NEWS AND ARTICLES ABOUT ICYNENE®: (Click for full article)
Why Icynene®?
All properly installed insulations do a good job but we believe that foam insulation, especially The Icynene Insulation System®, is the best you can have in your building. Here’s why - The Icynene Insulation System:
* Eliminates air leakage
* Can help reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 50%.
* Is permanent
* Is an excellent insulating material
* Is guaranteed not to shrink or deteriorate for the lifetime of the structure
* Is water-blown and not harmful to the atmosphere
* Is the ONLY insulation certified by Envirodesic®
* Is the ONLY foam insulation allowed in the American Lung Association's Health Homes
Unique Insulation System Used On Southern Living Magazine Showcase House.
FoamWorks Insulators is a partner in a unique construction project on the Furman University campus that incorporates and promotes the very best in green building practices.
The Cliffs Cottage at Furman, a Southern Living Showcase Home, is a model of environmentally responsible design, sustainable building techniques and materials, and energy-saving systems. From the bamboo flooring to the solar panels in the roof, the 3,400-square-foot home has all the latest technological innovations in sustainable living.
The commitment to sustainability doesn't end with the house itself. The same environmentally sound concepts were applied to landscaping, organic and formal gardens, rainwater collection systems and even driveway and walkways surrounding the home. It is expected to be among the first residential facilities in the nation to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
"We sprayed 5" of Icynene polyurethane foam onto the roof deck," said Thomas Turner, president of FoamWorks Insulators, "which allowed for an exposed sprinkler system in the unvented attic." The basement ceiling was also insulated with foam. "A sister company, Insulating Inc, used the Johns Manville Spider fiber glass insulation system to insulate the sidewalls to an R-21," said Turner.
The principal partners in the Showcase Home project are Furman, Southern Living, The Cliffs Communities, Duke Energy and Bank of America.
The Cliffs Cottage will be open for public tours until June, 2009. For hours and ticket information, visit the Cliffs Cottage website at furmancliffscoyyage.com or cal 864-294-2185.
Insulation R-Values Above and Beyond Code
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released its new R-value recommendations for new and existing homes. The insulation recommendations for attics, cathedral ceilings, walls and floors have been increased overall and generally exceed those required by most building codes.
Click here to learn more.
Notable Construction Projects
2007 EarthCraft/TecHome
Carl Seville of Seville Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia – who often incorporates Icynene® into his green remodeling projects to ensure a tight building envelope – was named Remodeler Advocate of the Year. Carl was also the contractor for the Earthcraft / TecHome Showcase House featured at The Southern Building Show last June.
New Southern Home
James M. Krantz Construction Corporation was selected to design and build the 2007 New Southern Home. Featuring the latest and most innovative products available in the marketplace, the 2007 New Southern Home incorporates “green” technology like Icynene®.
Built Green Home at Suncadia
Custom homebuilder CMI Homes, Inc. of Roslyn, Washington chose The Icynene Insulation System® for the Built Green Home at Suncadia, winner of the Green Home Marketing Project of the Year.
The Vision House 2006
Built by Sun Mountain Construction of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Vision House 2006 was named Single-Family Concept Home of the Year. Built in accordance with the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, this home demonstrates cutting edge building systems including The Icynene Insulation System®.
The Science of Building A Better Attic System
Icynene and the Benefits of Unvented Attic Assemblies
The advantages of unvented, conditioned attic construction are increasingly being recognized within the industry to help with the following:
* Energy conservation
* Moisture management
Icynene has been used in unvented attic assemblies for more than 15 years, gaining preference with designers, contractors and building code officials throughout North America as a tried and proven practice. FOAM WORKS INSULATORS can tell you how you can benefit from this approach.
What is an unvented attic assembly?
In an unvented attic assembly, air-impermeable insulation is applied directly to the underside of the structural roof deck and is tied into the insulation located in the walls so that the roof system becomes part of the insulated building enclosure.
The attic space becomes indirectly conditioned as a result of air leakage, heat transfer and vapor diffusion through the ceiling.
