Skip to main content

Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

MasterFormat 07 21 00 Thermal Insulation; 07 21 29 Sprayed Insulation

This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2021.

Spray foam insulation (SPF) is a site-applied foam insulation for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It can be used in various applications including interior or exterior walls, attics, ceilings, and crawls spaces. SPF is a two-...

More about Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation (SPF) is a site-applied foam insulation for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It can be used in various applications including interior or exterior walls, attics, ceilings, and crawls spaces. SPF is a two-part polyurethane based foam comprised of a isocyanate part (the A side) and a polyol part (the B side) that are combined and reacted on site as applied. The B side of SPF also contains blowing agents, flame retardants, catalysts, and surfactants. SPF can be either open or closed cell and both can be used to create a continuous air barrier, depending on the thickness of foam that is applied. Open and closed cell spray foam insulation are similar in composition, but open cell foams use water as the sole blowing agent and contain a larger weight percentage of flame retardant, around 25% of the B side. They also may contain nonylphenol ethoxylate emulsifiers or use different polyols. Closed cell foams typically use fluorocarbon blowing agents, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a high global warming potential (GWP), or hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) which are newer low global warming potential alternatives. While HFOs do not themselves have high GWP, they do use high GWP and/or ozone depleting substances in the manufacturing process. U.S. EPA regulations that would have prohibited the use of HFCs in SPF insulation by 2020 were partially overturned in Federal court rulings, so manufacturers already using HFCs are allowed to continue using them. Several U.S. states have moved forward with their own bans on HFCs in SPF, many of which have gone into effect (Theodoridi, 2020). Most spray foam insulation manufacturers continue to offer their HFC versions of SPF, even as they have introduced an HFO version. This CP covers a medium density (~2 lb/ft3) spray foam insulation with an HFC blowing agent. Formulations that instead use HFOs appear to be similiar. 

Since SPF products are reacted and applied on site, special care must be taken to avoid occupational exposure to the isocyanates, amines, flame retardants, etc. during the application process. Many SPF applicators undergo training and professional certification. Personal protective equipement usually includes full body protection in the form of disposable coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves and boots or booties, a hood, and eye and face protection as well as supplied air respirators. Building residents and other workers should vacate a building during spray foam installation and until the foam has finished curing and the building has been ventilated and thoroughly cleaned. Common industry practice is waiting 24 hours after completion of spray foam installation for re-entry. Offgassing from the SPF can occur for extended periods after installation. See the Process Chemistry tab for some chemicals that have been identified offgassing from closed cell SPF. 

A historical version of this CP is available here: https://pharos.habitablefuture.org/common-products/2209563.

