SEALECTION® 500 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is SEALECTION® 500?

The SEALECTION® 500 spray foam is a complete insulation and air barrier system that insulates and air seals walls, floors and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets, baseboards, and where the walls meet windows and doors etc. This means that outside air (hot or cold) cannot seep through walls causing drafts or cold spots. It also means that hot humid air cannot enter the walls and condense on cold surfaces causing molds, mildew and premature decay.

SEALECTION® 500 spray foam insulation is applied by qualified trained installers, which provides a truly effective method to construct energy efficient homes and buildings. The SEALECTION® 500 is a semi-rigid thermo-set polyurethane foam (see Product Specifications), which is a cellular plastic composed of millions of microscopic cells of which most are open. The application of the product is done at the job site by Certified Installers, providing a custom installation of the insulation. The application technique and nature of SEALECTION® 500 make a perfect fit to all cavities irrespective of size or shape.

By virtue of its low permeability to air, its adhesion to other building materials, and its flexibility, SEALECTION® 500 becomes much more than just insulation. It provides superior air leakage and sound control for residential construction. SEALECTION® 500 is a one step insulation, and air barrier system. SEALECTION® 500 eliminates the labor intensive work associated with air-tightness detailing when insulating with conventional insulation products.

Unlike "loose fill" insulation, which does not air seal the building cavities. Air infiltration robs the insulation of its R-value. The superior air sealing characteristics of The SEALECTION® 500 System provides virtually the same R-Value in the field as it does in the laboratory. Cold air in winter and hot muggy air in summer cannot pass through our SEALECTION® 500 foam as it can through other insulating materials cheating those products of its performing R-value.

2. What are the Advantages of SEALECTION® 500?

As well as simplifying the construction process for the builder, SEALECTION® 500 Insulation eliminates the major causes of building envelope problems, air-borne moisture movement and entrapment. Blower door tests have shown that steel framed homes insulated with SEALECTION® 500 Insulation and with no polyethylene vapor barrier routinely measure under the 1.5 ACH50 rating for the most energy efficient home. Heating and cooling costs are typically reduced by 30 to 50%. Smaller and less expensive heating and cooling equipment (properly sized) can be used.

SEALECTION® 500 is inert and stable over a long term. It will not settle or compact over time. It offers stable R-value and is chemically and physically stable under normal conditions between (-60�F and 180�F).

3. Does SEALECTION® 500 adhere to metal studs?

SEALECTION® 500 adheres well to steel studs and other natural materials such as cement board, wood, etc. commonly found in residential and light commercial construction. Since SEALECTION® 500 will adhere to almost all surfaces in the home, areas that do not require SEALECTION® 500 insulation such as windows doors etc. must be protected from over-spray.

4. Are There any Compatibility Concerns with Other Building Materials?

SEALECTION® 500 is stable in the presence of most solvents found in binders, bituminous materials, wood preservatives, and sealers. It is resistant to facers containing plasticizers, fuel, mineral oil, weak acid, and weak bases, which are typically found in residential and light commercial construction materials.

5. Any Electric Wiring Overheating Problems?

There is no special requirement need to encapsulate electrical wires other than what is required with all types of insulation. As with other types of insulation such as fiberglass, cellulose when the properly rated size and type of electrical wires are used, there is no over heating of those electrical wires.

6. Is the Insulation Corrosive to Metals?

No, SEALECTION® 500 Insulation is non-corrosive. It is neutral, which means it is neither acidic nor alkaline. This product will not cause corrosion to metal studs and other metal typically found in construction.

7. Does the SEALECTION® 500 Insulation Support the Growth of Molds?

No, SEALECTION® 500 Insulation offers no food value therefore it cannot support bacteria or fungal growth. The effective air sealing characteristics of SEALECTION® 500 prevents the movement of hot air to the cold parts of the walls. This effective air-sealing process prevents condensation from taking place within the wall cavities. The elimination of condensation within the wall assemblies prevents the growth of molds, mildew.

8. What about pests i.e. roaches, ants, mice and termites?

SEALECTION® 500 insulation offers no food value, but it would not present a sufficient barrier to their entry if they decided to gnaw through it. Normally, pests take "the path of least resistance" and if they cannot detect a food source then they would normally not attempt to go through. In this sense, SEALECTION® 500 acts as a physical barrier and an odor barrier that has shown to significantly reduce the number of pests entering the homes.

9. What are the acoustical properties of SEALECTION® 500?

SEALECTION® 500 Insulation has excellent sound absorption properties and sound transmission properties. When comparing SEALECTION® 500 to other insulations, there is a very noteworthy difference. As an effective air seal, it eliminates the air gaps through which sound travels easiest. SEALECTION® 500 Insulation is superior in controlling mid-range frequencies that include the most common sounds, the human voice and stereo music. For a 2"x6" wood cavity insulated with SEALECTION® 500 the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is 75, and Sound Transmission Coefficient (STC) is 39.

