Can spray foam insulation work well with corrugated steel buildings?

August 21, 2012 12:58 pm

Corrugated steel buildings are becoming increasingly popular with property owners frequently hiring professionals to construct or improve such facilities. The University of Florida is one such example, as the school decided to remodel its corrugated steel laboratory, previously used for storage, into an Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory.

Additionally, the space had a unique design that would be challenging to insulate with conventional options like fiberglass. With spray foam insulation, contractors were able to control air infiltration in hard-to-manage areas.

The following explains how spray foam insulation can successfully impact energy consumption in a laboratory - or business - that features a corrugated steel building.

The University of Florida remodel
Certain types of insulation can be difficult to manage because they create short- and long-term expenses for property owners. Fiberglass is one such example, as property owners often need to maintain the insulation over the lifetime of a building.

The University of Florida avoided traditional forms of insulation, in part because it sought a solution that satisfied specific needs. The school wanted an energy efficient insulation that would help successfully seal the building envelope.

Icynene professionals immediately got to work, and the highly certified and trained specialists sprayed the solution throughout the facility. Several years after the initial application, air-tightness testing revealed the installation was successful.

"The air-tightness tests indicated that [Icynene] foam insulation did an excellent job at sealing the steel structure, improving the air-tightness of the building even beyond the target level established during the design phase of the project," said a contractor who assisted with the project.

Icynene’s low-density soft foam insulation can easily be applied to attics, ceilings, crawl spaces, roofs and walls by licensed Icynene professionals. The solution expands up to 100 times its volume when it is sprayed onto surfaces, effectively sealing air gaps that can limit a property's efficiency.

When spray foam insulation is successfully applied, it can make a substantial difference, and might save property owners up to 50 percent on their monthly heating and cooling bills. With Icynene, dangers of energy waste and respiratory issues are reduced, as this kind of insulation allows you to feel a difference every day - in your home and in your pocketbook.

Find an Icynene spray foam contractor