RE: California Department of Toxic Substances Control Proposed Regulation of Chemicals Utilized in Spray Polyurethane Foam "for Home and Building Insulation, Weatherizing and Sealing, and Roofing"
As a leading voice for the spray polyurethane foam industry, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is aware of, and disappointed, by the March 13, 2014 announcement by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) regarding the Department’s draft regulation on the use of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation and roofing.
With industry best practices and the safe and effective installation of spray foam representing two core missions of the organization, SPFA has consistently, openly and transparently collaborated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the safe use of spray foam ingredients and systems over the past half-decade. While SPFA understands and emphasizes that the recent DTSC announcement is not a ban of spray polyurethane foam (or the use of diisocyanates found in a multitude of consumer products), it considers the announcement unfortunate as it undermines the desire among California private and professional customers for a safe and effective building product that delivers on performance.
California has demanded increased energy efficiency performance of homes and buildings in a way that few products other than spray foam can deliver, and simultaneously initiated efforts to regulate the product in a way that may render its performance impotent.
Read full statement here.
>> SPFA to Elect New Board Members
This is an election year for the SPFA Board of Directors. Nominations will go out in April to the membership. Any member in good standing may self-nominate or nominate any other member that is also in good-standing. The nomination process will close and the election ballots will go out electronically, with the election concluding in May 2014. The new Board of Directors will be seated on July 1, 2014 for their two-year term. If interested in serving on the SPFA Board, please watch for the nomination and election forms in your email, or access them once available in the member-only section of the SPFA website.
>> 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 is maintained on the ULe website, available at www.sprayfoam.org/technical. The LCA is available there, as well.
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>>IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service Issues ER-285 to Quadrant Urethane Technologies
IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service (UES) announced that Texas-based Quadrant Urethane Technologies was granted UES Evaluation Report ER-285 to reference the 2012, 2009 and 2006 editions of the International Building Code® (IBC), the International Residential Code® (IRC) and the International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC). ER-285 states that the Quadrant Urethane Technologies products as shown in the report satisfy applicable code requirements. This allows for the specification of QuadFoam® NatureSeal 500 by architects, contractors, specifiers, and designers, and approval of installations by code officials. It also provides code officials with a concise summary of the products’ attributes and documentation of code compliance. Click here for more information.
>>SPFA Sponsors U.S. DoE Student Competition -- Winners Announced
Source: energy.gov
As part of
its Building America Program, the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) invited college students across the United States to participate
in the DOE Challenge Home Student Design Competition and become part of a
leadership movement to achieve truly sustainable homes. There were 28 teams from across North America and more than 300 students participating.
From April 26-28 at the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory in Golden, Colo., the teams presented their
designs and competition awards were announced in these categories: Grand Winners, Best Design Solution Integration, Best Technical Integration, Best Presentation and Best Production Home Integration.
The Grand Winners were:
>Montage Builders Northern Forest: State University of New York – Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse University, and Onondaga Community College - Best Single-Family Detached Design ( project profile | presentation)
For a complete list of winners, click here. >>Free Monthly Webinars with U.S. Dept. of Energy Building America Program
Source: energy.gov
U.S. Department of Energy Building America program to present monthly webinars that will offer information about the latest advances in residential building technologies and practices. The next webinar is entitled, HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING ENCLOSURES: PART I, EXISTING HOMES, and will be held May 21 at 3 p.m. EDT. The webinar will focus on specific Building America projects that have implemented technical solutions to retrofit building enclosures to improve energy and durability.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.
>>SPFA PCP Training Puts Honeywell Solstice® LBA to the Test
At SPFA’s SprayFoam 2014, contractors gathered to complete the SPFA Professional Certification Program. For the first time, roof field exams were offered as part of the program. Contractors sprayed a West Development Group roof system made with Honeywell’s new low global warming potential Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent. View the video (http://youtu.be/85Nbs614vuM) for the full story.
Contractors were impressed by the foam’s ease of spraying, good rise and smooth, glass-like finish. Solstice LBA is a nonflammable, VOC-exempt (U.S. EPA) foam blowing agent with an ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) of 1 (compared to a GWP of greater than 800 for HFC alternatives). Honeywell is gearing up to meet demand with a new Solstice LBA production facility. The new plant is nearing completion and large-scale commercial quantities will be available in Q2 2014. (See related articles in the upcoming SPRAYFOAM Professional Summer 2014 issue. Also, the cover photo is of the plant during its construction phase, in April 2014.)
>>BPI Announces Manufacturer Product Listing Program for the Home Performance Industry
Source: bpi.org
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) announced the launch of the BPI Product Listing Program, a system that will evaluate and list the home performance tools, products and materials that meet product specification industry standards. Manufacturers whose product has met the relevant standard will be listed on BPI's website and authorized to use BPI's Product Listing Mark on their product and its collateral marketing materials. In addition to publishing products on www.bpi.org, BPI will promote listed products to contractors and consumers through a Google Adwords marketing campaign that includes search engine optimization and keyword search marketing.
