Surviving Hurricanes with Lightweight Plastics Foam

Staying Out of the Phisher-man's Net. Are you protected?

2007-04-09 News Release

Surviving Hurricanes with Lightweight Plastics Foam

Lightweight plastics spray polyurethane foam increases structural strength with great performance in extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or other storms.

According to the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry, Arlington, VA, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is well known for its important role in creating sustainable buildings in the new energy economy. SPF is a great insulator, exhibits a high degree of sustainable characteristics, owing primarily to the minimal energy used in manufacturing the lightweight plastics, as well as decreased energy and transportation costs. It also is known for its durability and its ability to increase the structural strength through adhesion in some sealing applications for both residential and commercial buildings.

Find Information and Suppliers of spray polyurethane foam.

Durability and increased structural strength are two of the qualities that contribute to SPF's great performance in extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or other storms. Other factors that can contribute to SPF's high performance in hurricanes include added wind uplift resistance and excellent resistance to damage from hail or other wind-borne objects. Lightweight yet rigid, these plastics provide extra strength and adhesion to help the roof stand up to the forces of nature.

In 1992 and 1996, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) tested the racking strength of various types of wall panels and concluded that panels with SPF increased the racking strength between 70% and 200%. In 2005, Factory Mutual tested the wind uplift resistance of SPF roofing systems and concluded that SPF over concrete met the minimum of 990 psf (the rated capacity) for Class 1-990 wind uplift classification. In other words, it would take 990 psf of pressure to tear the foam from the concrete.

These natural disasters also have changed building codes. Before Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana and Mississippi building codes contained no wind or flood provisions. Effective January 1, 2007, however, all new or rebuilt buildings in Louisiana must comply with the wind and flood provisions of the 2003 International Building Code and the 2003 International Residential Code. Mississippi is still working on a bill with similar requirements, and Alabama has passed a bill requiring enforcement of the 2003 IBC and IRC for certain types of structures.

How does SPF provide extraordinary protection to large sections of buildings in helping them to escape major damage from hurricanes? The answer is in the unique physical properties of SPF and how it is installed.

Adheres well. SPF is sprayed on as a liquid and then expands to form a rigid foam plastic with great adhesive characteristics. Because it bonds tightly to a substrate it is very hard to pull off with high winds, as the Factory Mutual testing demonstrated.

Increases structural strength. When installed to the inside of a structure, SPF can help glue the whole building together, increasing a building's overall wind and pressurization resistance.

Provides effective air barrier. SPF can help eliminate air infiltration that can otherwise let the relatively high air pressure building inside escape through the roof deck, subsequently blowing off roofing membranes from beneath.

Minimizes building movement. SPF, when installed to the outside of buildings, can help reduce the profile and minimize building movement so high winds are less likely to catch a corner or tear the substrate.

Durable. Even if wind driven debris damages the surface of the foam, it can resist peel off and continue to provide water resistance to the interior of the building.

Flexible. SPF has a degree of flexibility that can allow some movement without damaging its tenacious bond to the substrate.

Hurricanes and other natural disasters are having a huge effect on the building and construction industry, especially as architects, builders, and code officials come to recognize how well SPF performs in such extreme weather conditions.

Special thanks to Mason Knowles, the executive director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and to the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry.

More information regarding this release and how lightweight plastics foam helps with building construction integrity, can be found at (americanchemistry.com/s_acc/index.asp) and (sprayfoam.org/news.php).

Find information about American Chemistry Council.

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