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Abstract
The thermal resistance characteristics of thicker closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation products appear to be understated when tested at one inch thickness as required in ASTM C 1092-96. This results in excessive and costlier foam thickesses being prescribed tomeet a specifier's R-value requirements than if full product thickness conditioning before full product thermal resistance testing has been specified. Confirmation of this concern was studied by the Building Envelope Committee of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, measuring full product thickness thermal resistances after the 180 days conditioning time. Three commercially marketed proprietary closed-cell spray polyurethane foam formulations containing HCFC 14lb blowing agent were tested. All three formualtions affirmed the concept of measuring full product thickness thermal resistance after time conditioning. Increasingly thicker spray polyurethane foam specimens retained more of their initial thermal resistance values after the standard 180 days of time conditioning before testing, than if thermal resistance values measured on one inch thick spray foam speciments multiplied by the full product thickness, were used for extrapolating these thicker product thermal resistance, as done with homogeneous thermal insulation.
The thermal resistance characteristics of thicker closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation products appear to be understated when tested at one inch thickness as required in ASTM C 1092-96. This results in excessive and costlier foam thickesses being prescribed tomeet a specifier's R-value requirements than if full product thickness conditioning before full product thermal resistance testing has been specified. Confirmation of this concern was studied by the Building Envelope Committee of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, measuring full product thickness thermal resistances after the 180 days conditioning time. Three commercially marketed proprietary closed-cell spray polyurethane foam formulations containing HCFC 14lb blowing agent were tested. All three formualtions affirmed the concept of measuring full product thickness thermal resistance after time conditioning. Increasingly thicker spray polyurethane foam specimens retained more of their initial thermal resistance values after the standard 180 days of time conditioning before testing, than if thermal resistance values measured on one inch thick spray foam speciments multiplied by the full product thickness, were used for extrapolating these thicker product thermal resistance, as done with homogeneous thermal insulation.
Date
8/2003
8/2003
Author(s)
M Sherman; W Mullally; J Garcia; D Dobrez-Flores
M Sherman; W Mullally; J Garcia; D Dobrez-Flores
Page(s)
55-76
55-76
Keyword(s)
apparent thermal conductivity; thermal resistance; full product thickness; HCFC 14lb blowing agent; normalized R-value; roof insulation; spray polyurethane foam; SPF; time conditioning
apparent thermal conductivity; thermal resistance; full product thickness; HCFC 14lb blowing agent; normalized R-value; roof insulation; spray polyurethane foam; SPF; time conditioning