicals
Source: osha.gov
Each year in the United States, tens of thousands of workers are made sick or die from occupational exposures to the thousands of hazardous chemicals that are used in workplaces every day. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched two new web resources to assist companies with keeping their workers safe. While many chemicals are suspected of being harmful, OSHA's exposure standards are out-of-date and inadequately protective for the small number of chemicals that are regulated in the workplace. The first resource OSHA has created is a toolkit to identify safer chemicals that can be used in place of more hazardous ones. This toolkit walks employers and workers step-by-step through information, methods, tools and guidance to either eliminate hazardous chemicals or make informed substitution decisions in the workplace by finding a safer chemical, material, product or process. The toolkit is available at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/safer_chemicals/index.html.
>>ACC Offers Recommendations to Improve New Worker Safety Tools Released by OSHA
Source: americanchemistry.com
In response to the release of several new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) resources intended to help protect workers from hazardous chemicals, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued a statement, available here.
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>>SPRAYFOAM CONVENTION & EXPO DETAILS – January 26-29, 2014
The 2014 Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Annual Convention and Expo is just months away! Every year the convention delivers to you, the SPF professional, the best of the best information available on the industry. SPFA’s promise is to capture the most current and relevant information and deliver an experience you will appreciate, remember, and that will have an impact upon your business.
>>2013 SPFA CONTRACTOR AWARDS
• ROOF FOAM GREATER THAN 40,000 FT SQ – West Roofing Systems, Inc.
• ROOF FOAM LESS THAN 40,000 FT SQ – Biofoam Inc.
>>SPEAKING SENSIBLY by Dr. Richard Duncan: SPF for Unvented Attics in Existing Buildings -- Application Guidelines Before, During and After Installation
Performing retrofit installations of SPF in existing buildings is a complex process. In addition to performing a quality SPF installation in a safe manner, addressing the comfort and safety of the occupants are critical.
>>LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: LEED Amendments by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group LLC
>>BEHIND THE FOAM: John Guffey and Team Are Raisingthe SPF Bar with Energy One America
>>ABAA NEWS: Standards – Help or Hindrance? by Laverne Dalgleish
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 Publishes New Membership BrochureAvailable on the SPFA website, the brochure highlights some of the various benefits of membership and activities of the organization as it pursues its mission to represent SPF professionals in areas of technical and environmental leadership, government advocacy, professional certification, industry promotion and outreach, and delivery of a world-class convention and expo. Please check out the brochure if you have been considering joining SPFA and support our mission to serve you.
For more information or to access the application to join, please click here.
SPFA Membership Directory and Buyers' Guide
Members in good standing are listed in this publication, which was mailed to members in September. This directory is also available in a digital format here. The convenient digital format allows users to navigate and access the directory's content quickly and easily, on the road or in the office. Use the information provided to contact fellow SPFA members and industry partners throughout the year to share ideas, ask questions, or just stay in touch.
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 are the 2013 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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SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP) Updates
Since SPFA completed development of the SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP) and publicly rolled it out at its annual convention and expo in February 2013, the response has been overwhelming. SPFA members and partners -- including Gaco Western, Premium Spray Systems, Demilec, Bayer Material Science, Spray Foam Nation and the ABAA Conference -- have all hosted testing sessions. More sessions are scheduled or are upcoming at CertainTeed, Icynene, Diamond Liners, MC&C Equipment, Foampak, Conklin, Premium Spray Systems, Quadrant Urethanes, and NCFI, with more being added continually. 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.
November/December SPFA PCP Exam Preparatory Courses, Written Examinations and Field Examinations
SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP) is pleased to announce upcoming SPFA PCP Exam Preparatory Courses, Written Examinations and Field Examinations. New locations are frequently added, so be sure to check www.sprayfoam.org Certification Calendar of Events for the most complete list!
November 18-20, 2013
Indianapolis, IN
Hosted by: MC&C Equipment
Click here for more info.
Registrations closed.
November 18-20
Slidell, LA
Hosted by: Spray Foam Nation
Click here for more info.
November 19-21
Rogers, MN
Hosted by: Icynene
Click here for more info.
December 3-6
Arlington, TX
Hosted by: Demilec
Click here for more info.
December 10-12
Santa Fe Springs, CA
Hosted by: Diamond Liners
Click here for more info.
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.
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Call for presenter proposals are due Feb. 10, 2014. A 400-word abstract addressing a specific topic and speaker background information are required. Notifications will be issued in March 2014.
NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company SAFE Awards Now Accepting Entries
Source: nahb.org
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is now accepting applications for the 2013 NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE). The awards program recognizes home builders and contractors who have developed and implemented high quality workplace safety programs, and also honors government officials and NAHB-affiliated associations who work to advance safety in the home building industry.
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry Seeking Papers, Posters for the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council has issued a call for papers and posters to be presented at the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, which will take place September 22-24, 2014 at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, Texas. Paper abstracts are due February 3, 2014. Submission instructions and guidelines for development of papers and posters can be found on CPI’s website, www.polyurethane.org. Poster abstracts are due August 22, 2014.
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>>The Building Codes Assistance Project Updates on Building Energy Codes
Source: energycodesocean.org
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 from the BCAP Code Alerts released 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.
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Alliance to Save Energy Efficiency News
Source: ase.org/efficiency-news
Results of the Latest State Energy Efficiency Scorecard
Source: aceee.org
Energy efficiency measures are thriving in state capitals around the United
States, with several states --including Mississippi, Connecticut, Illinois, and
West Virginia -- taking major steps that moved them up the ranks in the seventh
annual edition of the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released by
ACEEE. For the first time in the history of the State Scorecard, the
2013 ranking of the states is being released with the participation of a U.S.
Department
of Energy secretary, Dr. Ernest Moniz, along with a top elected
official of a state, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Available online at http://aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard, the State Scorecard shows that the top 10 states for energy efficiency are:
Massachusetts, California, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont,
Washington, Maryland, and Illinois.
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The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® released the 2014 edition of Five Technology Trends to Watch, an annual publication that examines five prominent technology trends that will influence the consumer electronics (CE) industry in the years ahead. The publication was released during a panel discussion at CEA’s Industry Forum in Los Angeles, a three-day conference designed to inform and connect CE industry leaders.
This year, Five Techs examines key technology trends from the Internet of Things (IoT) to driverless cars, digital health care, robotics and the future of video distribution and consumption. Geared toward industry professionals, this publication provides in-depth analysis and outlines related issues and market forecasts for the coming year. Each section also explores consumer perspectives, partnerships, key players and public policy issues.
"A Hundred Billion Nodes" looks at how the IoT is using vast webs of information to "learn" consumer habits and needs and enrich our lives. As more digital devices replace their analog forbearers, there are growing opportunities for electronics to take over many of the analog tasks now handled by humans. "There is an implied assumption that the Internet of Things will bring greater productivity," writes CEA’s Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac.
Meanwhile, CEA’s Senior Manager of Business Intelligence Jack Cutts looks at where the major auto makers are in testing and refining their driverless vehicles, and the legal and social implications of ceding the open road to science in "On the Road to Driverless Cars".
"The technology industry is always changing, evolving and innovating and this report provides crucial insight into the trends that are revolutionizing our lives and impacting our future," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "Using exclusive CEA market research, the trends highlighted in this report show promise and hold significant potential in the marketplace."
Five Technology Trends to Watch is a special supplement to CEA’s bi-monthly flagship publication, It Is Innovation (i3). The complete publication can be found online at CE.org/FiveTechs.
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