>>ACC Announces 2014 Responsible Care® Energy Efficiency Award Winners
Source: americanchemistry.com
At the 2014 Responsible Care Conference and Expo, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) honored 16 of its member companies for implementing energy-efficiency improvements in 2013. ACC presented a total of 50 awards to these companies, 12 of which were deemed programs of "Exceptional Merit." The Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Awards program is among ACC’s many ongoing initiatives to improve energy efficiency. Member companies are required to consider operational energy efficiency as well as waste minimization, reuse and recycling when developing their environmental, health, safety and security plans. See details here.
>>Bayer AG Rumored to Be Making Headway on Selling MaterialScience
Source: gupta-verlag.com
Reports in the financial press suggest that Bayer AG is rumored to be exploring the sale of its $10 billion plastics unit to Evonik Industries AG in order to focus on growing its health business. For several years, Bayer has made little secret of its intention to move out of its more traditional chemicals and plastics business, following the successful spin-off of its rubber chemicals business as Lanxess. Evonik Industries AG, based in nearby Essen, could benefit from synergies related to its existing businesses in the production of polycarbonates, speciality diisocyanates, and additives for polyurethane foam production. See details here.
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Special Offer for SPFA Members: AGC Contractors Environmental Conference
June 12-13, 2014 | Arlington, Virginia
From leadership in sustainability to compliance with environmental requirements, this year’s Associated General Contractors of America’s Contractors Environmental Conference provide invaluable resources for environmental professionals in the construction industry. As an Industry Partner for this conference, SPFA Members receive a savings of $100 off the non-AGC member rates that kick in on April 26.
Here are five reasons why you should attend the 2014 AGC CEC:
1.Learn how to manage the environmental issues that keep you up at night before they result in an emergency situation. Attendees will learn about the strategies and tools that help companies stay on top of environmental compliance issues, communicate effectively with the project team and document compliance.
2.Get up-to-date information on environmental compliance and sustainability issues that most often show up on your to-do list. New "rapid fire" style sessions will provide attendees with the most current information on a host of regulatory compliance issues. Coupled with more in-depth educational looks at hot topic issues, attendees will gain new insight and helpful tips on a wide range of environmental topics.
3.Hear about initiatives and trends that could be a new source of savings or revenue for your company. Attendees will hear ways to help their companies stand out as environmental leaders. Find ways to convert waste to profit, explore alternative fuel options, learn how resiliency initiatives may impact future development – these are just a few of the issues AGC will cover at the conference.
4.Meet the regulators. AGC will maximize on the proximity of the conference location to Washington, DC, and bring in federal agency representatives to participate in the conference and interact with attendees. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore and ask questions about the compliance assistance and sustainability tools provided by federal agencies.
5.Network with your peers. A major benefit of the 2014 CEC is the opportunity you will have to network with environmental professionals in the construction industry. In addition to the receptions, "dine around" and scheduled breaks, this conference provides time throughout the schedule to facilitate one-on-one discussions and opportunities to learn from one another.
Learn more about the 2014 AGC CEC and register here.
SPFA Members can take advantage of their membership discounts with a special Industry Partner Code to use during registration. Start your registration as a "non-AGC member" but then enter the code PTNR14CEC to receive the member rate for normal registration, which begins April 26. Everyone benefits from the early-bird registration savings through April 25.
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The Summer 2014 issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional is almost complete and should be in your mailbox shortly. The digital version should be ready later this week. Some enhanced features in the digital version include:
>>Search for specific keywords or phrases.
>>Flag favorite articles.
>>Make notes in the margins.
>>Connect with vendors quickly and easily.
If you do not receive the SPRAYFOAM Professional Summer 2014 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 Membership Brochure
Available 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 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.
 >>SprayFoam 2014 Coverage, Award WinnersIn addition to coverage of some of the SprayFoam 2014 sessions and events in the SPFA magazine, SPRAYFOAM Professional, there will be spotlights on some of the SPFA National Industry Excellence Award winners:
Commercial Wall Foam Winner: Domestic Insulation (See coverage in Summer 2014 issue, being released soon.)
Commercial Wall Foam Runner-Up: Biofoam Inc.
Residential Wall Foam Winner: PROFOAM of Tennessee
Residential Wall Foam Runner-Up: Jag Construction Inc.
Roof Foam Less Than 40,000 sq. ft. Winner: PROFOAM of Tennessee
Roof Foam Less Than 40,000 sq. ft. Runner-Up: Honeywell Building Envelope Solutions
Roof Foam Greater Than 40,000 sq. ft. Winner: Arizona Foam & Spray (See coverage in Summer 2014 issue, being released soon.)
Roof Foam Greater Than 40,000 sq. ft. Runner-Up: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Specialty Applications Winner: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Specialty Applications Runner-Up: Polyseal Insulation LLC
>>Break-Out Sessions
Speakers at the highest-attended break-out sessions will be summarizing some of their material in upcoming issues of SPRAYFOAM Professional.
