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SECTION 7200 FOAMED-IN-PLACE INSULATION PART 1.00 - GENERAL

1.01 DESCRIPTION:

  1. Work included: Building insulation required for this Work includes, but is not necessarily limited to: Foamed-in-place (cavity fill) polyurethane installed in the exterior walls, roof and floors as shown on the drawings or as required in the specifications, alternates and/or allowances.
  2. Related work and materials described elsewhere:

Vapor retarder/slip sheets

Section 7200

2.03

 Fasteners

Section 7200

2.03

Temporary bracing:

Section 7200

2.03

Wiring in Foamed-in-place areas

Section 7200

2.03

Gypsum wall board

Section 7200

2.03

1.02 SCOPE AND CONDITIONS OF THE WORK:

  1. Provide all labor, materials, accessories, services and equipment necessary to complete the work.

  2. Comply with General Conditions, Supplementary General Conditions, any addenda, Division-1 General Requirements, the Drawings, and all other Contract Documents.

  3. Coordinate with other portions of Work, and cooperate with other trades.

1.03 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS:

  1. All materials, products and equipment shall be delivered, handled, stored, fabricated, assembled, installed and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's printed instructions. If any contradiction exists between those instructions and the SECTION 7200, PART 1.02 Contract Documents, the Contractor shall obtain clarification from the Owner or his designated representative before proceeding with the Work.

  2. Contractor or owner shall clear building areas to be foamed-in-place of debris and materials prior to the commencement of foam-in-place operations. Surfaces to be foamed shall be dry and clean to assure a good bond where desired for a positive seal.

  3. Comply with all federal, state and municipal codes, laws and regulations for thermal insulation and vapor retarders.

  4. Access for foamed-in-place installation hoses, equipment and vehicles: not more than 100' (hose length) from the farthest wall, roof, or floor cavity to be injected.

  5. Power for injection equipment: one, fifty amp, 220-volt circuit located within 100' of each vehicle access point. When required, heating equipment, ventilating equipment, and hand tools will need additional 110-volt circuits and receptacles separate from the foam equipment.

1.04 SUBMITTALS AND TESTS:

  1. Submit two (2) copies of manufacturer's specifications and installation instructions for each type of insulation required.

  2. Submit two (2) copies of manufacturer's MSDS sheet for each type of insulation required.

  3. Samples: Provide samples of each type of foamed-in-place polyurethane for the Architect's approval.

  4. Provide daily test shot samples of foamed-in-place polyurethane to the Architect from each batch of foam for the Architect's approval.

  5. Certified Testing: When required by the contract documents, submit copies of certified test reports showing compliance with specified performance values.

1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

  1. All wall and roof cavities shall have a material fill equivalent to 99% of the available volume as tested with an infrared thermographic scanner with recorder. The installer shall perform in-process thermographic scanning to locate areas where there are significant voids. When required by the contract documents, submit video tapes of the scanning process.

  2. Foamed-in-place insulation shall be installed so the natural air changes per hour as tested for the insulation by a "blower door" will not exceed .40 natural air changes per hour. When required by the contract documents, submit certified test reports from a "Blower Door" test performed by a technician approved by the Owner or Architect.

  3. The installer shall have a minimum of three years documented experience, demonstrating previously successful work of the type specified herein.

1.06 PROTECTION:

  1. Protection from deterioration: Protect installed insulation materials from physical damage and from becoming wet, soiled, or covered with ice or snow between phases of the work or after the completed installation. Do not expose to sunlight, except to the extent necessary for period of installation and concealment.

  2. Protection of the premises from damage: Protect against ignition at all times.

  3. Thermal protection of raw materials: Protect from freezing or extreme heat. Maintain chemical components at a minimum of 60 degrees while stored on site.

  4. Fire protection: The code states that the use of completely exposed foamed plastic in interior applications presents a fire hazard unless the foam is protected by one of the code approved 15 minute fire resistive barriers (usually 1/2" sheetrock, lath and plaster, or other approved finish or coating). Code requirements, if any, for unoccupied areas should also be followed. Comply with insurance ratings indicated.

  5. Health and safety: There are odors and vapors related to injected urethanes. While there is no danger from the vapors of this product during installation with normal venting, anyone with respiratory sensitivities should evacuate the premises while the work is being done. Protect areas where ventilation is adequate with signage and require personnel in the unvented area to wear proper breathing protection.

PART 2.00 - PRODUCTS

2.01 MANUFACTURER:

  1. Field-applied foamed-in-place polyurethane foam insulation: FOAM-TECH, division of Building Envelope Services, Inc., N. Thetford, VT, (802-222-7740)

2.02 MATERIALS:

  1. Rigid, foamed-in-place polyurethane foam with Zero Ozone Depletion Potential blowing agent as provided by FOAM-TECH or approved equal, with an in-place density of 2.1 - 2.5 lbs. per cubic foot in the exterior walls, ceilings and floors. Foam product will be a standard polyurethane or polyisocyanurate 2-component mix for producing rigid, closed-cell insulation by frothing/pouring in place.

  2. Closed cell content: 90 percent minimum.

  3. Water absorption: 3.0% maximum.

  4. Blowing agent: Non-flourochlorocarbon (Non-CFC). Projects requiring SUPERGREEN FOAM™ or equal shall have an "Zero ozone depletion potential" blowing agent.

