fundamentals of spf for the independent building … · for additional information, consult the...

FUNDAMENTALS OF SPF FOR

THE INDEPENDENT BUILDING ENVELOPE INSPECTOR

CHAPTER 5

INSPECTION OF SPF BUILDING ENVELOPE

SYSTEMS

FUNDAMENTALS OF SPF FOR BE INSPECTOR CHAPTER 5

© SPFA PG. 2

CONTENTS PAGE

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3

BE INSULATION INSPECTION PROCEDURES ............................................................ 4

INSPECTION INITIATION .................................................................................... 4 PROJECT INFORMATION ................................................................................... 5 SPECIFIC INSPECTION PROCEDURES ............................................................ 5

GENERAL .................................................................................................. 5

FORM 2 STEP-BY-STEP .......................................................................... 5

FINISHING UP ........................................................................................... 9 ACCREDITED BE INSULATION INSPECTION CHECKLIST ............................ 10 TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT ................................................................................. 10

FORM 1: REQUEST FOR BE INSPECTION ................................................................ 12

FORM 2: SPF INSULATION INSPECTION REPORT ................................................... 15

SELF-QUIZ ................................................................................................................... 21

These course materials have been prepared and reviewed by the SPFA Accreditation

Committee and accepted for use in connection with the SPFA Spray Polyurethane

Foam Accreditation Program on the basis of established industry criteria. The course

materials are offered for educational and training purposes only and without any

representation or warranty, express or implied, by SPFA as to the quality of

performance of the products used or services rendered by an individual or company

completing the training program. SPFA and its members specifically disclaim any

and all liability for any losses, damages, injuries or damages to persons or property

arising out of or resulting from the use or reliance upon these course materials by any

party. SPFA neither endorses nor guarantees the proprietary products or services of

any particular company or individual that may be mentioned or featured in these

materials.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance

4400 Fair Lakes Court, Suite 105

Fairfax, VA 22033

800-523-6154

www.sprayfoam.org


© SPFA PG. 3

INTRODUCTION In this chapter we will discuss the inspection procedures required for an accredited BE insulation inspection. We will review what to look for in the visual inspection as well as the various items that should be recorded on the inspection report. Building envelope (BE) projects will vary considerably in size and scope.

Residential insulation projects generally involve interior SPF applications to stud and joist cavities and will cover thousands of square feet in area.

Rim joist air sealing projects will be limited in area, covering hundreds of lineal feet.

Hybrid insulation systems will typically employ a thin layer of SPF to the interior side of assemblies as an air barrier with a fibrous insulation providing the bulk of the R-value. Application areas would typically be thousands of square feet but limited in overall volume.

Masonry cavity wall projects typically have SPF applied to the exterior over large, open wall surfaces. These projects may cover tens of thousands of square feet with SPF.

The Project inspection scope will be influenced by the Project size and scope. The number of thickness probes, core samples, photos, sketches, etc. will vary accordingly. Physical sampling involves destructive investigation and is necessary to ensure that the spray polyurethane foam building envelope system has been applied according to the project and/or manufacturer’s specification. You will learn how to take and evaluate core samples. The purpose of this CHAPTER is to explain the BE inspection procedures and point out some of the deviations and possible problems that a BE insulation inspection might uncover. Specific information regarding SPF project design, workmanship, quality control and fire safety is provided in other chapters. For additional information, consult the booklet titled “Spray Polyurethane Foam Independent Inspector Roofing/Building Envelope Requirements.”

Hybrid Systems SPF can be applied to building assemblies in combination with other insulation types such as fiberglass or cellulose. Typically, the closed-cell SPF is sprayed in a relatively thin layer to the inside surface of exterior sheathing, to function primarily as an air barrier. The assembly cavity is then filled with the other insulation to provide the bulk of the R-value. Hybrid systems are very popular in the southern U.S. (cooling climate zones) and are increasingly seen in northern areas as well with greater thicknesses of SPF and/or vapor retarders to avoid condensation issues. It is best to inspect hybrid systems prior to the fibrous insulation installation.


