Ventilation Guidelines for Spray Polyurethane Foam Jim Andersen, BASF Applications Specialist SR BASF Spray Foam Systems

Topics •  Spray Foam Ventilation Guidelines and Reoccupancy Studies •  OSHA, National Emphasis Program (NEP), Isocyanates •  SPF Contractor Resources

Ventilation Guidelines •  •  •  • 

Why is ventilation necessary? When is it necessary? How is it done? As a contractor what do I need to know and understand?

How is the spray foam being installed? •  1. Will it be high pressure in which it is sprayed through heated and high pressure equipment? •  2. Will it be processed through low pressure and/or non heated equipment? •  3. Will it be processed as a single component gun?

Types of spray foam products

High Pressure/Heated •  The high pressure (1000 psi) will cause fine particles or aerosols to be formed, which become airborne within the work area •  The heating of the A and B to create proper mixing and a spray pattern may result in chemicals moving from a liquid state to a vapor state during application

Low Pressure •  Low pressure does not atomize as does high pressure, so less aerosols •  Heat not being used, will generally reduce the risk of liquid to vapor phase change, to a degree, during application

In the box or outside the box matters The concentration of fumes, for better terms, within the box will build up if not ventilated, whereas the concentration of an application outside the box will have more air to dissipate the fumes.

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X Inside the box

Outside the box

Volume is a key point .

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Large Volume, small concentration

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Small Volume, large concentration

Large Volume Job Stadium Project

Spray areas were plastic walled off and sealed and ventilated Warning signs used Other work was coordinated

Small Volume Job Attic applications may be limited in size and spray foam fumes can build up quickly as the overall cubic volume is not large. Ventilation is employed for high pressure spray jobs

So, as a SPF contractor, how should I ventilate? •  If your company is required to conform to OSHA’s Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) you would include in your safety program: –  A commitment from management and employees –  Analysis onsite –  Prevention of hazards –  Training for all employee’s –  http://www.osha.gov/Publications/smallbusiness/ small-business.html and review of OSHA’s Title 29 of CFR requirements.

EPA SPF Ventilation Guide •  This 4 p. brochure is available on EPA’s website •  It has been put together with input from industry •  It explains concepts, and is a working DRAFT document

EPA Ventilation Guidance

The basic concept is to contain the spray area, bring in air and exhaust air. The worker starts at the left and works to the right

EPA Ventilation Guidance

This is an example of how NOT to do the ventilation

American Chemistry Council/CPI/ SFC •  The American Chemistry Council, Center for Polyurethane Industry, Spray Foam Coalition has produced a 13 page document for Ventilation Considerations for Spray Polyurethane Foam •  This takes the ventilation information in a little more depth and was released in 2013

Research •  CPI Ventilation Study-Heather Palfrey, Environmental, Health and Safety ACC, CPI-SPRAYFOAM Professional, Summer 2013 –  Chamber testing of ½ pound open cell, 2 pound closed cell (high pressure) and low pressure 2 pcf –  Research ratings at various ACH rates –  Measurement of during and after spray

Field Testing •  BASF, Honeywell, Air Products-3 Mpls homes (attic and wall applications) CPI paper presentation •  Bayer, Safe Work Zone Paper around BE Commercial walls-Ecoff and Lambach •  Other historical air quality monitoring

Ventilation and Re-Occupancy of a Residential Home Sprayed with High Pressure Polyurethane Foam

William P Robert, CIH, BASF Corporation Mary Bogdan, Honeywell Rick Wood, CIH, Air Products James Andersen, BASF Corporation

Hypothesis •  Engineering controls (ventilation) can be used to reduce the re-entry time from 24 hours to x hours? •  Ventilation can be employed that is: –  –  –  – 

Cost effective (equipment cost) Simple (isolation from the home HVAC) Quick (reasonable prep work) Part of normal overspray protection used on SPF job sites

•  Airborne IH monitoring for “A” and “B” side SPF consisted of: –  –  –  –  – 

MDI Flame Retardant EPA method T0-15 for indoor air; aldehydes included Amine Catalysts Blowing agent (245fa)

First Home (Constructed 2004-05) Minneapolis Project November 14 -16, 2011

Attic To add attic insulation and air seal

Basement To add wall and rim insulation and air seal

Ventilation Equipment •  The flexible duct comes in 20 ft x 12” diameter sections for approx. $75 •  The two speed fan, 110 volt, is priced about $180 •  2905 ft3 per Minute

Attic-Air Inlet •  Attic footprint 41’ x 34’ •  Air Inlet–  soffit rafter vent chutes 20” x 1.5” approx., 75 vent chutes which is about 15.5 ft2 –  Hat type ridge vents, 8 @ 1ft2, about 8 ft2 •  Total Air Inlet Estimate 23.5 ft2

Attic-Air Outlet •  12” duct, or 1.57 ft2 in area- moving a theoretical 2905 ft3 per minute of air

Air Monitoring Measurements for the Attic Area •  Measurements were generally not taken in the sealed and ventilated application areas (attic & basement) •  The objective was to measure inside the house for MDI, TVOC’s, catalyst, blowing agent and fire retardant which are components of spray foam •  Measurements were taken at several areas within the home before, during and after the spray foam application. –  Background – before SPF •  Basement –  245fa – multiple samples, all were below detection –  Acetaldehyde