Icynene Insulation – Full Seal Against Air Infiltration
Icynene Sprayed Foam Insulation
One of the important considerations in the the design and construction of your new home is considering the insulation system and its impact on other systems in the home. There are a few different forms of insulation, the more common ones:
- Fiberglass Batt
- Recycled Denim
- Blown Cellulose
- Blown Icynene
Green Aspects Of Sprayed Icynene Foam Insulation
Each has different benefits and features and we are going to concentrate here on Blown Icynene. Icynene is a chemical, sprayed in a water base, that adheres to most anything that it touches like glue and also quickly expands to a volume around 100 times the sprayed liquid. The chemicals are considered safe and non-toxic. Because the chemicals are non-toxic and the superior insulating qualities of the system, it clearly supports green building objectives. while it is not a typical DIY project due to the very specialized and expensive equipment required to install the product, it is well worth your consideration in either your new home, or now, as a retrofit in your attic. There are vendors now that sell the systems in pressurized tanks that make a DIY project feasible. One such vendor is Tiger Foam.
They tout a rather unique approach to using a hybrid of Icynene and fiberglass batt to give a reduced cost method of insulating with the installation of a R-13 layer of fiberglass batt over a 1″ layer of Icynene which seals the cavity against air-infiltration while the fiberglass offers. I have not been able to fnd any figures on what the savings may be or if this alternative is not as energy efficient as an all foam cavity. You will have to investigate this yourself. Here is a video:
Traditional Icynene Installation
Icynene rises, much like bread dough, to fill the void completely, fill in around concealed pipes and wires, seal all air cracks and provide a solid air barrier and excellent insulator. The material itself is somewhat like styrofoam in its properties. The net result is a quiet, air leak free wall assembly that can make your home more comfortable, quiter and more energy efficient. The reduced air infiltration makes a very significant difference in the energy efficiency of the home.
This video explains the process and many of the benefits:
Other Benefits Of Icynene Sprayed Foam Insulation
Some of the other benefits that you will get with Icynene that you will not get with fiberglass are:
- reduced dust infiltration (better if you have allergies).
- Superior insulation and sound deadening of the underneath of floors.
- Elimination of cracks though which insects can enter.
- Higher energy savings.
The major downside is cost. The installed cost of Icynene is about 3 times that of fiberglass batt. In general though, the increased energy efficiency will pay this back in about 4-5 years. This is especially true if you you live in Energy Star zones 2 or 3 and have your HVAC unit in the attic and insulate the bottom of the roof deck. If you do this, your installed HVAC plant can be sized smaller and work more efficiently to heat and cool your house.
Reduced Loads On HVAC Systems
It is becoming quite common now to insulate the bottom of the roof deck. That means the space in which your HVAC system resides, that previously that would get to 140-150 degrees in the summer, is now 80-90 degrees. This means the HVAC unit works less often and will last longer.
R-Value
While Icynene in and of itself, does not enhance R-Value over other forms of insulation. It’s real benefit lies in the reduction of air infiltration, which is responsible for up to 40% of the heat gain or loss in a home.
93% of conductive heat flow is already stopped by R-13 insulation. Upgrading from R-13 to R-40 reduces conductive heat flow by only another 5%. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy).
Icynene® delivers ideal R-value and air-sealing in one step, helping you address the most significant source of energy loss so you can take energy performance beyond R-value.
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