© SPFA PG. 4

BE INSULATION INSPECTION PROCEDURES BE insulation inspections offer suppliers, applicators and building owners assurances that SPF installations achieve specification requirements stipulated by the customer, specifiers, architects, engineers or other design professionals. Procedures developed by the industry help insure that systems are installed according to the individual project specifications. They also provide a means for the applicator to confirm the quality of his work. The objective of the Accreditation BE insulation inspection is to determine the individual applicator’s ability to apply SPF as required by the individual project specifications. The fundamental question that you, as an Accredited BE inspector, need to answer is: Has (have) the applicator(s) met the intended Project specifications and manufacturer’s installation requirements? It is not the intention of the SPFA Accreditation Program to evaluate the performance of any specific products or verify building code compliance. When evaluating the applicator’s ability to apply SPF take into consideration the following documents:

1. Project specific specifications 2. SPF product manufacturer’s installation requirements 3. SPFA guideline documents.

BE insulation inspections employ a three-step process: 1. Visual inspection, 2. Thickness testing, and 3. Physical sampling. Included in each of these steps are observation, photography and commentary. INSPECTION INITIATION The first step in all Accreditation BE insulation inspections is the Request for BE Inspection (Form 1) which will be sent to you as the Accredited BE Inspector. Form 1 constitutes a formal request to initiate and schedule a BE insulation inspection. The Form provides the following key information about the Project:

Contractor information including contacts and the names of individuals who applied SPF on the Project;

Project location and scope, project type;

Type(s), identification and basic properties of SPF applied;

Other materials applied by the Contractor. In addition, the Contractor will provide Project specific specifications, manufacturer’s installation requirements and/or other supporting material. Upon receiving Form 1 Request for BE Inspection, establish contact with the Contractor to schedule an appointment for an Accredited BE insulation inspection.


© SPFA PG. 5

PROJECT INFORMATION The Contractor will provide you with pertinent project information including but not limited to the following:

Project specifications

Project type (i.e., new construction, renovation, residential, commercial, etc.)

Manufacturer’s installation requirements

Special considerations

SPF manufacturer(s)

SPF system identification including type, product name and system number

Assemblies where the SPF was applied

Thicknesses and R-values within the various assemblies

Thermal or ignition barriers (if applicable) Primers (if applicable) SPECIFIC INSPECTION PROCEDURES General As an Accredited BE inspector, your primary obligation is to work with the Contractor to perform the inspection and report your results back to the Contractor. Your primary inspection report will be the completion of Form 2: SPF Insulation Inspection Report. The Complete Inspection Record will consist of 1) Form 1 (as submitted to you by the Contractor); 2) Project specifications, manufacturer installation requirements, etc.; 3) Form 2 (as completed by yourself); 4) core samples; 5) photographs; and 6) other attachments and commentary as appropriate. The Complete Inspection Record is to be submitted to the Contractor following the completion of the inspection. SPFA Accreditation Department requests that the inspector retain a copy of Form 2 for a period of five (5) years in the event an audit or a verification would be required. As an Accredited BE inspector, you will be working under contract with the Contractor (not SPFA). You will need to negotiate inspection fees, expenses and payments directly with the Contractor. Form 2 Step-by-Step Section 1: Inspection Date (self explanatory) Section 2: Inspection Agency Information

Exotherm The reaction of the SPF components to form the foam insulation generates heat: the reaction is exothermic. For closed-cell SPF types, too much heat results in excessively high temperatures and, possibly, foam degradation: it may fail to develop its full physical properties and, in extreme situations, may char (discolor), emit odors or combust. The maximum foam temperature reached is dependent upon the foam system formulation and the thickness that it is applied. Most manufacturers specify the maximum thickness that can be applied in a single pass. If a greater total thickness of foam is specified, additional passes may be sprayed following cool down periods between the passes. Open-cell SPFs, while exothermic, are less susceptible to overheating and can generally be sprayed to full thickness in a single pass.


