Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution: The eco-friendly spray foam with all the answers

Sep 3, 2021

By Peter Woodcock

Marketing Executive, ECON Polyurethanes

In 1789, The Bastille was stormed by partisans and sparked the French Revolution. As we all know, the revolution led to far-reaching reforms based on liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, the people’s uprising is also remembered for the infamous ‘Reign of Terror’. A period when 17,000 aristocrats, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, were executed.  History has taught us that revolutions can be fractious, bloody affairs.

No Ozone Depletion Potential

But it doesn’t have to be this way. For example, the digital revolution. Tim Berners-Lee started a digital revolution when he invented the world wide web in 1989. The internet now informs the lives of 4.66 billion active users; with no blood being spilled.  We are confident that BASF’s HFO spray foam, Elastospray LWP, will revolutionize insulation. And in the process help save our planet and save lives. As you would expect, with its water-tight, closed-cell structure, our spray foam continues to provide superlative insulation; making homes more energy-efficient. Now, however, it’s free of ingredients that contribute to global warming and has extremely low Global Warming Potential (GWP).  And it also has a No Ozone Depletion Potential (NODP) so it won’t attack the ozone layer.

GWP rating of 1

This is important as we become more accountable for our impact on the environment. Optional GWP ratings are being given to products. This highlights the number of greenhouse gases they release and their impact on global warming. With the lowest and best GWP rating of 1, BASF’s formulation is countering the damaging climate changes caused by the greenhouse effect. Extreme climates threaten billions of lives, species, and habitats. It also complies with the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH). It is naturally the go-to spray foam insulation solution for green-proofed constructions of the future.

International Law

So why is HFO spray foam so important?  Whether it is wildfires, droughts, or floods, the consequence of climate change is never out of the news. Temperature rises pose a deadly global threat. One of the main culprits in accelerating global warming remains harmful F-gas emissions including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Used as an alternative to ozone-depleting substances, HFCs are a toxic menace. They have a global warming effect 23,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. Dealing with the disastrous impact of F-gases has become a binding part of international law. Laws are in place requiring a moratorium on the production and use of partially fluorinated hydrocarbons (a subgroup of F gases). There will be a complete phase-out as HFO alternatives replace them.

EU F-gas Regulation

The European Union has adopted two legislative acts: the F-gas Regulation and the MAC Directive.  The F-gas regulation limits the F-gases that are sold in the EU. It will be phasing them down in steps to one-fifth of 2014 sales in 2030. The legislation continues to be the main driver in the move towards more climate-friendly technologies. The regulations are also banning the use of F-gases in equipment as less harmful alternatives are widely available.  Spray foam is a prime example.  Other examples include fridges, air conditioning, and aerosols.

Prevent emissions of F-gases

The EU is also seeking to prevent emissions of F-gases from existing equipment. This will require checks, proper servicing, and recovery of the gases at the end of the equipment’s life.  The MAC Directive prohibits the use of F-gases in all new cars and vans produced from 2017.  This is because it has a global warming potential 150 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2). Just think, implementing this amendment could avoid a further global temperature rise of up to 0.5 degrees by 2100.

Environmentally-friendly HFO Spray Foam

As champions of sustainability, BASF, have brought Elastospray, the environmentally-friendly HFO spray foam, to market. And as a distributor, ECON Polyurethanes are proud to supply foam to our network of spray foam specialists. Our BASF-accredited experts will be at the forefront of a revolution. The revolution in spray foam insulation will change all our futures.

Talk to us about your insulation needs

Call us on UK +44 (0) 1233 229500 or  IRL +353 (1) 4019729 or email info@econ-pu.com if you’d like to discuss your insulation project. Below is a list of some areas where we can help.

U-Value Calculations
Condensation Risk Analysis
Psi Calculations, Build Details
CPD Seminars
Cost Guidance,
Product Suitability
Regulation Compliance
Provide CAD and PDF drawings specific to your build.

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