FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Sprayfoam Insulation and how long has it been around?
What is the difference between Open Cell sprayfoam and Closed Cell sprayfoam?
Why is Walltite ECO™ so effective compared to traditional forms of insulation?
Does it improve occupant comfort, health and safety?
What is Walltite ECO™ made from?
How is Walltite ECO™ installed?
At what point in the construction process is Walltite ECO™ installed?
Can any contractor install it?
Is Walltite ECO™ Canadian building code approved?
How much does Walltite ECO™ cost?
What is Sprayfoam Insulation and how long has it been around?
Sprayfoam is a form of insulation created by spraying two heated liquids through a spray gun on to a target surface where they expand by 20 to 30 times their original liquid form and cure into a dense rigid foam. There are two forms of sprayfoam insulation: Open Cell (1/2 lb. or low density foam) and Closed Cell (2 lb. or medium density foam). Spray Foam Insulation has been around roughly 30 years and its main uses were in military and food storage applications. Over the past ten years it has increasingly been used in residential and commercial applications.
What is the difference between Open Cell sprayfoam and Closed Cell sprayfoam?
Open Cell (½ lb. or low density) spray foam cures soft and the irregular bubbles which form during the expansion reaction are broken or open. These pockets fill with air, and as such the R-Value of Open Cell foam is close to that of dormant air, around 3.6 per inch. Being spray-applied as a liquid Open Cell foam conforms to any shape, but it is not a code approved vapour barrier.
Closed Cell (2 lb. or medium density) spray foam cures rigid and the microscopic bubbles which are created during the expansion reaction remain closed and intact. The reaction gases are therefore trapped within the bubbles meaning the RValue of closed-cell foam is close to that of the reaction gas, about 6 per inch. The closed cell structure is so strong that contributes to the structural strength of the building. Walltite ECO™ closed-cell sprayfoam is a code approved vapour barrier and stops both air flow through the wall and air flow within the wall cavity.
Why is Walltite ECO™ so effective compared to traditional forms of insulation?
Heat loss occurs in two ways, by conduction and by convection. Conduction is the transfer of heat through solid molecules; this method of heat transfer is the slowest and accounts for about 20% of heat loss. RValue is the measure of a systems resistance to heat flow by conduction. Convection is the transfer of heat by liquid or gas molecules moving from hot areas to cold areas. Essentially, convection is airflow. This method of heat transfer is the fastest and accounts for about 80% of heat loss.
Traditional Insulation
Insulations like fiberglass, cellulose, and rockwool have posted RValues hovering around the R3 - R4/inch range. When perfectly installed they may achieve these RValues, addressing, with different levels of success, heat loss by conduction. Even the smallest gap between batts can drastically reduce the measured RValue. Also, as the temperature decreases and airflow currents speed up, fiber insulations loose their effectiveness at addressing both conduction and convection. These traditional forms of insulation settle and sag over the years, making them even less efficient.
Traditional insulations fail to address heatloss by convection because they are designed to slow convection currents down, but not to stop them. Convection currents are not only responsible for 80% of heatloss, but they also cause moisture problems. Warm moist inside air circulates and exchanges with cold dry outside air in a cavity. As the moisture in the air condenses, it forms dew within traditional insulation. This destroys the insulation, decreases its effectiveness, and if given time, causes mold and rot. To stop this from happening you must stop convection altogether.
Walltite ECO™
As Walltite ECO™ cures the millions of tiny bubbles formed remain closed or intact trapping the gases of the blowing agent inside. Since the bubbles are closed, air molecules cannot move through Walltite ECO™, stopping heatloss by convection. Some of the most damaging moisture within the building envelope is caused by convection currents moving both through and within a wall cavity. The closed-cell structure of Walltite ECO™ stops air movement through and within the wall. No air movement means no convection, resulting in no condensation, and elimination of moisture problems like mold.
Having addressed heatloss by convection, the only way for heat to be transferred through Walltite ECO™ is through conduction; a much slower method of heat transfer. Walltite ECO™ maintains its RValue of 6 per inch even in adverse temperatures and weather. It also does not sag or settle over time. Therefore, it addresses the 20% of heat loss caused by conduction much more effectively than other forms of insulation.
Does it improve occupant comfort, health and safety?
Walltite ECO™ makes significant contributions to healthy, comfortable indoor environments by creating a draft-free, airtight building envelope that prevents the infiltration of pollutants, toxins and allergens. It also helps to prevent the growth of mold and fungi by controlling the movement of moisture and vapour through the building envelope and helping to eliminate condensing surfaces. Testing has proven that Walltite ECO™ does not off-gas any harmful toxins of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after installation.
What is Walltite ECO™ made from?
Walltite ECO™ is a two component liquid system that is spray applied like paint. The ingredients include recycled plastics, castor oil, and similar chemical components to those used in many products already found in your home, for example, the stuffing in your couch and the foam in your mattress. Walltite ECO™ does not give off VOCs once its been installed and it uses a zero-ozone depleting blowing agent.
How is Walltite ECO™ installed?
Walltite ECO™ is a two component liquid which must be sprayed in place by a trained and licensed applicator. The two liquids, which are heated under high pressure, mix at the spray gun reacting with each other causing the liquid to expand rapidly and cure as a rigid foam. Walltite ECO™ goes from liquid to foam in just seconds expanding 20 to 30 times its original volume. It is dry within seconds, and is completely cured in 24 hours.
At what point in the construction process is Walltite ECO™ installed?
Walltite ECO™ is the last installation before drywall so all windows, doors, framing, electrical, plumbing and roofing should all be in place before sprayfoaming begins on the jobsite.
Can any contractor install it?
Only certified, approved applicators who have undergone rigorous training can install Walltite ECO™. A licensed contractor will ensure that all the requirements of the CAN/ULC S705.2 Installation Standard are met and that all safety and building code requirements are adhered to. Green Planet Sprayfoam Insulation applicators are trained, licensed, and insured to apply Walltite ECO™ and perform daily job-site testing to be sure application conditions are appropriate to achieve optimum results.
Is Walltite ECO™ Canadian building code approved?
Walltite ECO™ is approved by the national building code as an air-barrier, a thermal barrier, and a vapour barrier. All technical data can be found at www.walltite.com.
How much does Walltite ECO™ cost?
The initial cost of insulating and sealing your building with Walltite ECO™ is higher than using traditional forms of insulations, but once installed, it will actually add value to your building and put money in your pocket every month. Initial cost can often be offset by the ability to downsize the heating and cooling systems and by taking advantage of government grants and rebates. The remaining cost will affect your mortgage by a few dollars every month, but by using less energy you can save hundreds of dollars on your utility bill not to mention add thousands of dollars in value of the building.