© SPFA PG. 6

Provide the necessary information required on the Form. Section 3: Contractor Information In addition to the basic and self-explanatory Contractor information, Form 2 requests the names of Contractor representative(s) that accompany the inspection. The Contractor will be responsible for repairing any damage to the insulation caused as a result of your inspection (i.e., core holes and the like). Also, the Contractor’s representative(s) would be expected to answer any questions you have regarding the Project. Section 4: Project Information This information provides specifics to the Project being inspected. All of this information would be available from Form 1 which the Contractor has provided. In addition, there is an area to provide a brief description of the Project scope. BE projects will vary dramatically in scope. Typical projects might include residential insulation, residential air sealing, conversions of vented attics to unvented, crawlspaces, masonry cavity wall construction, etc. Section 5: Project Sketch The sketch is intended to show the overall layout of the Project and to be able to identify where samples and/or photographs are taken. The nature of the sketch will be dependent on the scope of the project (for example, it could be a plan view or a detail). The detail provided on the sketch will be at the discretion of the inspector. Please indicate which direction is North on plan views. Attach additional pages if appropriate. Section 6: Visual Inspection Observations In general, the visual inspection should identify and/or confirm:

The specific assemblies are insulated in accordance with the Project’s scope and specifications;

SPF is installed in accordance with air barrier requirements;

SPF is fully adhered to the substrates and is well bonded to cavity framing members (e.g.,

Overall SPF Quality SPF is a two-component system which is mixed at the spray gun. Improper mixing or an excess of one of the components (“off-ratio”) will lead to poor quality foam. Excess pMDI (“iso” or A-component) will be observable as a dark and friable foam; excess resin blend (polyol blend or B-component) will be observable as a light (or dark if a colorant has been added to the polyol blend), soft and, possibly, sticky foam. Off-ratio foam will occasional be observed as isolated spots due to spurts of excesses of one of the components caused by application pump cavitation (or other application issues). Such areas should be removed and resprayed. Mixing problems will be observed as streaks of color variation and/or non-uniform cell structure within a core sample. SPF is often applied using a “picture framing” technique wherein the edges of an assembly cavity are sprayed first to build up a cant between the framing member and the sheathing surface. The central section of the cavity is then filled to the specified thickness using a back and forth or up and down motion of the spray gun. The result of this technique is that the center of the cavity will usually be less thick than around the edges. As SPF is usually used to provide an air barrier as well as insulation, it is important that a good seal forms between the SPF and framing members that form building assembly cavities. There should not be any gaps or crevasses observable at these junctions.


© SPFA PG. 7

studs, joists, etc.);

Satisfactory overall surface profile;

SPF color is uniform and consistent;

Cracks, blisters and delaminations;

Presence/absence of thermal barriers and ignition barriers. Take photos to document your observations. Section 6 is divided into four subsections covering various aspects of BE projects which can be visually determined. Depending on the Project scope, many of the elements within this Section will not be applicable: Indicate such in the “NA” columns provided on Form 2. All the subsections have a comment section: use the comment section to describe observations that are important but not specifically covered in the preceding elements. In the thermal and ignition barrier subsection, there may be multiple correct choices (for example, if the Contractor used multiple types of SPF, some may require an ignition barrier and some left exposed). Provide detailed information in the comment sections as appropriate. Where thermal and/or ignition barrier coatings or coverings are required but absent, determine if they are the Contractor’s obligation. If so, inquire about the plans and schedule for their installation and note this on Form 2. Add additional pages to Form 2 as appropriate. Section 7: Thickness Measurements and Insulation Profiles R-value is proportional to insulation thickness. Therefore, insulation thickness is usually the fundamental requirement in an insulation project specification. (An exception would be a project wherein the SPF is used solely as an air barrier material.) Thickness will vary depending on several factors:

The specified thickness (or R-value) for each building assembly: The thickness applied must meet the requirements of the specifications and recommendations. Some specifications may require a minimum thickness or R-value while others may require an average thickness or R-value. As an Accredited BE Inspector, you will

Thermal Barriers For occupant safety and code compliance, SPF must be separated from interior spaces by a thermal barrier. Most installations employ ½ -inch gypsum wallboard as the thermal barrier. During most Accredited BE insulation inspections, the thermal barrier will not be in place yet. This allows the SPF insulation to be properly inspected.

Differences between Open-Cell and Closed-Cell SPF There are a variety of SPF types and more are being introduced each day. In general, open-cell SPF is of lower density and lower compressive and tensile strengths than closed-cell SPF. The following table provides typical property differences between the two SPF types.

