Agricultural Content – The portion of foam made from plant materials.
Air Barrier - A layer of material resistant to air flow. Applied in conjunction with a building component (such as a wall, ceiling or roof) to prevent the movement of air through that component.
Air Leakage - Uncontrolled air movement into and out of a structure via the building envelope (see Building Envelope).
BTU – British Thermal Unit. The amount of energy that is required to raise 1 lb. of water up 1° F. The standard power measurement of heating and cooling systems.
Building Envelope - The physical separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building.
Carbon Footprint - The total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions leaked into the atmosphere. Often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.
Cellulose Insulation - Insulation made from recycled newsprint and other paper sources. Often installed wet sprayed or loose-fill (shredded pieces). Often treated with boric acid to it make fire retardant and other chemicals to make it mold resistant.
Chemically Stable - Chemically stable products do not easily decompose or deteriorate.
Class 1 Fire Rating - Rated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), materials with this rating provide the highest degree of fire protection to the substrate, will not slip from position, and are not expected to produce flying brands.
Closed-Cell Foam - Medium density, closed spray polyurethane foam (SPF) refers to generic SPF that weighs between 1.2 and 2.0 lbs per cubic foot when fully cured.
Compressive Strength - The capacity of a material to withstand axially directed pushing forces.
Eave Venting - Roof opening, or opening in an eave, that allows for passage of air so that condensation does not form in a traditionally insulated house.
Effective Aged R-Value - A measure of uniform characteristics to determine the performance capability of a product’s R-value over time.
Energy-Efficient - The positive ratio between the useful output and input of energy.
Energy Loss - The amount of energy needed to generate replacement heat for that which is lost.
Energy Star - A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Appliances that earn an Energy Star meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines for helping people save about one third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. Entire buildings can earn an Energy Star based on their energy-efficient design and construction, and those with this distinction are promoted to the media and press as such by the EPA and the DOE. (www.energystar.gov)
Fiberglass Insulation - Insulation made from sand and recycled glass. Often installed as batts (blanket sheets cut to standard wall stud widths) or loose-fill (shredded pieces). While not considered a health hazard, fiberglass particles can enter the air and cause respiratory irritation.
Heat Loss - Heat that is lost from a building through air leakage, conduction and radiation. To maintain a steady interior temperature, heat losses must be offset by a combination of heat gains and heat contributed by a heating system.
HVAC - Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
Ignition Barrier - a material designed to delay the foam’s involvement in case of a building fire.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. IAQ can be affected by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions.
Determination of IAQ involves the collection of air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces and computer modeling of air flow inside buildings.
Infiltration - Uncontrolled leakage of air into a building through cracks around doors, windows, electrical outlets and at structural joints.
Insulation - Materials with low thermal conductivity characteristics that are used to slow the transfer of heat.
L.E.E.D. - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED certified buildings have demonstrated energy conservation and addressed concerns for site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Certification comes after compliance with the requirements of the LEED Green Building Rating System, a nationally accepted benchmark established by the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org).
Low-Slope Roof (often referred to as Flat Roof) - a category of roof that generally includes weatherproof membrane types of roof systems, installed on slopes at or less than 3:12 (14 degrees). Often used on commercial and apartment buildings.
Mold - Fungal growths often resulting in deterioration of organic materials, especially under damp conditions.
Open-Cell Foam - Low density, open cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) refers to a generic SPF that weighs between .4 and .6 lbs. per cubic foot when fully cured.
Organic - Compounds containing carbon.
Oxidation - The addition of oxygen to a compound with a degrading effect.
Polyurethane - Any of various resins, widely varying in flexibility, used in tough chemical-resistant coatings, adhesives, and foams.
Positive Drainage - A roof surface that slopes toward the drainage components in order to ensure complete drainage of the roof area within 48 hours of rainfall.
R-Value - A measurement of resistance to heat flow.
Self-Flashing - A material that molds to the contours of a roof to weatherproof the joints and angles along the seams.
Shear Value - A unit measure of resistance to external force that acts parallel to a plane.
Structural Integrity - A structure's uncompromised ability to safely resist the required loads.
Substrate - The body or base layer of a structure, onto which other layers are attached.
Sustainability - The practice of promoting reduced consumption, using renewable resources where possible, and minimizing resource intensity while maximizing resource productivity; careful resource management.
Thermal Barrier - A material designed to slow the temperature rise of foam, typically 15 minutes, during a fire situation and delay its involvement in the fire.
Thermal Performance - the extent to which a material or building element reduces heat loss.
Thermal Seal - To form a closure against air around an object or space.
Thermal Shock - Cracking as a result of rapid temperature change.
Toxic Vapor - a chemical that has a median lethal concentration (LC50) in air of 200 parts per million by volume or less of gas or vapor, or 2 milligrams per liter or less of mist, fume, or dust, when administered by continuous inhalation for one hour. Toxic vapors are health hazards.
UV Coating - Liquid applied laminate coating designed to protect the foam from UV rays.
Vapor Permeance - Is directly related to the water vapor transmission through foam. The greater the “perm” the greater the water transmission rate.
Waterproof - any material impervious to water.
Wood Rot - The decay of timber in buildings and other wooden structures caused by certain fungi, resulting from exposure to moisture.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - Any compound containing carbon and hydrogen or containing carbon and hydrogen in combination with other elements.