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"
In March 2014 the California Department of Toxic Substance Control announced three priority product areas that the state will focus upon for potential rulemakings, intended to limit or potentially ban the use of those products in the state. Spray polyurethane foam was identified as one Priority Product area. Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) contends that this decision to include SPF was misguided, an over-reach, and based upon information utilized by California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) that was less than accurate as presented. SPFA recognizes that the state is a very important driver for reducing environmental footprints of products and buildings, and increasing building energy efficiency. Customers from home and commercial building owners to homebuilders and architects demand the use of SPF to reach the ever-increasing energy codes in the state due to its superior product performance. SPF is a safe product that delivers, and any efforts to limit or ban its use will be a great detriment to the customers in the state, as well as the many small professional businesses that install SPF, and will be met with significant opposition by SPFA.
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. The new Board of Directors will be seated on July 1, 2014 for their two-year term.
>> 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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The Department initiated a new regulatory process in March 2014 under the new California Green Chemistry Initiative and the Safer Consumer Products law. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reviewed over 1,500 products and constituent materials and selected a three initial priority products to work with. Spray polyurethane foam, or more specifically "Unreacted Diisocyanates in SPF" was one of the products selected. SPFA and the SPF industry have reached out to DTSC on many occasions to better understand the process of selection and what the Department is expecting from industry. SPFA and the American Chemistry Council have contended from the moment of the announcement that no outreach was performed by the Department to the industry. SPFA further contends that this lack of outreach resulted in a failed selection process that still lacks open explanation, in critical misunderstanding of SPF systems among the Department staff, erroneous conclusions drawn from cited research studies, lack of citations to studies such as those published from the US government’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) and California’s own Department of Health that directly conflict with the DTSC’s basis for determination, likely duplication around Isocyanates programs already ongoing, such as the EPA’s Chemical Action Plan (CAP) on Isocyanates, and OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Isocyanates (in which CalOSHA participates), and a published Priority Product Profile available on the DTSC’s website still today that delivers factually incorrect information.
"Members have indicated in public testimony that the Department’s mishandling of the process and information, and resulting perception among customers of uncertainty for the product’s future in California, have resulted in immediate material negative impact to their businesses. Manufacturers have reported hearing questions regarding DTSC action in states as far away as New York and Texas thanks to the mainstream media’s coverage of this debacle. And the homebuilding industry in California, a big proponent of SPF, suggests that their advanced purchasing decisions have been thrown into uncertainty because of the confusion around SPF resulting from DTSC’s handling, just at the time when preparations are being made to comply with 2016 high efficiency Title 24 California energy codes," said SPFA Executive Director Kurt Riesenberg. "It’s like being locked in a house with both the heat and air conditioning running at the same time, when these different state agencies are actually working against each other’s internal interests."
The DTSC has listened to the concerns of the industry, but have provided little remedy in the way of correcting bad information on their website. SPFA, the American Chemistry Council, and a team of members spent almost an entire day with DTSC staff after the announcement educating them on SPF topics in the hopes of addressing concerns from an informed standpoint. "What is really unfortunate," continued Riesenberg, "is what we’ve said all along: this could have all been avoided if they had just asked us some questions before they surprised everyone with the announcement." SPFA has formally requested within the DTSC public workshops that the erroneous information contained in the Priority Product Profile document be removed from the DTSC website until corrections can be made, to avoid the continued spread of incorrect information. To date, DTSC has added a disclaimer within the document. SPFA and the California members anticipate working with DTSC and other state interests as this regulatory process continues unabated toward the next steps, including potential alternative assessments for SPF.
"While we are certain the DTSC is well intentioned in pursuing this new regulatory path available to them in California for the health, safety and well-being of their constituents, the guinea pig nature of our involvement and the complete failings we have seen to date by the state leave us with these unfortunate and serious allegations," said Riesenberg. "It is very difficult to accept the time, expense and ill-defined expectations of an alternative assessment when the process that led us to this point has been wrong, period."
For more details click here. For the full SPFA statement, click here.