Property Open-cell SPF Closed-cell SPF

Density 0.5 – 1.4 lb/ft3 1.5 – 3.5 lb/ft3

“Touch” Soft Firm

Expansion (times liquid volume)

100+ 25 – 40

R-value (per inch thickness)

3.5 – 4.0 5.5 – 6.5

Application to stud wall cavities (typical)

Overfill and trim

Underfill

Water resistance None to low Good


© SPFA PG. 8

be expected to know these differences and evaluate the Project and application accordingly.

The application technique within assembly cavities: Many applicators use a “picture framing” technique wherein the perimeter of the cavity is sprayed first to form a cant, then the middle is filled in with an up-and-down or side-to-side motion. This will frequently leave the middle section thinner than the edges. Specified minimums or averages must be maintained.

The surface profile: Spray foam surface profile will never be completely flat. Variations occur for a number of reasons leaving a characteristic profile variation. Open-cell SPF will typically exhibit greater profile variation than closed-cell SPF. In spite of profile variations, specified minimums or averages must be maintained. For insulation surface profiles, use the following criteria to evaluate SPF sprayed to relatively open areas avoiding studs, joists, protrustions, joints, etc.:

Thickness measurements should be made with a calibrated probe or a probe and ruler. The insulation profile in the vicinity of the point of thickness measurement should be visually observed and commented upon. Take random representative thickness measurements approximating the following frequency schedule:

Project Size Area Assemblies (walls, floors, ceilings,

roof decks, etc.)

Lineal Assemblies (rim joints, etc.)

Maximum No. per Project

Small (<10,000 ft2) 1 per 100 ft2 1 per 10 lin ft 25

Large (>10,000 ft2) 1 per 500 ft2 NA 25

Indicate what type of assembly the measurement was taken from by using the code: W=wall; C=ceiling; F=floor; R=roof deck; CS=crawlspace; RJ=rim joist (use your own coding for other assemblies with an explanation at the bottom of this Section). Note any deficiencies where minimum or average thickness requirements have not been met. Holes left by thickness probes should be repaired as appropriate by the Contractor. Section 8: Samples Core sampling involves the removal of the full thickness of SPF from the assembly. This may be accomplished using a foam coring tool to yield a cylindrical sample. Alternatively, a rectangular core may be removed using various cutting tools (e.g., a sharp knife for open-cell SPF or a saw for closed-cell SPF).

Closed-Cell SPF (at appx. 2-3 inch thickness, open area)

Open-Cell SPF (at appx. 3.5 – 5.5 inch thickness, open area)

¼-inch variation E = excellent ½-inch variation E = excellent

½ G = good ¾ G = good

¾ F = fair 1 F = fair

1 + P = poor 1.5 + P = poor


© SPFA PG. 9

Take core samples approximating the following frequency schedule:

Project Size Area Assemblies (walls, floors, ceilings,

roof decks, etc.)



Small (<10,000 ft2) 1 per Assembly 1 per 50 lin ft 10

Large (>10,000 ft2) 1 per 3000 ft2 NA 10

CORE HOLES ARE TO BE REPAIRED BY THE CONTRACTOR. Record core observations in the table in Section 8. Store core samples in labeled plastic bags and submit them to the Contractor as part of the Complete Inspection Record. . Inspect the core samples for:

Number and thickness of lifts or passes

Color uniformity and consistency

Cell structure uniformity and consistency

Unusual softness, brittleness or stickiness

Presence of moisture

UV degraded surfaces (indicated by a darker skin on the foam or pass surface)

Blistering or delamination between lifts or between substrate and SPF Section 9: Certification Render an opinion as to whether or not the Contractor’s applicators have installed the SPF in a manner which is consistent with and meets the intent of the Project specifications and manufacturer’s installation requirements. Finishing Up To complete the inspection procedure, finalize your report on Form 2 and submit it as part of the Complete Inspection Record back to the Contractor. Retain a copy of Form 2 in your files for a period of at least five (5) years in the event that an SPFA Accreditation audit or verification is needed.

