Open Cell Spray Foam Air Barrier

If there s a fire in the building a thermal barrier keeps the combustible spray foam from the flames to increase fire resistance.

Open cell spray foam air barrier.

This makes the foam a softer more flexable material. If you put spray foam insulation in a building it needs a thermal barrier. No ignition barrier coating is required when used in assembly specific attic applications. However it is not a vapor barrier.

Open cell spray foam is an excellent air barrier. Open cell foam makes a good air barrier but it s vapor permeable. Therefore using open cell spray foam within a wall cavity with either metal or wood studs can constitute the main component of an air barrier system. If there s a roof leak water will pass through the foam and you will quickly be able to find your problem.

Its use also means expensive air membranes on the exterior of the wall sheathing can be avoided or scaled back in scope thereby reducing construction costs. This becomes an important consideration when the foam is sprayed between rafters on the underside of the roof sheathing to create a conditioned attic in a cold climate. When installed in a cold climate between the rafters of a ceiling to cathedralize an attic open cell spray foam needs to be protected with a vapor retarder to prevent water vapor from diffusing through the foam and contacting the cold roof sheathing. That means water vapor can migrate through the foam even when the bulk movement of air is blocked.

One step insulation air barrier for homes commercial buildings icynene open cell and closed cell spray foam insulates and air seals in one step. A spray insulation is referred to open cell or closed cell because of the difference between the small bubbles cells that make up the foam. In other words the cells are deliberatly left open. Similar to the holes inside a sponge air can permeate the open cells more easily making open cell foam more porous and absorbent than closed cell foam.

This premiere insulation has many benefits including help with moisture and sound control and the ability to help lower heating and cooling bills. Open cell foam is full of cells that aren t completely encapsulated. Open cell is a two component light density one to one by volume spray polyurethane foam. Open cell spray foam is not a moisture vapor barrier and will allow moisture to pass.

That s what separates it from the occupied spaces. It is fairly vapor permeable. To produce open cell requires the use of an a component iso and a blended b component resin which contains zero ozone depleting blowing agents catalysts polyols and fire retarding materials.