- What is FoamLok™?
- What are the advantages of flexible foam?
- What are the advantages of FoamLok™?
- What are the advantages for residential use?
- What is FoamLok™ made of?
- How long does FoamLok™ take to cure?
- Does FoamLok™ absorb water?
- Does FoamLok™ entrap moisture?
- Does the foam change physically over time?
- Is FoamLok™ environmentally friendly?
- How is FoamLok™ installed?
- How long has FoamLok™ been around as a viable product?
- Are there any electric wiring overheating problems associated with FoamLok™?
- Is the insulation corrosive to metals?
- Does FoamLok™ support bacteria or fungal growth?
- What about insects and vermin?
- What are the acoustic properties of FoamLok™?
- Does FoamLok™ contain Urea Formaldehyde?
- Does FoamLok™ break down, sag, or shrink?
- What is the R-Value of FoamLok™?
- Are these aged values?
- Is there a difference in the R-value of LaPolla FoamLok in walls and ceilings?
- At what stage is FoamLok™ installed?
- How does FoamLok™ address sick building syndrome?
- Can FoamLok™ eliminate moisture problems?
- Does FoamLok™ have limited uses?
- What are some of the value-added benefits?
- I'm having an Energy Star home built. Why would I need foam?
- What if I need to run wires through the wall after my drywall has been hung?
- Do I need Attic and Roof Venting?
- What are LaPolla FomaLok’s flammability and fire-rating characteristics?
- What does the smoke contain?
- Are there any harmful emissions as a result of fire?
- Someone Told Me That Because FoamLok uses Bio-based Oils from Sugar Cane that it is a Food Source for Rodents and Insects — Is This True?
FoamLok™ is a semi-rigid, non-toxic, soy and bio-based polyols spray foam insulation that offers added value as an air and moisture barrier solution that windproofs and seals wall, floor, and ceiling cavities to prevent air movement — including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, at baseboards and where walls meet windows and doors. So everything from frigid winter air to hot, humid summer air cannot seep through your walls to the inside, nor can your comfortable, interior air enter the walls to condense. By virtue of its low permeability to air, its adhesion to other building materials, and its flexibility, FoamLok™ provides value beyond insulation. It provides superior air leakage control, moisture control, and sound control — thus becoming a one-step insulation and moisture, vapor, and wind barrier system. And, unlike fiberglass and other “loose fill” insulation methods that do not windproof building cavities, the air sealing characteristics of FoamLok™ provide virtually the same R-value in your home as it does in the laboratory where the listed R-value is measured.
What are the advantages of flexible foam?
Any foam such as FoamLok™ that adheres to building materials, must remain flexible in order to maintain its air seal. Buildings expand and contract with changes of season and temperature. If the foam is too rigid, it will inevitably develop cracks along the studs and ultimately the air seal will be destroyed. While other types of non-rigid insulation — such as batts and loose fill cellulose — can slip, sag, or settle, leaving uninsulated gaps. Blower door tests have shown that a home insulated with semi-rigid FoamLok™ foam, with no polyethylene vapor barrier, measures 1.2 ACH (air changes per hour) at -50 Pa. depressurization. This is well within the 1.5 ACH rating for the most energy efficient homes.
What are the advantages of FoamLok™?
Aside from offering all the same benefits of other soft foams products, FoamLok™ is American made and therefore more affordable. As well as simplifying the construction process for the builder, FoamLok™ eliminates the major causes of building envelope problems, air-borne moisture movement and entrapment. Heating and cooling costs are typically reduced by 30 to 50%, and smaller, less expensive heating and cooling equipment can be used.
What are the advantages for residential use?
A more energy efficient home means that energy costs can usually be reduced by 30-50%. This means a more comfortable home, that easily and cost-effectively maintains desired temperature and humidity levels. With FoamLok™, the temperature difference between the top and bottom of a room varies by just a couple of degrees — unlike fiberglass. FoamLok™ offers some sound proofing qualities as well because FoamLok™ creates a continuous sound barrier against airborne and reverberating noises. As a value add, FoamLok™ can be used in interior walls around media rooms, plumbing and master suites. Most importantly, FoamLok™ offers improved indoor air quality. In conjunction with the mechanical ventilation system, a well sealed building envelope is the key to superior indoor air quality in which your family can live a healthier life.
