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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>>Shaheen-Portman Bill (S. 2262) Derailed
Source: ase.org
Energy efficiency policy experienced a set-back as the Shaheen-Portman bill (S. 2262) was derailed before reaching a final vote on the Senate floor. It has been seven years since Congress has passed a major energy bill, and non-energy efficiency related pent-up political issues were blamed for contention over the legislation.
In other words, the disagreements over Shaheen-Portman had nothing to do with the bill itself; everyone agrees about the merits of energy efficiency. After all, the House of Representatives recently passed energy efficiency bill H.R 2126 with overwhelming bi-partisan support, and the President announced last week that the Administration would provide $2 billion in additional funding for energy efficiency performance contracts.
>>Lapolla Industries Signs AirTight® Multi-Family Energy Savings Program Agreement
Source: lapolla.com
Lapolla Industries, Inc. announced that its AirTight® Division ("AirTight") has entered into its first Multi-Family Energy Savings Program agreement with the multi-billion dollar REIT, Home Properties, Inc., to implement its proprietary energy savings program at the Jacob Ford Village Apartments located in Morristown, N.J. For details, click here.
>>Update from the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America
Source: energy.gov
Topics addressed in the current newsletter include:
-A Top Innovation Spotlight on the Building America Solution and new checklist and mobile app features
-Winners of the DOE "Race to Zero" Student Design Competition
-Applications now being accepted for the 2014 Housing Innovation Awards
-May 21 webinar on high performance building enclosures for existing homes
-Residential building success stories from the Pacific Northwest
-Upcoming DOE Challenge Home technical trainings on Building Energy Optimization Tool (BEopt), Housing Innovation Awards, and Low Load HVAC
-The latest publications from Building America: measure guidelines, case studies for new and existing homes and technologies.
Click here to access the newsletter.
>>Organizations Announce Commitment to Promote Resilient Buildings
Source: ashrae.org
Leaders of America’s design and construction industry – along with building owners and operators – for the first time have agreed to incorporate resilience in planning, building materials selection, design, construction and operational techniques to make the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure. Resilience is defined as the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from and more successfully adapt to adverse events.
The leadership of almost two-dozen leading design and construction industry associations with more than 700,000 members generating almost $1 trillion in GDP today used the occasion of "Building Safety Month" to issue a joint statement on resilience, which can be found here.
The statement was unveiled at a press conference at the National Building Museum, where a major exhibition titled Designing for Disaster presents design and building solutions for disaster mitigation, opened May 11.
>>SPFA Sponsors U.S. DoE Student Competition -- Apply Now for Next Year
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.
To be part of the next competition, be sure to fill out your applications! Applications for the second annual Housing Innovation Awards have just been posted. This distinction allows builders to transform their core message from ‘what you build’ to ‘why you build.’ And in the case of award-winning, zero energy ready homes, it’s all about delivering a superior living experience. But, you have to apply. And of course you must have at least one DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (formerly known as the DOE Challenge Home) certified by June 30, 2014. Which means it’s also time to make sure your HERS rater is submitting all certified homes to DOE.
>>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. An upcoming webinar is entitled, Going Green and Building Strong: Building Fortified Homes Part 1, and will be held June 5 at noon 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.)
>>Spray Polyurethane Foam and California DTSC
Source: americanchemistry.com
In March 2014, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the first three products to serve as test cases for the new Safer Consumer Products Regulation. One of the products listed is Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Systems containing "unreacted" diisocyanates.
Click here for more details.
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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 complete and should be in your mailbox shortly. The digital version is has already been released. 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.
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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, which was just released.)
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, which was just released.) Also, many of the slides from the presentations are available here.
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>>SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses and Exams Offered in Alaska
SPFA PCP has moved beyond the borders of the original 48 states. This week, the SPFA PCP Assistant and Insulation Installer Exam Prep Courses and Written Exams are being offered in Alaska by Demilec! Suppliers are truly working hard to bring the SPFA PCP to contractors everywhere.
To make sure you don’t miss an opportunity for SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses, Written Exams and Field Exams, be sure to check the SPFA website’s "Calendar of Events" frequently. If you don’t see your supplier listed as a host for PCP Courses and Exams, be sure to ask them if they are planning on hosting a session. They may have plans to conduct training, but haven’t given us the details 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 19-20 -- Kenai, AK
Hosted by Demilec
Contact Mac Sheldon at mac@demilec.com
May 21-22 -- Fairbanks, AK
Hosted by Demilec
Contact Mac Sheldon at mac@demilec.com
June 3-4 -- Mansfield, AK
Hosted by Demilec
Contact Mac Sheldon at mac@demilec.com
June 10-11 -- Ames, IA Hosted by Demilec
Contact Mac Sheldon at mac@demilec.com
June 17-19 -- Santa Fe Springs, CA
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.
The 2014 Housing Innovation Awards ceremony will be held on September 23, 2014, at EEBA’s Excellence in Building Conference in St. Louis, MO.
>>SBA Launches Growth Accelerator Fund, Deadline for Competition Is Aug. 2 Source: SBA.org
The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a $2.5 million competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each to fund operating budgets. To award the prizes, applicants will be judged by an expert panel that will consider each applicant's stated mission, founding team members and business goals among other core components. The application deadline is August 2, 2014
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>>DOE Issues Preliminary Determination of Energy Savings for ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013 Source: energycodes.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued its Preliminarily Determination for ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, affirming that the updated Standard provides an additional 8.5 percent energy savings over the previous edition. Interested stakeholders are invited to submit public comments within 30 days from publication of this Notice in the Federal Register. DOE expects to finalize its Determination later this year. Further information on DOE support for building energy codes is available at www.energycodes.gov.
>>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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June 3-4, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Demilec, Fairbanks, AK
June 10-11, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Demilec, Ames, IA
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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