SPF Color Spray polyurethane foam will naturally vary in color from product to product. Typical SPF can be described as having a cream, buff, tan or beige coloration. Some manufacturers add a colorant to their formulations for product differentiation. SPF will discolor when exposed to sunlight or other ultra-violet (UV) light sources. The discoloration normally appears as an orange or rust color at the exposed surface of the SPF. Exterior applications of SPF (for example masonry cavity walls) may exhibit considerable surface color variation due to differing lengths of UV exposure from one section of the building to another. This is normal and does not represent an application deficiency. Except for surface variations due to UV exposure, the color of individual SPF materials applied on a given project should be uniform in general and should be absent of areas, splotches or spots of lighter or darker material. Color within core samples should also be uniform and void of streaks. Pass lines within core samples should be close to the color of the SPF and not exhibit UV discoloration.


© SPFA PG. 10

ACCREDITED BE INSULATION INSPECTION CHECKLIST 1. Receive Form 1: Request for BE Inspection and supporting documentation (Project

specifications, manufacturer’s installation requirements, etc.) from Contractor. 2. Arrange/schedule inspection with Contractor. Arrange for payment of fees, expenses, etc. with

Contractor. 3. Conduct inspection. 4. Submit to Contractor the Complete Inspection Record consisting of:

a. Form 1(as provided by Contractor) b. Project specifications and manufacturer’s installation requirements (as provided by

Contractor) c. Form 2: SPF Insulation Inspection Report (filled out and signed by you) d. Core samples e. Photographs f. Other attachments and commentary as appropriate

5. Retain a copy of Form 2 in your files for a period of five (5) years. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT The following tools and equipment are recommended for conducting an Accredited BE insulation inspection:

Camera

Notebook

Thickness probe(s)

Tape measure

Sample bags

Coring tool(s)

Knife

Magnifying glass and/or optical comparator (optional)


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Form 1: Request for BE Inspection

Instructions: Form 1 is to be completed by the Contractor and submitted to an Accredited BE Inspection agency of the Contractor’s choosing. Dear Sir/Madam: I represent a Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) application firm whose personnel have applied for SPFA Accreditation credentials for SPF Building Envelope applications. SPFA Accreditation credentialing requires that individual’s SPF application work be inspected by an Accredited BE Inspector. By sending you this form and attachments, we are hereby requesting that you arrange and schedule an inspection of the Project described herein to meet these requirements. As part of this request, I am including the following supporting documentation:

1. Project specifications and requirements as appropriate for this Project; 2. Manufacturer’s installation requirements (for the system(s) installed); 3. Form 2: SPF Insulation Inspection Report (to be filled out by yourself).

As the Accredited BE Inspector for this Project, this Request and the attachments form a contract between your organization and this contracting company. Your compensation for the inspection and report preparation will be borne by this contracting company. Your report, comments, attachments and samples are to be submitted to this contracting company upon completion. You will be expected to retain a copy of the written report (Form 2) in your records for a period of five (5) years for the purposes of SPFA Accreditation audits or verification. The individual applicators named below have applied SPF in sufficient quantities on this Project to realistically evaluate their application skills and abilities to install SPF in building envelopes and are bona fide SPFA Accreditation applicants.

Contracting Company Name Street (PO) Address

City

State, Zip

Company Telephone No.

Fax

Names of Individuals Who Applied SPF on this Project

Name (please print) Approximate Area of SPF Applied

I hereby certify that the information provided in this Form is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Signed ______________________________________________ Date____________________________ Authorized Representative Printed Name _________________________________________ Title ____________________________ Mobile Number ________________________________________ Email __________________________

1. Accredited BE Inspection Inspector Information Inspection Company Name

Street (PO) Address

City

State, Zip

Telephone No.