FoamLok™ is a sugar cane polyol based formula that contains no formaldehyde, or ozone depleting gases like CFCs or HCFCs. Like other foam insulation products in its class, it has the texture and look of angel food cake and is made up of millions of tiny cells. These cells are filled with air and provide permanent control of air and airborne moisture movement. FoamLok™ contains no materials that emit harmful gases. Unlike other foams insulation products, like Icynene, FoamLok™ is American made.
How long does FoamLok™ take to cure?
Less than one minute. The foam is created in seconds after spraying. You can watch it expand within seconds to more than 100 times its original volume. It can be covered with sheetrock boards within just a few minutes.
No. FoamLok™ is hydrophobic. In fact, if a small piece were to be placed in a bucket of water, it would float for as long as you want to watch it. Upon removal, it would dry rapidly and lose none of its insulating properties.
Does FoamLok™ entrap moisture?
No. FoamLok™ is a breathing foam. Any moisture in the building’s concrete or lumber easily escapes through the insulation as the building dries out — thus eliminating any risk of mildew or mold. However, it cannot be applied to wet substrates.
Does the foam change physically over time?
No. FoamLok™ is inert — its physical and insulating properties are constant, as is its air seal. Ultraviolet rays from the sun will damage and break down the foam over time so the foam must not be exposed to the sun’s rays.
Is FoamLok™ environmentally friendly?
Yes. FoamLok™ is an environmentally safe, “green” product — manufactured from sugar cane extracted oils. In fact, it is “triple green” — for a green wallet, green home, and green environment (reducing the demand for fossil fuels to heat and cool homes).
It is sprayed onto any open surface and studded wall — including metal. A trained FoamLok™ installer is required. With any open surface, FoamLok™ can be sprayed on once electrical and plumbing services are in place. In seconds, it expands to 100 times its initial liquid volume, permanently adhering to the surfaces of the surrounding building materials and sealing all gaps.
How long has FoamLok™ been around as a viable product?
FoamLok™ has been installed in various building structures for over fifteen years.
Are there any electric wiring overheating problems associated with FoamLok™?
No. FoamLok™ has tested negative for these concerns; however, no foam insulation product should be sprayed over incredibly old wiring like knob and tube.
Is the insulation corrosive to metals?
No. It is non-corrosive, neutral — neither acidic nor alkaline — and ideal for metal construction.
Does FoamLok™ support bacteria or fungal growth?
No. FoamLok™ is a plastic that is not a food source for bacterial or fungal growth.
What about insects and vermin?
LaPolla FoamLok has zero food value to insects and vermin, however, like any other insulation, it does not present a sufficient barrier to their entry if they decided to chew through it regardless of its zero food value. EnerGsmart has not had a reported incident of something chewing through Foamlok. Insects and vermin chew through insulation because they feel heat or smell food coming through it. Since Foamlok is a superior airseal and insulator, these critters don’t know heat and food are available inside the building so they wouldn’t have a reason to get to the other side.
What are the acoustic properties of FoamLok™?
An effective air seal, FoamLok™ eliminates the gaps through which sound travels and is superior in controlling common mid-range frequencies — including the human voice, stereo music, and plumbing noise.
Does FoamLok™ contain Urea Formaldehyde?
No.
Does FoamLok™ break down, sag, or shrink?
No. FoamLok™ does not shrink, settle or sag. The reaction that creates the stability of FoamLok™ is irreversible and it cannot break down into its constituent parts.
What is the R-Value of FoamLok™?
R-value is derived from a controlled laboratory test of an insulation’s resistance to conductive heat flow. FoamLok has an R-value of 3.9/inch for FoamLok 500 and 6.2/inch for FoamLok 1700. Even better, the actual performance of FoamLok when installed in a building will perform at its lab rated value due to the air-sealing nature of the product, allowing it to stack up favorably when compared to non-air sealing, traditionally installed materials such as fiberglass batts. Fiberglass will perform nowhere near its labeled value once it is packaged, cut up, and stuffed into building cavities. So, an R-13 of foam will perform more efficiently than R-13 of fiberglass. It’s confusing, but blame the government.