A fundamental requirement of an unvented attic assembly is the use of air-impermeable insulation on the underside of the roof to prevent air infiltration and exclude airborne moisture from the attic. This reduces latent air-conditioning loads and provides further reductions in energy consumption.
Hot Climates
In hot climates, unvented attics are ideal where HVAC equipment and ductwork are located in the attic. Modifying the attic to create an indirectly conditioned attic space with Icynene can significantly reduce energy consumption.
Cold Climates
In cold climates, attic ventilation is a common method to remove humid air. In some cases, a conditioned attic assembly may be desired where scissor trusses make it difficult to insulate the floor, or in cathedral ceilings where the intent is to turn the attic into living space. A vapor retarder is recommended in cold climates. With any roof system, there should always be a contingency plan to address the possibility of roof leaks, especially with wood roof decks. Icynene’s open cell structure easily allows any moisture or water vapor intrusion to quickly drain and dry out.
CLICK HERE to access our White Papers on Conditioned Attic Assemblies.
Icynene® Can Help You Gain Accreditation in Green Certification Programs
Homeowner demand for greener housing offers huge opportunities for builders. To meet this demand, the industry has developed programs for certification to assure buyers that homes are built to recognized green standards.
There are two national programs offering green certification for homes in the United States, and Icynene® can support builder efforts to achieve certification in either one.
For the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) National Green Building Standard (NGBS) program, Icynene can:
* Contribute up to 34 credits in the Energy and Atmosphere category alone.
* Help builders achieve additional credits in the Innovation and Design Process, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality categories.
For the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Icynene can:
* Make a significant contribution to the program’s Energy Chapter.
* Provide a solution to nearly all of the physical elements of the home where mandatory insulation and air-sealing are required.
* Assist in maximizing the International Energy Conservation Code energy cost, determined through a software performance calculation such as REM Design™, where up to 120 additional points can be realized.
* Contribute in the areas of Indoor Environmental Quality, Resource Efficiency and Additional Practices. (Note: Mandatory points must be achieved in the Additional Practices category.)
Regardless of the certification being sought, Icynene’s insulating and air-sealing capabilities can help houses achieve an air leakage rating of less than 0.1 ACHnat. This meets or exceeds the Building America (DOE) standard for energy efficient houses and far exceeds the average 0.55 ACHnat for houses built with standard insulation.
Exceeding Energy Standards
Jayar Construction Co. built a 7,700 square foot custom “Estate Home” at the Summerset community in Pittsburg, PA. The home had to abide by the performance standards established by the community and reflect cost-effective measures. With the Icynene® application, the home exceeded the community’s energy performance standards, resulting in initial savings of HVAC equipment costs and ongoing savings of utility costs. For a detailed overview of this case study, visit
www.icynene.com/CaseStudies.aspx]www.icynene.com/CaseStudies.aspx
ICYNENE® at the Builders Show
Icynene® insulation and air barrier system was the insulation of choice for the 4 main show homes on display at the 2008 Builders’ Show.

For more information about how Icynene creates healthier, quieter and more energy efficient environments, CONTACT US.
Icynene® Reduces Energy Costs and Moisture Problems in Show Home
The New American Home® is always ahead of its time. Here are a few of the results from the 2006 home, and they prove that our products do what we said they would.
Energy Efficient
The New American Home ’06 used 61% less energy for heating and cooling compared to a similar house in this climate zone. Performance testing and monitoring was provided by Building America team member IBACOS Inc., throughout all phases of the home’s design and construction.
Safe and Sustainable
Because of its hurricane-prone location, TNAH® 2006 was built with concrete block walls to protect against storm damage. Icynene® was applied to the underside of the roof deck to create an unvented conditioned attic assembly for added durability.
Tests have revealed that sealing soffit and ridge vents reduces the risk of wind-driven rain from entering the attic which helps prevent moisture damage to the entire structure.
Icynene creates a complete air-seal, thereby reducing airflow and accompanying airborne moisture in and out of the building envelope. By sealing the attic vents and making the attic part of the conditioned space, Icynene reduces the incidence of mold and moisture problems in the home.