(See more details on the session "OSHA Is at My Jobsite -- What Do I Do?" by Joseph E. Bolduc, MBA, CSP in the Summer 2014 issue, being released soon.) Also, many of the slides from the presentations are available here.
Be sure to check out some of the photos from SprayFoam 2014 and see if our photographer saw you! Some images from SprayFoam 2014 are posted at the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance Facebook site!
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>>SPFA PCP Is Where You Need It!
Location is no longer an issue --- SPFA PCP is being widely promoted by Suppliers and they are taking their training on the road. Over the next few months, we have Exam Prep Courses and Written Exams in the North, South, East, West and Central parts of the Continental United States. The list of SPFA PCP Opportunities grows weekly, so be sure to check back frequently for a location near you! If you don’t see your Supplier’s name on the list, ask your Representative if they offer SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses and Written Exams. They may be planning it, but just haven’t gotten on the list yet.
More details for each location is available on our website – www.sprayfoam.org. If you would like more information on the PCP, please contact Kelly Marcavage, SPFA PCP Certification Director at kmarcavage@sprayfoam.org.
>>SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses and Exams
May 13-14 -- Gilbert, AZ (private)
May 14-16 -- Swedesboro, NJ
Hosted by Foampak
Contact Bill Huckins at bill@foampak.com
May 20-22 -- Rogers, MN (private)
Hosted by Icynene
Contact Laura Lapierre at llapierre@icynen.com
June 17-19 -- Santa Fe Springs, CA
Hosted by Diamond Liners
Contact Danette Bender at dzb@diamondliners.com
June 23-26 -- Marlborough, MA
Hosted by Lapolla
Contact
Shana Rand at srand@lapolla.com
July 14-17 -- Marlborough, MA
Hosted by Lapolla
Contact Shana Rand at srand@lapolla.com
October 14-16 -- Waukesha, WI
Hosted by Gaco Western
Contact Karen Wolfenberger at kwolfenberg@gaco.com
October 15-17 -- Houston, TX
Hosted by Lapolla
Contact Shana Rand at srand@lapolla.com
Ongoing -- Webinar SPFA PCP Refresher
Courses for Previously Trained SPF Professional
Hosted by Gaco Western
Contact Karen Wolfenberger at kwolfenberger@gaco.com
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>>Comments on OMB Proposed Update of Circular A-119, Due May 12
Source: nibs.org
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a proposed updated version of OMB Circular A-119, "Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities," for public inspection and comment. The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), of which NIBS is a member, strongly encourage representatives of standards developing organizations (SDOs), industry, academia, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders to review the proposed draft, which is expected to have a significant impact on future U.S. government use of privately developed voluntary consensus standards.
The current version of Circular A-119, which was last revised by the OMB in 1998, and the associated National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) of 1995 jointly serve to direct U.S. federal agencies to consider the use of private-sector-developed standards in lieu of government-unique standards whenever possible. The proposed changes focus on numerous topics, including the use of voluntary consensus standards in federal regulations, incorporation by reference and intellectual property rights, and government participation in standards development activities, among many other issues. Comments are due May 12. Read the ANSI release. View the Federal Register.
>>Nominations Sought for Polyurethane Innovation Award, Deadline June 18
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council today opened the call for entries for its 2014 Polyurethane Innovation Award. This award recognizes visionary technologies in the global polyurethanes industry and commercialized the previous year.
Nominations for this year’s award must be submitted to CPI no later than 5 p.m. EDT on June 18. Click here for the award rules and entry form. The award winner will be announced during the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, which will be held Sept. 22-24 in Dallas.
>>Applications for Housing Innovation Awards Available, Deadline June 30
Source: Energy.gov
The 2014 Housing Innovation Awards for the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program will feature builders in custom, production and affordable categories who are leading a major housing industry transformation to zero energy ready homes.
Any registered builder who has certified a DOE Challenge Home or DOE Zero Energy Ready Home between April 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 is eligible to compete. Applications are due June 30, 2014. Please contact us if you need assistance.
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>>Spray Polyurethane Foam Design Guidance: Insulation and Air Barrier Requirements of the 2012 I-Codes Source: americanchemistry.com
provides building designers with easy-to-use information about spray polyurethane foam (SPF) for use as wall and roof insulation and as an air barrier. Air barrier information and R-value requirements for commercial and residential buildings complying with the 2012 IECC and 2012 IgCC are provided. (booklet version)
>>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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May 13-14, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Demilec, Gilbert, Ariz. (private)
May 14-16, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Foampak, Swedesboro, N.J.
May 20-22, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Icynene, Rogers, Minn. (private) May 13-14, 2014 -- 2014 Building Science Fundamentals 2-Day Seminar, Westford, Mass.
July 14-17, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Lapolla, Marlborough, MA
July 16-18, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Lapolla, Houston, Texas
October 14-16, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Gaco Western, Waukesha, WI
October 15-17, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam Hosted by Lapolla, Houston, TX
Ongoing -- SPFA PCP Refresher Courses for Previously Trained SPF Professional hosted by Gaco Western, webinar, c ontact Karen Wolfenberger
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