Yes. Most closed cell foams use a blowing agent called 245fa (also called Enovate). This blowing agent allows a 2LB density closed cell foam to maximize R-value per inch. During the curing process the millions of cells that make up the foam are filled with a gas that is much more thermally efficient than the air we breathe. The initial R-value of a 245fa blown closed cell foam will be in the neighborhood of R-7. Over a period of several months (depending on the thickness of the foam and other factors) this gas will diffuse out of the foam and be replaced with atmospheric air that we breathe, thus lowering the R-value to the low R-6 range.
If you see a closed cell foam offering an R-value above 6.5 it is an initial value and you should pay no attention to it. There is no known technology that can reach that R-value. Open cell foam and some closed cell foams use water as a blowing agent. The gas in those cells is not materially different from atmospheric air from an insulating perspective and thus, they have similar initial and aged R-values. It should be noted here that a water blown closed cell foam cannot reach R-values above the low R-5 range. Some manufacturers will advertise water blown closed cell foams with aged R-values above above 6. That is not possible or everyone would make their foam with water.
Is there a difference in the R-value of LaPolla FoamLok™ in walls and ceilings?
R-values of insulating materials are measured in laboratories and are designated a nominal R-value per inch. In the wall or ceiling of a building, fiberglass and cellulose insulation materials suffer a reduction in performance due to air leakage and infiltration — so their “real” insulating value may be as low as 50% of the nominal R--value of the insulation they contain. Their R-value in the real world is constantly changing based mostly on temperature and wind speed.
By contrast, the insulation of a wall containing FoamLok will perform more closely to the
laboratory tested R-value of the material and seals the wall cavity from air infiltration as well.
FoamLok is particularly well suited to steel frame construction. FoamLok expands to 100 times its original size as it is installed, adhering to surrounding building components. It completely seals joints, crevices, and voids — including difficult to insulate spaces such as steel
stud “U” and “C” sections, double studs, and non-standard stud locations. A continuous air and
vapor barrier is formed around the building structure in a single application.At what stage is FoamLok™ installed?
FoamLok™ is installed after the windows and roof are installed and electrical, framing, and plumbing inspections are complete — and after any other electrical or mechanical system located behind the drywall is installed. It is the last installation to take place before drywall installation.
How does FoamLok™ address sick building syndrome?
FoamLok™ air-seals the building envelope against wind and airborne moisture — creating a comfortable, draft and condensation free environment in a single application. By sealing out dust, allergens, odors, and other pollutants, FoamLok™ allows your air management system to do its job so that the indoor air quality is healthier than outside air. FoamLok™ does not emit gases or odors, and offers no support to bacteria, fungus, insects, or vermin. An environment insulated with FoamLok™ is a much healthier haven for those suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, and chemical sensitivities.
Can FoamLok™ eliminate moisture problems?
Yes. Because air leakage is the culprit, the only way to eliminate moisture problems is to air-seal the building envelope. By eliminating air movement through walls, floors, and ceilings, moisture-laden air cannot pass through and affect the indoor environment. This allows you to control humidity levels to within the 45-50% range — a level at which molds, mildew, dust mites, and many allergens cannot be sustained.
Does FoamLok™ have limited uses?
No. The FoamLok™ solution can be applied to both new or existing construction, adhering to virtually any surface. It allows for architectural freedom and eliminates the insulating and air-sealing woes of metal construction. With FoamLok™, your new or existing building is permanently protected, sealed off from wind, pollutants and airborne sound, and resistant to moisture-related condensation problems.
What are some of the value-added benefits?
Sound and odor control. While FoamLok™ is not intended as a sound-proofing solution, its superior fit reduces airborne sound transfer through roof, floor, and walls — which means it does double duty and becomes part of a cost-effective sound-proofing solution. Outside noises such as air, road, and rail traffic are significantly less noticeable. Inside, there are far fewer complaints about plumbing and neighbor noise. And, by eliminating of air movement through common walls in multi-dwelling units, FoamLok™ eliminates cooking odor migration.