Name % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate
9016-87-9
28.41% Polymer Subscribe to view
4,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate
101-68-8
19.63% Monomer Subscribe to view
2,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate
5873-54-1
2.58% Monomer Subscribe to view
1,3-Benzenediamine, ar-methyl-, polymer with oxirane
63641-64-5
23.73% Polyol Subscribe to view
Tri-(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate
13674-84-5
4.67% Flame retardant Subscribe to view
poly(oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)), alpha,alphs'-(oxydi-2,1-ethanediyl)bis(omega-hydroxy-
9051-51-8
4.45% Polyol Subscribe to view
1,2-ethanediamine, polymer with 2-methyloxirane and oxirane
26316-40-5
4.45% Polyol Subscribe to view
HFC 245fa
460-73-1
3.74% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
Diethylene glycol
111-46-6
2.34% Monomer Subscribe to view
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
156-60-5
1.64% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
Benzenediamine, ar,ar-diethyl-ar-methyl-
68479-98-1
1.17% Initiator Subscribe to view
Water
7732-18-5
0.93% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
1,3-Propanediamine, N1,N1-bis(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-N3,N3-dimethyl-
33329-35-0
0.70% Catalyst Subscribe to view
Ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether
111-76-2
0.70% Solvent Subscribe to view
Silicone L-5310
87244-72-2
0.61% Surfactant Subscribe to view
Bismuth neodecanoate
34364-26-6
0.13% Catalyst Subscribe to view
Ethylene glycol
107-21-1
0.08% Monomer Subscribe to view
1,4-Dioxane
123-91-1
0.05% Residual Subscribe to view
Name % Weight Part % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
A Side
50.62% 50.62% Polymer/ Monomer Subscribe to view
Polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate
9016-87-9
(Nested within A Side)
56.12% 28.41% Polymer Subscribe to view
4,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate
101-68-8
(Nested within A Side)
38.78% 19.63% Monomer Subscribe to view
2,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate
5873-54-1
(Nested within A Side)
5.10% 2.58% Monomer Subscribe to view
B Side
49.38% 49.38% Various Subscribe to view
1,3-Benzenediamine, ar-methyl-, polymer with oxirane
63641-64-5
(Nested within B Side)
48.06% 23.73% Polyol Subscribe to view
Tri-(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate
13674-84-5
(Nested within B Side)
9.46% 4.67% Flame retardant Subscribe to view
poly(oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)), alpha,alphs'-(oxydi-2,1-ethanediyl)bis(omega-hydroxy-
9051-51-8
(Nested within B Side)
9.01% 4.45% Polyol Subscribe to view
1,2-ethanediamine, polymer with 2-methyloxirane and oxirane
26316-40-5
(Nested within B Side)
9.01% 4.45% Polyol Subscribe to view
HFC 245fa
460-73-1
(Nested within B Side)
7.57% 3.74% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
Diethylene glycol
111-46-6
(Nested within B Side)
4.73% 2.34% Monomer Subscribe to view
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
156-60-5
(Nested within B Side)
3.31% 1.64% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
Benzenediamine, ar,ar-diethyl-ar-methyl-
68479-98-1
(Nested within B Side)
2.37% 1.17% Initiator Subscribe to view
Water
7732-18-5
(Nested within B Side)
1.89% 0.93% Blowing agent Subscribe to view
1,3-Propanediamine, N1,N1-bis(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-N3,N3-dimethyl-
33329-35-0
(Nested within B Side)
1.42% 0.70% Catalyst Subscribe to view
Ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether
111-76-2
(Nested within B Side)
1.42% 0.70% Solvent Subscribe to view
Silicone L-5310
87244-72-2
(Nested within B Side)
1.23% 0.61% Surfactant Subscribe to view
Bismuth neodecanoate
34364-26-6
(Nested within B Side)
0.26% 0.13% Catalyst Subscribe to view
Ethylene glycol
107-21-1
(Nested within B Side)
0.17% 0.08% Monomer Subscribe to view
1,4-Dioxane
123-91-1
(Nested within B Side)
0.09% 0.05% Residual Subscribe to view

Log in or create an account to view All Contents

Known or Potential Residuals

Known or Potential Residuals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % Weight Chemical % Weight Product SOURCE
Log in or create an account to view Known or Potential Residuals

Other Process Chemicals

Other Process Chemicals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % WT CHEM % WT PRODUCT SOURCES
Log in or create an account to view Other Process Chemistry

Habitable Resources (5)

Habitable Resources for Product
TYPE TITLE
Report Full Disclosure Required: A Strategy to Prevent Asthma Through Building Product Selection
Report Asthmagens in Building Materials: The Problem & Solutions
Report Chlorine & Building Materials Project: Phase 1 Africa, The Americas, and Europe
Tool Insulation Product Guidance
Report Making Affordable Multifamily Housing More Energy Efficient: A Guide to Healthier Upgrade Materials

Sources

Sources for Common Product Data
Source Uploaded Document Linked Document
Air Products
Amine Emission Management
Bismuth Neodecanoate
CDC Survey Report
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry
Corbond A SDS
Corbond B SDS
Corbond IV SDS
Corbond TDS
Dabco T-120
EPA SNAP - Rigid PU Spray
Foamsulate A SDS
Foamsulate B SDS
Foamsulate HFO TDS
Foamsulate TDS
Gaco A SDS
Gaco B SDS
Gerstel Emission Testing
Heatlok HFO EPD
Icynene Board Feet
Jeffamine D-230
Jeffamine T-403
JM Board Feet
MD-C-200 A SDS
MD-C-200 B SDS
MD-C-200 TDS
NCFI - A SDS
NCFI - B SDS
NCFI - HFO B SDS
NCFI Board Feet
NCFI InsulStar TDS
NISTIR 8131
Patent US20180030245A1
Patent US20190100639A1
Patent US9290604B2
Patent US9556303B2
Permax - A Component HPD
Permax - A SDS
Permax 2.0 HFO - B Component HPD
Permax 2.0 HFO - B SDS
Permax 2.0 HFO TDS
Profoam Board Feet
ProSeal HFO SDS
SealTite One Zero SDS
SealTite Pro A SDS
SealTite Pro B SDS
SealTite Pro TDS
Sopra SPF A SDS
Sopra SPF B SDS
Sopra SPF TDS
SPFA EPD - HFC
SPFA EPD - HFO
Theodoridi
ThermalGuard CC2 TDS
ThermalGuard ECO TDS
U.S. Appeals Court maintains ban on HFC replacements
US10131758B2