  5. Surface-burning characteristics: Maximum flame-spread and smoke developed indices of 75 and 450, respectively, based on tests performed on un-faced core by ASTM E-84 test method.

  6. K-value: 0.15 minimum when aged 90 days at 140o F dry heat.

2.03 OTHER MATERIALS:

  1. Vapor retarder/slip sheet shall be 4 mil polyethylene or equal installed in a workmanlike manner. Vapor retarders are required to protect the framing even when the perm rating of the insulation material itself is less than one.

  2. Fasteners for Foamed-in-place insulation shall be nails or screws approved by the Owner and securely set with maximum spacing at studs and all sheet edges as follows:

    • For gypsum board, 8 inches.

    • For plywood or OSB, 12 inches.

  3. Temporary bracing shall be required for foamed-in-place areas with inadequate fastening.

  4. Non-metallic electrical wiring in foamed-in-place sections shall be Type NMB or NMC-B located a minimum of 1" from surface to be drilled.

PART 3.00 EXECUTION

3.01 EXAMINATION:

  1. Examine substrates and conditions for compliance with requirements of Sections in which substrates and related work are specified and to determine if conditions affecting performance of insulation are satisfactory. Do not proceed with installation until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected in a manner acceptable to the installer.

3.02 PREPARATION:

  1. Clear building cavities to be foamed-in-place of debris and materials prior to the commencement of foamed-in-place operations. Clean substrates of substances harmful to the insulation, including moisture, dirt, or un-bonded coatings which will affect the insulation or prevent an air-tight seal. Remove projections which might puncture vapor retarders.

  2. Mark locations of all framing members and blocking on face of interior surface to be filled or provide and distribute photographs of stud cavities and rafter bays before interior sheathing was hung.

  3. Sheath both sides of the walls and/or ceiling to be foamed-in-place. Seal all joints and close off openings to prevent foam leakage. Check to insure that the wall cavities are properly finished, that they are free of debris and that both surfaces are anchored to framing members. Gypsum board shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be installed horizontally. Exterior sheathing shall be installed prior to the injection of foam from the inside.

  4. Unless otherwise specified, a vapor retarder/slip sheet is required and shall be a minimum of 4 mil polyethylene or equal installed in a workmanlike manner.

  5. Drill holes in the inside wall in the factory edge of the Sheetrock. Holes to be 1" in diameter between each framing member (stud) at 4'-0" vertical increments and at the highest point of each framing bay. For smaller and/or obstructed bays, more frequent holes may be required to assure complete fill. For exterior installations, drill holes in the outside of the wall cavity through the sheathing in a similar manner.

  6. Fasteners for foamed-in-place insulation shall be nails or screws approved by the Owner and securely set with maximum spacing at studs and all sheet edges as follows:

    • For gypsum board, 8 inches O.C.

    • For plywood or OSB, 12 inches O.C.

    • Temporary bracing shall be required for areas with inadequate fastening.

    • Mask areas to be protected from over-spray.

3.03 INSTALLATION:

Foamed-in-place instructions:

  1. Process a two-component polyurethane foam system with 1:1 ratio by volume, positive-displacement, industry-standard pumping equipment. 

  2. Monitor and maintain the component ratio and mix the components of the polyurethane chemicals in accordance with the manufacturer's product specifications and processing instructions to achieve the desired density and physical properties.  Verify the product component ratio with flow meters and programmable ratio monitoring equipment that can prevent the installation of product that is off-ratio by more than the manufacturer’s prescribed limits.

  3. Monitor and maintain the component temperatures in accordance with the manufacturer's product specifications and processing instructions to achieve the desired density and physical properties.

  4. Inject the mixed foam through the holes and fill the walls in multiple rises or increments to prevent excess pressure from causing the sheathing to bulge. If specified, plug the holes after injecting the foam. The foam will expand and give off heat.

  5. The temperature on both sides of the wall must be a minimum of 45 degrees during foaming and for a forty-eight (48) hour period after foam has been placed in the wall cavity. If the exterior temperatures are below 45 degrees, the interior temperature must be 70 degrees for a minimum of eight (8) hours prior to injection and forty-eight (48) hours after completion. The outside temperature should not be less than 20 degrees unless the outside is protected by thermal insulation.

  6. During foam operations, the above temperature requirements must be met while providing two (2) air changes per hour for ventilation for installation personnel and other workers in the building. Heat during foaming operations shall be provided by vented or non-open flame sources.

  7. Chemical components are to be maintained at a minimum of 65 degrees while stored on site.

  8. Trim foam flush with the inside or outside surfaces. Remove foam from finished surfaces such as window glass, casings, and gypsum board.

  9. Access for foamed-in-place installation equipment and vehicles shall not be more than 200' from the farthest wall or roof cavity to be injected.

  10. Power for injection equipment shall be one, fifty-amp, 220-volt circuit located within 100' of vehicle access points. An additional circuit for heating equipment, ventilating equipment, or hand tools may be required.

3.04 CLEANING:

  1. Clean work area daily by sweeping and disposing of debris and scraps in a location designated by the Contractor or Owner.

  2. Upon completion of the work of this Section in any given area, remove tools, equipment, and all rubbish and debris from the work area; leave area in broom-clean condition.

END OF SECTION 7200 FOAMED-IN-PLACE URETHANE FOAM INSULATION