For more information, contact FOAM WORKS INSULATORS today!
“With The New American Home there’s pressure to dazzle the public with the latest features. Our job was to balance those desires with sustainable practices,” said Christopher Joiner, AIA, WCI’s Director of Design. “As a result, TNAH® 2006 is probably more impressive than any that have preceded it.”
Talk to FOAM WORKS INSULATORS to find out more about the unique benefits of Icynene.
Here’s How to Deliver More Than R-value
By cutting down on air leakage, Icynene® enhances the overall performance of the building helping it to deliver more energy efficiency, a healthier indoor environment and better sound attenuation … and FOAM WORKS INSULATORS can tell you all about it!
Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted an experiment to determine the efficiency of a roof assembly insulated with low density, loose-fill fiberglass. Their findings? Up to 50% of the heat loss occurred as a result of air circulation through the insulation.
Because Icynene air-seals and adheres to almost all materials, it eliminates convective heat transfer within the insulation. This feature improves the efficiency of the building, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs. Plus, Icynene enhances the overall performance of the building: better sound attenuation, healthier indoor environment and enhanced thermal comfort are all benefits.
Icynene® provides a significant reduction in both heating &cooling load due to its air sealing property. This improves energy efficiency of the building as the following graphs indicate.


Professionally installed by FOAM WORKS INSULATORS, The Icynene Insulation System® fills any shaped cavity and adheres to almost all materials. That insulation layer keeps air penetration to an absolute minimum. Give us a call and we can talk with you about how Icynene can help your next project!
FOAM WORKS INSULATORS was founded by Insulating, Inc., a provider and installer of residential, multi-family, and commercial insulation with a 30+ year reputation for quality, integrity, and know-how. FOAM WORKS INSULATORS strives to live up to that legacy. Our goal is to build relationships one client at a time, through trust, customer service, attention to detail, and loyalty to our customer.
The New American Home® 2008: Innovations You Can Put to Work Today
TNAH 2008 displayed innovative building materials and the latest construction techniques to provide home builders with inspiration for energy-efficient and earth-friendly homes. One such product is Icynene® insulation and air barrier system.
This open cell spray foam was directly applied to the underside of the roof deck creating an unvented and indirectly conditioned attic. The HVAC system was strategically placed in the sealed attic – a particularly innovative approach to energy efficiency and durability in hot/humid climates.
The 6,725-square foot, Plantation-style home was the first house built in the exclusive Water’s Edge section of Lake Nona, a gated, 11-lot parcel reserved for custom-built waterfront homes.
The home was “Energy Star”-rated, certified “green,” and an environmentally friendly home under standards set forth by the Florida Green Building Coalition, an organization dedicated to eco-friendly construction practices.
Here are some Green Ideas that were featured:
* Spray foam insulation in unvented attic resulted in 42% whole house energy savings
* Air-sealing the home supplemented the savings with smaller, less expensive heating and cooling systems
* Increased resilience against wind and storms with an air-sealed attic assembly
* The home is the first green home certified by NGBS Program – Gold Level
Satisfy the Demand for a Healthier Home
The Icynene Insulation System® delivers advanced moisture management - a property that sets it apart from other insulations. Its open-celled structure helps reduce airborne moisture transfer and the incidence of mold and mildew. While doing so, it continues to let the building components breathe.
Home theaters and playrooms are noise-laden environments that can adversely affect the quality of life.
The Icynene Insulation System's® acoustical and air-seal properties can reduce noise levels in a home to create a haven of peace and quiet.
it is also ideal for reducing airborne sounds that originate from the external environment, such as a busy street or even an airport.
Satisfy the Demand for A More Energy Efficient Home
The Icynene Insulation System® offers long-term savings with immediate payback. Icynene will completely seal all gaps and crevices that compromise airtightness helping to impprove HVAC management and rightsizing of heating and cooling equipment.
Every year an Icynene insulated building will realize optimal energy efficiency and savings that are substantial compared to conventional insulation.
Icynene is the right choice when you are thinking long-term, especially when it comes to reducing energy consumption to save money.