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>>Register Now for BSC Seminar in September with Joseph Lstiburek
Source: buildingscienceseminars.com
The seminar "2014 Renovation and Rehabilitation" with Dr. Joseph Lstiburek will be taking place September 25, and there are still a few of the 15 spots available. The seminar is a highly personal "boardroom" discussion that will address the specifics of renovation and rehabilitation. It takes place in Westford, Massachusetts. To register or to see the reading material for the seminar, click here.
Lstiburek also hosts a Building Science Summer Camp each year. To see excerpts from the 2013 Building Science Summer Camp at Lstiburek's residence, click here.
>>BPI Launches New Credentialing Program
Source: bpi.org
BPI announced the launch of the BPI GoldStar Contractor program, a companywide credentialing program that recognizes and rewards home performance contractors committed to the principle that quality is profitable and can set them apart in the marketplace. The program rolls out in tandem with a consumer outreach campaign to educate the public on the exceptional quality of BPI GoldStar Contractors.
To participate in a free webinar addressing the new program, click here. >>Alliance Vice-Chair Rep. Kinzinger Pushes for Energy Efficiency
Source: ase.org
On June 10, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan energy efficiency bill meant to analyze how federal agencies use energy and water. H.R. 4801 can be added to the list of other energy efficiency bills that the House of Representatives has put forward in recent months. The House continues to champion energy efficiency as a means to reduce the federal deficit and save tax payers money.
>>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 high-efficiency window air conditioners
-Apply for the 2014 Housing Innovation Awards by June 30
-Crafting effective building science power words
-June 25 webinar on deep energy retrofits
-Residential building success stories from Florida
-Upcoming DOE Zero Energy Ready webinars on marketing and sales solutions and building fortified homes
-The latest publications from Building America: multi-split heat pumps in multifamily retrofits, case studies for deep energy retrofits, and more!
Click here to access the newsletter.
>>Spray Foam Coalition Comments on California "Priority Products List" Workshops
Source: americanchemistry.com
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) Safer Consumer Products Program held public workshops to gather input on the initial Priority Products list before the official rulemaking process began.The Spray Foam Coalition, a self-funded group of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), released the following statement after the final workshop.
 >>SPFA Sponsors U.S. DoE Student Competition -- Apply by June 30 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. Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) was a sponsor of this event.
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.
>>EPA Identifies Safer Substitutes for Toxic Flame Retardants
Source: epa.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing safer alternatives to the flame retardants now used in consumer and commercial products, including building insulation and products with flexible polyurethane foam.
"EPA’s findings for safer alternatives is great news for consumers and industry," said Jim Jones, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "We will now have safer alternatives for use in our products from furniture to car seats to building insulation."
Flame retardant chemicals such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) raise concerns for human health and the environment including potential reproductive, developmental, and neurological effects and can be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to aquatic organisms. Read more here.
>>Free Monthly Webinars with U.S. Dept. of Energy Building America Program
Source: energy.org
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. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.
June 25, noon-1:30 p.m. EDT
Part 1 of this series introduced the basic concepts of building and wind interactions and how the FORTIFIED building programs can reduce property damage and loss. In Part 2, IBHS will discuss the building systems that are most vulnerable and how getting the roof right can reduce as much as 50% of the $20 billion of insured property losses that homeowners experience each year in the United States.
June 25, 3 p.m. EDT
The webinar will focus on specific Building America projects and case studies that highlight real-world examples of deep energy retrofits (DERs) that are meeting with technical and market success. Presenters will focus on technical strategies, modeled and actual performance results, and project costs.
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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.)
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.)
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.) Also, many of the slides from the presentations are available here.
