By David Reed, UT EditorMount Airy, North Carolina-NCFI, one of North America's leading foam makers, was named winner of the EPA 2004 Stratospheric Ozone & Climate Protection Award for extraordinary accomplishments and significant contributions to protect the environment. The firm is the first North American polyurethane foam supplier to commercialise non-ozone depleting rigid spray foam systems using hydrocarbon- and HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) blowing agents, as alternatives to systems formulated with HCFC-141b.NCFI also offers a choice of rigid spray equipment options designed and classified for the application of polyurethane systems formulated with hydrocarbons and HFCs. The firm says it complies with safety requirements by providing the training materials and on-site support essential for the safe introduction of hydrocarbon-based spray foam systems.These NCFI systems offer immediate reduction in emissions of ozone-depleting substances and a progressive strategy for the transition to environmentally sustainable foam technology, the company claims."