Q: What is R-value?

A: R-value stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value number, the greater the insulation power.

Q: What is fiberglass insulation made of?

A: Fibre glass is made of molten sand or recycled glass and other organic materials. Fiber glass is non-combustible.

Q: What type of insulation should I use?

A: There are many different insulation types, including fiber glass, cellulose, and foam. The most common types for residential applications are fiberglass and cellulose. There are several things to consider when choosing insulation.

    Air Infiltration

Thermal insulation, whether fiberglass or cellulose installed in side walls have little to do with air infiltration. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that up to 40% of a home's heat loss can be from air infiltration. But only 4% of heat loss comes from side wall cavities, and that most of that is around electrical outlets.
       
    Life Time Performance
   
To ensure expected energy savings, it is important that insulation does not deteriorate, or settle, over its lifetime. Fiberglass bats do not settle, however loose-fill insulation's may settle approximately 1% resulting in little reduction in thermal performance of the insulation.

    Fire Safety

Fiberglass insulation is naturally non-combustible because it is made from sand and glass fibers. Fiberglass insulation requires no additional fire-retardant treatments.

Cellulose insulation is made of primarily ground-up or shredded newspaper, which is combustible. To protect against fire, cellulose insulation is treated with a fire retardant chemical.

    Moisture

Insulation looses some of it's efficiency or R-value when wet. Fiberglass insulation is non absorbent, and will not wick or hold water.

Because cellulose is made of shredded newspaper, it will absorb moisture, reducing it's R-value. If soaked, cellulose could be permanently damaged, reducing it's R-value.

Some cellulose insulation's are actually applied with water added, during wet-spray installations. So it is important to give the insulation ample time to completely dry before covering the walls with drywall.

Q: Can insulation be added over the top of my existing attic insulation?

A: In most cases yes, unless your existing insulation is damaged due to water, mold or mildew.

Icynene Specific Questions:

Q: What Is The Icynene Insulation System?

A: The Icynene Insulation System is a complete insulation, air and moisture barrier system that windproofs and seals wall, floor and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, at baseboards and where walls meet windows and doors. This means that outside air (either hot or cold) cannot seep through walls, causing drafts or cold spots. It also means that humid interior air cannot enter the walls and condense.

The system combines a material with a Certified Service providing any builder or homeowner with a truly cost effective method of energy efficient construction. The material is polyicynene foam, an organic material developed from products of the petrochemical industry similar in composition to many that are already in home use today. The service is a custom installation on the building site by trained and Certified Installers, providing a custom insulation fit into any size cavity.

By virtue of its low permeability to air, its adhesion to other building materials and its flexibility, The Icynene Insulation System becomes much more than just insulation. It provides superior air leakage control, moisture control and sound control in addition to insulation, thus becoming a one step insulation, moisture/vapor barrier, wind barrier system. The Icynene Insulation System takes the place of building wrap, fiberglass, polyethylene vapor barrier, tape, foam and caulking, and eliminates the labor intensive work associated with air-tightness detailing when insulating with conventional insulation products.

Unlike "loose fill" insulation methods that do not wind proof building cavities, the air sealing characteristics of The Icynene Insulation System provide virtually the same R-Value in the field as it does in the laboratory where the R-Value is measured. Cold air in winter and hot muggy air in summer just cannot pass through polyicynene foam like it can through most other insulating materials.

Q: Does Icynene meet current building Codes?

A: Icynene^® complies to the BOCA, SBCCI and the ICBO Uniform Building Codes and the Canadian National Building Code. It has been evaluated by the Council of American Building Officials National Evaluation Service. It has been the subject of research projects by the NAHB Research Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Q: What are the advantages of flexible foam?

A: A foam that adheres to building materials, like Icynene insulation, must remain flexible in order to maintain its air seal. Buildings expand and contract with changes of season and temperature. If the foam is rigid, it will inevitably develop hairline cracks along the studs and ultimately the air seal will be destroyed.

Q: What is Icynene Insulation Made Of?

A: Icynene® insulation is a water-based formula that contains no formaldehyde, CFCs or HCFCs. The insulation has the texture and look of angel food cake and is made up of millions of tiny cells. These cells are filled with air and provide permanent control of air and airborne moisture movement. Icynene contains no materials that emit harmful gases.

Q: How Long Does it Take to Cure?

A: The foam is created in seconds after spraying. You can watch it expand within seconds to 100 times its original volume, literally before your eyes. It completely cures within a few minutes.

Q: Does the Foam Absorb Water?

A: No, it looks like a sponge but it is actually hydrophobic, i.e., it repels water. If placed in water it will float and on removal it will dry rapidly and loose none of its insulating properties.

Q: Does the Foam Entrap Moisture?

A: Icynene® Insulation is a breathing foam, and any moisture in the building's concrete or lumber can escape through the insulation as the building dries out, thus eliminating any risk of rot or mildew.

Q: Does the Foam Change Physically Over Time?

A: No, it is inert. Its physical and insulating properties are constant.

Q: Any Worries Environmentally?

A: No, the product is environmentally safe.

Q: Flammability and Fire-Rating?

A: Icynene® Insulation contributes no fuel in the event of fire and it will not sustain flame upon removal of the flame source. However, like fiberglass, it will be consumed by flame, and gypsum board or other acceptable thermal barriers are required by applicable building codes.

Q: What Does the Smoke Contain?

A: Smoke from Icynene® foam, like that of all organic materials including wood, is a complex of many gasses. The major components in the smoke from Icynene® Insulation are carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. By the time the material is burnt, the fire will have been raging for at least 15 minutes.

Q: Any Harmful Emissions?

A: Icynene® is safe for both you and the environment. Icynene® is water-based, and does not produce formaldehyde, CFCs or HCFCs. It has been extensively tested in both Canada and the United States and found to have no harmful emissions.

The product is in fact recommended for use in homes for many environmentally concerned or sensitive people. The Icynene Insulation System® has been selected for use in the American Lung Association Health House projects.

Q: How is The Icynene Insulation System® Installed?

There are two different ways to install Icynene® insulation — spray it onto any open surface and studded wall or pour it into an existing wall cavity when renovating. An Icynene trained, licensed Dealer must be used in both cases.

With any open surface, Icynene® insulation can be sprayed on once electrical and plumbing services are in place. It then expands to 100 times its initial volume in seconds, permanently adhering to the surfaces of the surrounding building materials and sealing all gaps.

For retrofitting existing walls, a slower expanding formulation of Icynene is used during renovations. The material is simply injected into small holes drilled into plaster or gypsum walls, or from the outside of the wall.

Q: How Long Has Icynene® Been in Use?

A: Icynene® Insulation has been on the market since 1986 and is in thousands of homes across the United States. It has also been featured in segments of "This Old House" , "Your New House". and "Let's Build".

Q: Any Electric Wiring Overheating Problems?

A: No, Icynene® Insulation has been tested and is not a concern to electrical authorities.

Q: Is the Insulation Corrosive to Metals?

A: No, Icynene® Insulation is non-corrosive. It is neutral, neither acidic or alkaline.

Q: Does the Insulation Support Bacteria or Fungal Growth?

A: Icynene® Insulation offers no food value; therefore it does not support bacteria or fungal growth. It also does not retain water, making it an unappealing environment for pests.

Q: What About Mice and Termites?

A: Icynene® Insulation offers no food value, but it would not present a sufficient barrier to their entry if they decided to gnaw through it.

Q: What Are the Acoustic Properties?

A: As an effective air seal, The Icynene Insulation System® eliminates the air gaps through which sound travels and is superior in controlling mid-range frequencies, which include the most common sounds, the human voice and stereo music.