SPFA updates spray foam lifecycle assessments

Fairfax, Virginia – The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) has completed a five-year update to its ISO-compliant lifecycle assessment and environmental product declaration for three generic SPF product formulations. These include open-cell, closed-cell and roofing foams.

Sustainability specialist Thinkstep helped the Alliance with the assessments.

New this year are LCAs and EPDs for a fourth product type: low-pressure two-component closed-cell insulation and sealant foams.

Two separate EPDs have already been published. One EPD includes HFC-based blowing agents for closed-cell foams, while the second includes HFO-based low-GWP blowing agents.

The EPDs allow SPF contractors help building designers gain proper credit among sustainable building programmes for SPF insulation and roofing materials.

‘In 2013, SPFA was the first trade association to develop and publish an industry-wide, ISO-compliant Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Declaration for SPF,’ said Rick Duncan, SPFA’s technical director.

‘This update is key for the industry as it both brings our LCA and EPDs current. It also addresses a major shift within our industry. This is toward more environmentally sound blowing agents, which dramatically reduce negative impacts to the earth and climate.’

The documents can be found on the SPFA website.