Morris Township, New Jersey-The rigid insulating spray polyurethane foam which is being used to restore the permanent roof of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans will use a non-ozone depleting blowing agent from Honeywell.
The 9.7 acre-roof of the dome-whose normal use is as a sports venue-was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Closed-cell spray PU foam will form "a seamless seal that grips the roof surface, including any irregular shapes or penetrations," said a Honeywell statement.
Traditional roofing materials often guarantee resistance to gale force winds, or sustained winds of roughly 40 mph, said Honeywell. The new spray foam roof on the Superdome is guaranteed by the manufacturer to resist hurricane force winds, the group points out. Historically, Honeywell added, about three-quarters of the US mainland experiences winds of 40 mph or greater, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization.
Closed-cell polyurethane has proven structural advantages under the most extreme weather conditions, said Ken Gayer, business director for Honeywell foam insulation blowing agents. "From Hurricanes Andrew to Hugo to Frances, commercial and residential buildings sprayed with polyurethane foam have performed exceptionally well in terms of resisting short- and long-term damage from the effects of wind and flood," he said.
Honeywell Enovate is a hydrofluorocarbon that allows closed-cell insulation to be sprayed on and provides the majority of the foam's insulation properties.
Bayer MaterialScience llc subsidiary BaySystems North America will supply the PU foam system and the contractor carrying out the work is Texas City-based Brazos Urethane Inc. Brazos is currently working on the roof, spraying the foam system onto the metal roof decking of the 70 000-seat stadium. The contractor made temporary repairs to the roof using spray foam roof in October 2005, and expects to complete the permanent roof by September, in time for the home opener for the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
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