I'm having an Energy Star home built. Why would I need foam?
The Energy Star program is sponsored by the U.S. government and its intent is to give incentives to builders to exceed the minimum necessary energy requirements for a new home. Although the program has resulted in more energy efficient homes, it is a relatively easy hurdle to reach. The program allows fiberglass insulation to be used, which is ironic because Fiberglass is literally the least efficient insulation permitted by code — and the US Government has concluded that it is a likely carcinogen. In short, an Energy Star home using foam insulation will be 30%-50% more efficient for heating and cooling than a fiberglass insulated Energy Star home.
What if I need to run wires through the wall after my drywall has been hung?
In some cases where 2x4 studs and foam insulation are used in the walls of a home, feeding wires down a wall for a new outlet is different than when fiberglass insulation is used. Foam insulation can be drilled through very easily, but it requires the use of a six or twelve foot bit. The cost of these bits, usually under $50, pales in comparison to the hundreds — even thousands — of dollars you'll save on energy bills each year. Even under the extreme example of having to rip apart a wall to run a wire, the cost is still microscopic compared to energy savings with foam.
Do I need Attic and Roof Venting?
No. Attic and roof venting were developed because of the inferiority of fiberglass insulation. In
our climate, in the winter, heat passes through fiberglass in attics with relative ease. Without ventilation this heat would just hang out in your attic causing two common problems. One, it will melt the snow on your roof, which in turn causes ice damming, which in turn causes ceilings to leak. Second, without a way to evacuate the heat from your attic, the warm air will rise and come in direct contact with the cold underside of your roof causing all the moisture in the air to condense into water. This typically results in mold and all sorts of other damage. Unfortunately, this ventilation is just a “band-aid” that creates a flue draft effect that pulls conditioned air from your living space more rapidly. Your house would actually be more energy efficient without the ventilation, but the lack of ventilation will cause the above-stated damage.
In the summer, ventilation is needed at certain times of the day when the attic is warmer than the exterior surface of the roof (typically the evening). With foam sprayed to the underside of the roofdeck, the attic will not reach temperatures that significantly harm roof shingles. Keep in mind that foam can be sprayed to an attic floor. This application still requires ventilation, but to protect the shingles on the roof, not the foam.What are LaPolla FomaLok’s™ flammability and fire-rating characteristics?
FoamLok is a class 1 fire rated product that contributes no fuel in the event of fire and it will not sustain flame upon removal of the flame source. However, like fiberglass, it will be consumed by flame, and gypsum board or other acceptable thermal barriers are required by applicable building codes. In attics and sill plates, our products are not required (by the International Code Council – ICC) to be covered with any fire barriers although some of the foams our competitors use must be covered.
Virtually the same as that of the smoke from all organic materials, including wood, it is made up of many gases, including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Are there any harmful emissions as a result of fire?
No. LaPolla Foamlok™ is safe for both you and the environment. It is a sugar cane polyol based foam, that does not produce formaldehyde, CFCs, or HCFCs
Someone Told Me That Because FoamLok™ uses Bio-based Oils from Sugar Cane that it is a Food Source for Rodents and Insects — Is This True?
Simply stated, that’s complete nonsense. Using that logic, why wouldn’t humans want to eat it? Why don’t we just take a teaspoon of sugar and mix it with some gasoline and drink it up? We obviously don’t recommend that anyone actually does this, but just because one of the ingredients is edible doesn’t mean the entire product is edible. Along with vegetable oils and water, there are plenty of harmful components that would kill small animals and insects if they were ingested. Besides, the oil and water are chemically and permanently altered during the curing process and cease to exist once the plastic is formed.
FoamLok™, like fiberglass or cellulose, is not a barrier to small animals or insects if they wanted to chew through it, but we have never had any reports that this has ever happened. It’s actually less likely they would chew through FoamLok™ because they are less likely to smell food, feel heat, etc. on the other side of the foam due to its air sealing qualities.
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