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>>Huntsman Earns SPFA Supplier Accreditation
SPFA is pleased to announce that Huntsman Corporation has become the first SPFA PCP Accredited Supplier Company! This prestigious distinction of <b>SPFA PCP Accredited Company</b> is part of Phase II of the PCP, which was launched at the 2014 SprayFoam Convention in Palm Springs, Calif. Accreditation for supplier companies is based on them meeting the criteria, which can be found in the Accredited Supplier Company Handbook. Here is a capsule summary:
1) Supplier must offer training program for contractors
2) Supplier shall employ/contract the following (the same person may fulfill more than one area of responsibility):
a. Certified Supplier Representatives (Defined as someone who has direct advisory contact with contractor or distributor (as applicable, if the supplier only sells through distribution)
3) Supplier must have a Best Practices/Risk Management Code of Conduct or signed equivalent with the Spray Foam Coalition
4) Supplier must offer SPFA PCP Written Exams and Field Exam(s) at least once per year
Congratulations to Huntsman for being the first supplier to meet these requirements! We know others working toward this goal – we look forward to welcoming them into this prestigious group! For more details on this and the entire PCP – visit our website at www.sprayfoam.org or click here.
>>PCP Certification Mark Available to SPFA Certified Individuals
If you are an SPFA PCP Certified Professional, you are among the first in the SPF industry to achieve this certification. We have a Certification Mark available for your use to help you promote this accomplishment. Simply contact our office at 866-222-5000 or email admin@spfapcp.org and we can send you your customized SPFA PCP Certification Mark to use on your business cards or in your professional correspondence. The Certification Mark that is on your ID card has been customized with your certification number. We can send you the same thing in a format that can be printed.
It is important to note that the Certification Mark may only be used by certified individuals for their own personal use. In other words, the mark cannot be printed on T-shirts and worn by your entire crew. It is only to be used by the person who earned the distinction. The terms and conditions of the use of the Certification Mark are defined in the Certification Agreement that all SPFA PCP Certified Professionals have signed.
>>SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses and Exams
June 24-26 -- Mariette, GA
Hosted by Premium Spray Products
July 14-17 -- Marlborough, MA
Hosted by Lapolla
July 14-18 -- Houston, TX
Hosted by Lapolla
Sept. 15-19 -- Santa Fe Springs, CA
Hosted by Diamond Liners
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
More details for each location are 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.
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 Polyurethane Machinery Corporation (PMC), based in Lakewood, N.J., welcomed Murphy Mahaffey to its staff as Director of International Sales. This position will serve a critical role on their team, contributing to PMC’s ongoing growth and successful international expansion. As Director of International Sales for PMC, Murphy will have responsibility for managing all activities and efforts of the International Sales Department including the overseeing of international distributor relations and development.
Murphy’s resume also boasts several top industry association affiliations including serving on the Board of Directors for Polyurea Development Association (PDA), Polyurea Development Association Europe (PDA-Europe) as well as the Indiana District Export Council. In addition to these, his industry association memberships include SSPC, NACE and SPFA. He is a frequent industry presenter and has written and contributed several articles for top industry media outlets.
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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 Preliminary 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. Topics addressed in the current issue include:
*New State and Local Alerts *
New York - A Proposal to Update Commercial 2012 IECC / ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Adoption
Pennsylvania - Bill Aimed at Changing PA’s Building Code Update Process Passes the Senate
Vermont - Stakeholder Workshops on the Proposed Changes to Vermont’s Energy Standards
*Ongoing General Alerts *
DOE - Preliminary Determination of 2013 edition of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES1 Standard 90.1, Open for Comments
*Ongoing State and Local Alerts *
New Jersey - Bill Requires Consideration of Blue and Green Roofs for Certain State Facilities
Carrboro, NC - Bill Filed to Move City and Jurisdiction of 2012 Energy Conservation Code and 2012 Residential Code
Connecticut - Above Code Provisions Removed from SB 357
Delaware - 2012 IECC with Amendments No Effective, Mandatory in Six Months
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Source: energy.gov
The Department of Energy has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of intent to establish a Working Group to Negotiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing [June 9, 2014]
Find more information on the rulemaking, including milestones, statutory authority, rulemaking documents, and any other related rulemakings. All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-BC-0021.
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July 14-17, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Lapolla, Marlborough, MA
July 14-18, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Lapolla, Houston, Texas
September 15-19, 2014 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by Diamond Liners, Santa Fe Springs, CA
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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