Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/310128
of the attic is critical, because what's in your attic will now be circulated throughout the rest of your home. If the old attic insulation is left behind to save a few bucks, the attic cannot be properly cooled, and if the home's attic isn't properly cleaned, the accumulated attic debris will enter the home. For this reason, anyone interested in installing SPF in their attic must take into consideration the age of their home and the condition of their attic. Storage of materials in the now sealed attic space, attic insects and/or rodent activ- ity, routine household pest control applications, the previous insulation (including the condition and material), and the proper ducting of kitchen and bath fans must all be considered to ensure occupant comfort after the installation of SPF insulation. SPF Consumer Question Number 3: How will you ventilate my home during the SPF applica- tion to prevent the contamination of my home and personal belongings? One of the most important factors to consider when planning your SPF installation is how the application contractor will protect your home while insulating your attic. Before the job even starts, your application contractor should as- sess your home's ventilation needs and develop a ventilation plan to ensure the SPF chemicals do not enter the rest of your home during ap- plication. A home that is not protected by cor- rectly ventilating the attic can be irreversibly damaged. The chemical odors can remain for extended periods of time and occupants can become sensitized to the remaining chemicals. Understanding ventilation requirements is es- sential to forming an appropriate plan. HVAC Spray Poly Foam Continued from previous page systems must be shut down and sealed during SPF application to stop dust, aerosol and va- pors from being drawn into the system, which can cause damage to the HVAC system as well as spread airborne materials throughout the home. Some SPF manufacturers even recom- mend that the HVAC system stay sealed and inoperable for up to 24 hours after the SPF ap- plication. In addition, exhaust fumes from any gas-powered equipment in your home must be directed to an open area to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide in the work area. Once the project is completed and the spray area ventilated, SPF odors generally dissipate. Lingering odors may be the result of several contributing factors from various sources, mak- ing it difficult to identify them. Sources of odors in new construction and retrofit applications can include SPF itself; other construction materials, such as paints, cleansers, lumber, and finishing treatments; occupant life style; nearby industrial or other emissions; pre-existing ("old house") odors; or construction defects, such as misrout- ed plumbing vents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Ventilation Guidance for Spray Polyurethane Foam Application" can be found at http://www. epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/spf/ventilation-guid- ance.html. Remember to ask for the attic ventilation and HVAC shut down and protection plan in writing as you will want this as a part of your perma- nent record. Then, leave your home until the application is complete and do not return until the manufacturers established re-occupancy time has elapsed. No peeking! 42 May 2014