News

SPFA Board of Directors Election Information – Nominations are Open!

Nominations are now open for the SPFA 2024 Board of Directors. Whether you want to nominate a colleague or self-nominate, you can do so here. Be sure to check out the information on the recent changes in the board's composition and updates to SPFA By-Laws by visiting here. Note: you must be a member in good standing to submit a nomination or serve on the board.

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Johns Manville to Keep Headquarters in The Mile High City

Johns Manville (JM), a leading manufacturer of premium-quality building and specialty products and a Berkshire Hathaway company, announced today its world headquarters will stay in downtown Denver through at least 2035. The company renewed a lease with Brookfield Properties for over 121,000 square feet of space on five floors in the high-rise building at 717 17th St.

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Innovation in Insulation

Spray foam insulation is a crucial component in modern construction, offering superior insulating properties compared to traditional insulating materials. However, the environmental impact of the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as blowing agents raised significant concerns and created a focus on transitioning from HFC-based blowing agents to those with low global warming potential (GWP).

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Balancing Act

In the world of building insulation, the concept of economic thickness plays a crucial role in determining the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. Economic thickness refers to the optimal thickness at which the cost of adding more insulation is balanced with the resulting energy savings. This delicate balance between upfront costs and long-term benefits is pivotal in making informed decisions regarding insulation strategies.

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National "Stand Down Week" Sparks Conversations on Workplace Fall Prevention

Among construction employees, falls from elevation remain the leading cause of death, accounting for 395 of 1,069 deaths in the industry according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In its continued effort to spread awareness of fall hazards in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is hosting its annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction May 6th – 10th.

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Graco Reports Challenging Start to the Year

On Wednesday (April 24), equipment manufacturer Graco Inc. released its first-quarter financial results for 2024, reporting a 15% decrease in operating earnings for the quarter.

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OSHA Unveils 2023 Injury and Illness Statistics Report

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration published its 2023 injury and illness data. The data was collected under the agency's new Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses regulation, which was published July 2023.

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Technically Speaking

Gaco SprayFoam | SES spray foam contractors know that a sale means nothing if the equipment doesn’t work, the installation goes poorly, or someone is hurt on the job. The actual installation of spray foam starts long before the installer pulls the trigger on the gun, and mastering this preparation is as much an art as spraying the foam.

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TopBuild and Specialty Products & Insulation Agree to Terminate Acquisition Agreement

TopBuild Corp. (NYSE:BLD), a leading installer and specialty distributor of insulation and building material products to the construction industry in the United States and Canada, today announced the mutual termination of its agreement to acquire Specialty Products and Insulation (“SPI”), originally announced on July 27, 2023.

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Global Coatings Supplier PPG Releases Q1 Financial Report

PPG reports first quarter 2024 financial results

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RICOWI Invites You to the Fall 2024 Conference in Rome, NY

RICOWI Sponsoring Organizations and Affiliate Members are pleased to invite you to join us for the Fall 2024 Conference in Rome, NY.

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Fortified Foundations

Each year, from June 1st to November 30th, residents living along the east coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands closely monitor hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean. This six-month window, known officially as Hurricane Season, represents the annual period when conditions are most likely to form a potentially catastrophic storm event.

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A Winning Combination

An hour south of South Bend, Indiana, along the northern edge of Lake Maxinkuckee, you’ll find Culver Academies, a prestigious college preparatory boarding school. Culver Academies’ campus includes three separate schools - Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy, and the Culver Summer Schools & Camps.

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Frank Mortl III, CAE, Joins Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance as Executive Director

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), the educational and technical resource to the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry, today announced that Frank Mortl III, CAE has officially joined the organization as Executive Director. In his role, Mortl will facilitate strategic direction on behalf of the SPFA’s Board of Directors and committees, along with leading staff in key marketing and membership activities with the primary goal of continuing the group on its path of growth.

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PDA Announces Q2 Applicator Level 1 Training School

Join PDA for the second Applicator Level 1 training school of 2024!

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Winners Revealed for 18th Annual SPFA National Industry Excellence Awards

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), the educational and technical resource to the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry, today announced the winners of the 18th Annual SPFA National Industry Excellence Awards. Winners of the program, which is again sponsored by Arkema and Evonik, are contractors recognized for having some of the spray foam industry’s recent, outstanding projects.

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A Chemical Reaction

Since 1987 Elastochem, a family-owned Canadian company started making, distributing, and selling quality products like spray foam, waterproofing membranes, coatings, adhesives, cast polyurethane, and tailor-made chemical solutions, to their Canadian customers. Elastochem has an outstanding reputation for innovation and customer care, but what do we really know about this Canadian company, and how can we as an American market learn from their success?

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Do the 2021 IECC Building Codes Benefit Spray Foam?
  • Apr 01, 2023
  • Aaron Davenport, Director of Building Science for Holcim Building Envelope, Spray Foam Division

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is arguably the largest change in building codes to date. I’m dating myself, but when I started my career in construction, the energy codes required R11 in walls and R19 in attics. With the updated 2021 IECC, minimum energy requirements have increased to R49 for ceiling insulation in climate zones 2 and 3, and R60 for ceiling insulation in climate zones 4 and higher.

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