Fax

Email

Accredited BE Insulation Inspector’s Name


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2. Project Information Project Name or ID

Street Address

City

State, Zip

Date of SPF Completion

New Construction Renovation Other _____________________________ Type: Residential Commercial Other: _____________________________ Type SPF used: Closed-cell Open-cell Multiple types Other _________________________ Description of Project Scope (include a list of the insulated building assembly types and approximate areas):

3. SPF Materials Used SPF Material #1

Manufacturer Product

Formulation ID Density

Cell Structure Open-cell Closed-cell R-value per inch

Where Applied

Thickness Applied

R-value Applied

Comments: SPF Material #2




Where Applied

Thickness Applied

R-value Applied

Comments:


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SPF Material #3




Where Applied

Thickness Applied

R-value Applied

Comments:

4. Other Materials Applied (check all that apply)

Primers (list below types and where applied)

Ignition Barriers (list below types, thicknesses and where applied)

Thermal Barriers (list below types, thicknesses and where applied)

5. Other Project Factors, Descriptions and Comments


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Form 2: SPF Insulation Inspection Report Instructions: Form 2 is to be completed by the Accredited BE Inspector during or shortly after the Project inspection. The Complete Inspection Record is to be submitted back to the Contractor upon completion of this inspection. The Complete Inspection Record consists of Form 1 (Request for BE Inspection); specifications (project specific and manufacturer’s installation requirements); Form 2; core samples; photographs; and other attachments as appropriate. Retain a copy of this completed Form 2 for a period of five (5) years for SPFA Accreditation audits and verification. 1. Inspection Date

2. Accredited BE Inspector Information Inspection Company Name

Street (PO) Address

City

State, Zip

Telephone No.

Fax

Email

Accredited BE Insulation Inspector’s Name

3. Contractor Information Contracting Company Name

Street (PO) Address

City

State, Zip

Telephone No.

Email

Name(s) of Contractor’s Representative(s) Accompanying Inspection

4. Project Information Project Name or ID

Street Address

City

State, Zip

Date of SPF Completion

New Construction Renovation Other _____________________________ Type: Residential Commercial Other: _____________________________ Type SPF used: Closed-cell Open-cell Multiple types Other _________________________ Description of Project Scope (include a list of the insulated building assembly types and approximate areas):


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5. Project Sketch Note: Sketch is intended to show overall layout of Project to be able to identify where sample and/or photographs are taken. The nature of the sketch will be dependent upon the project type and scope and the detail will be at the discretion of the Inspector. Use additional pages as needed. Where appropriate, indicate which direction is North.


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6. Visual Inspection Observations Provide additional comments on last page of this report or attached additional pages as needed. A “Yes” indicates installation is acceptable; a “No” indicates deficiencies; an “NA” indicates not applicable on this Project.

Yes No NA Crawlspace/Floor Insulation (NA if floors slab on grade)

All floor joist cavity insulation installed to uniformly fit the cavity side-to-side and end-to-end.

Insulation in full contact with the subfloor.

Insulation adhered to substrates and other building components to provide an air seal where required.

Insulation surface profile satisfactory.

Insulation of uniform color and consistency.

Comments:

Yes No NA Wall Insulation

All stud wall cavity insulation installed to uniformly fit the cavity side-to-side and end-to-end.

Insulation adhered to substrates and building components to provide an air seal where required.

Rim joists insulated as required.

Corner channels, wall intersections and behind tubs/showers insulated and air sealed as required.

Skylight shafts and attic kneewalls insulated and air sealed as required.



Comments:

Yes No NA Roof/Ceiling Insulation

All joist and/or rafter cavity insulation installed to uniformly fit the cavity side-to-side and end-to-end.

Insulation adhered to substrates and other building components to provide an air seal where required.

SPF insulation separated from recessed luminaries.



Unvented attics air sealed to the outside as required.

Comments:

Thermal Barriers and Ignition Barriers Ignition Barriers (applicable to attics and crawlspaces only) check all that apply: In place

SPF approved to be left exposed

Contractor provide assurances of installation of ignition barriers as required

Comments:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Thermal Barriers (applicable for surfaces between SPF and building interiors) check all that apply: In place

Approved exception(s)

Contractor provided assurances of installation of thermal barriers as required

Comments:______________________________________________________________________________________________


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7. Thickness Measurements and Insulation Profiles Note: Thickness measurements should be made with a calibrated probe or a probe and ruler. The insulation profile in the vicinity of the point of thickness measurement should be visually observed and commented upon. Take random representative thickness measurements approximating the following frequency schedule:

Project Size Area Assemblies (walls, floors, ceilings, roof decks, etc.)