10. Does SEALECTION® 500 contain Urea Formaldehyde, CFC or HCFC's?

No, SEALECTION® 500 does not contain Urea Formaldehyde, CFC's or HCFC's. This insulation is a semi-rigid urethane, open cellular plastic foam, in which water is incorporated as the sole blowing agent. SEALECTION® 500 has obtained the seal of approval by the Environmental Choice Program of Canada (equivalent to US-EPA).


11. Are there Health concerns with SEALECTION® 500?

No, SEALECTION® 500 is a "green" product. It meets off gassing requirements of CGSB 51.23 92 for new residential construction. No toxic or carcinogenic products were detected.

12. Does SEALECTION® 500 Break Down, Sag or Shrink?

No, SEALECTION® 500 Insulation is stable. It does not shrink or sag. The reaction that created SEALECTION® 500 Insulation is irreversible and it cannot break down into its constituent parts.

13. Advantages of Semi-Flexible Foam?

SEALECTION® 500 remains flexible throughout the life of the building. As the building expands and contracts with changes of season and temperature, SEALECTION® 500 will move with the changes without destroying the seal.

14. R-Value of SEALECTION® 500 Insulation?

The R-Values of SEALECTION® 500 Insulation is rated at R-3.8 per inch utilizing traditional R-Value calculation methods. However, independent laboratory testing has proven that in a �real-world� application where environmental conditions such as wind are added, SEALECTION® 500 Insulation out performed both fiberglass and cellulose insulations with R-values above R-30. Therefore,SEALECTION® 500 has a �working� value of R-30, or higher.

15. Are These Aged Values?

Unlike foams filled with CFC or HCFC, the R-Value of SEALECTION® 500 foam does not decline as it ages.

16. What is the R-Value of a SEALECTION® 500 Insulated Wall or Ceiling?

R-Values of insulating materials are measured in laboratories and are designated a nominal R-Value per inch. In the walls or ceilings of building most factory-made insulation materials suffer a reduction in performance due to air leakage and infiltration. The insulating value of many building components may be as low as 50% of the nominal R-Value of the insulation they contain. By contrast, the insulation of a wall containing SEALECTION® 500 Insulation will perform closely to that of the laboratory tested R-Value of the material, and it seals the wall cavity from air infiltration as well. The SEALECTION® 500 Insulation System is particularly suited for steel or wood frame construction. SEALECTION® 500 expands 120:1 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.

17. At What Stage is SEALECTION® 500 System Installed?

The SEALECTION® 500 Insulation System is installed after the windows, doors and roof are in, the electrical and plumbing inspections are completed, and after any other electrical or mechanical system located behind the drywall is installed. It is the last installation to take place before drywall is installed.

18. Can SEALECTION® 500 be applied in an Existing Wall?

We do not recommend that SEALECTION® 500 be applied in existing walls. However, we have had good results in using SEALECTION® 500 in the attic and in the crawl space (if applicable) without disturbing the walls in a retrofit application. The reason is that a large portion of your energy loss is caused by the "chimney effect" - hot air rises therefore creating air movement within a house. If you cap off or seal the attic (the chimney) with SEALECTION® 500 you have greatly cut down on air movement within the house and wall assemblies, and therefore have lowered your existing walls, which do not contain insulation.

19. Are other trades (workers) allowed in the general area of the application of SEALECTION® 500?

SEALECTION® 500 shall be installed on site by qualified installers trained in the proper safety and handling of the chemicals. Other trades persons should be kept away from the immediate area where spraying is conducted.

20. Is it possible for the "Do-it-Yourself" homeowner to install spray in foam?

SEALECTION® 500 Insulation has to be installed by a certified contractor with specialized proportioning equipment. The installer has been trained to work with the chemicals involved and has also been trained in a building science to provide the best installation possible.

21. How much does SEALECTION® 500 system cost?

SEALECTION® 500 is considered to be more expensive than most conventional insulation, however SEALECTION® 500 cannot be compared to conventional insulation. When using the SEALECTION® 500 foam insulation system it actually air seals the building end eliminates energy robbing air leakage and the associated problems with moisture, mold and mildew and condensation problems inside the walls. When calculating the actual cost you need to consider the possible need to downsize the HVAC systems, eliminate building wraps, and eliminate a significant portion of the material and labor costs associated with an air sealing approach.

It is erroneous to compare the cost of loose fill insulation to that of SEALECTION® 500 spray foam insulation system. The invested premium to upgrade from standard fiberglass is an insignificant part of the overall cost of a home and your long-term energy costs. When you are planning to install an upgraded insulation package, remember that the SEALECTION® 500 is more expensive but it provides you with the best performance and comfort value. The additional upfront costs typically pay for themselves in energy savings within three years and will keep on saving you money every year thereafter.

Your builder wants you to build the very best house, be patient and persistent if he is unfamiliar with our product, but ask for the product by name, SEALECTION® 500.

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