Small (<10,000 ft2) 1 per 100 ft

2 1 per 10 lin ft 25

Large (>10,000 ft2) 1 per 500 ft

2 NA 25

Indicate what type of assembly the measurement was taken by using the code: W=wall; C=ceiling; F=floor; R=roof deck; CS=crawlspace; RJ=rim joist (use your own coding for other assemblies with an explanation at the bottom of this page). For insulation surface profiles, use the following criteria to evaluate SPF sprayed to relatively open areas avoiding studs, joists, protrustions, joints, etc.:

Closed-Cell SPF (at appx. 2-3 inch thickness, open area)

Open-Cell SPF (at appx. 3.5 – 5.5 inch thickness, open area)

¼-inch variation E = excellent ½-inch variation E = excellent

½ G = good ¾ G = good

¾ F = fair 1 F = fair

1 + P = poor 1.5 + P = poor

Location / ID Assembly Type (W,C,F, etc) Thickness (inches) Profile (E, G, F, P)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Comments:


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8. Samples Note: Take core samples approximating the following frequency schedule:

Project Size Area Assemblies (walls, floors, ceilings, roof decks, etc.)



Small (<10,000 ft2) 1 per Assembly 1 per 50 lin ft 10

Large (>10,000 ft2) 1 per 3000 ft

2 NA 10

Record core observations in the table below, store them in labeled plastic bags and submit them to the Contractor with this SPF Insulation Inspection Report. Overall quality should report items such as cell structure (uniform, elongated, occasional enlarged cells), unusual or non-uniform color, stickiness or brittleness, unusual odor, etc. Use abbreviations as appropriate; provide additional explanations at bottom of this page. Core holes are to be repaired by the Contractor.

Core ID

Assembly Type

(W, C, F, etc.)

Total Thickness (inches)

Number of

Passes

Thickness of Individual Passes

(from surface down) Overall Quality and Comments

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Comments:


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9. Certification Based on my inspection of the above project I find that (check one):

The Contractor has met the intended Project specifications and manufacturer’s installation requirements. The Contractor has NOT met the intended Project specifications and manufacturer’s installation requirements I hereby certify that the above report, comments, samples and attachments are true and accurately represent the findings of my inspection to the best of my knowledge and abilities. I agree to retain a copy of this Form 2 SPF Insulation Inspection Report in my company files for a period of at least five (5) years and to provide copy(ies) to the SPFA Accreditation Department as required for auditing and/or verification purposes. Signed ______________________________________________ Date__________________________ SPFA Accredited BE Inspector Printed Name______________________________________________


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SELF-QUIZ

INSPECTION OF SPRAY POLYURETHANE BUILDING ENVELOPE SYSTEMS Please circle the ONE best answer for each question.

1. The Complete Inspection Record would NOT normally include:

a. Air quality test results b. Core samples c. Photographs d. Completed Forms 1 and 2 e. Manufacturer’s installation requirements

2. The inspector should check the core sample for:

a. Uniformity of color b. Uniformity of cell structure c. Blistering or delamination between lifts or between substrate and SPF d. UV degradation e. All of the above

3. Foam thickness should be measured at:

a. 4 locations per building b. 15 location per assembly c. Every 2000 bd ft d. Frequencies dependent on size and scope of project

4. The inspection report would not include:

a. Foam thickness b. Verification the foam is installed to perform the function designated such as air barrier,

insulation, etc. c. Evaluation of the spray foam application d. Blower door test results

5. Core sample locations should be shown on the sketch or indicated in the photos.

True False

6. Visual inspections should identify and/or confirm the presence of cracks and blisters (among other items):

True False

7. The variation in surface profile is somewhat dependent on the type of SPF applied.


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True False

8. The Accredited BE insulation inspection’s focus is primarily on the abilities of individual applicators to apply SPF in a manner to meet the project specifications and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

True False 9. Scorched foam is most frequently caused by thin foam lifts or passes. True False

10 The accredited inspector’s job is to understand the Project specifications and the manufacturer’s installation requirements and confirm whether or not these have been satisfied.

True False

To find out the correct answers, please turn to CHAPTER 6

Rev.7/26/11

.

fundamentals of spf for the independent building … · for additional information, consult the...

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