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Applicability of Spray Polyurethane Foam Ventilation Guideline for Do-It-Yourself Application Events
Dustin Poppendieck1, Mengyan Gong1, Lisa Ng1
1Engineering Lab, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD, USA.
Building and Environment
|September 1, 2020
Summary
The EPA ventilation guideline effectively protected homes from spray polyurethane foam (SPF) emissions during a DIY application. Airborne flame retardant (TCPP) levels in the basement remained comparable to pre-application levels, indicating successful containment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Building Science
- Chemical Exposure Assessment
Background:
- Two-component spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is commonly used by DIY consumers.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides ventilation guidelines for SPF application to minimize exposure.
- Flame retardants, such as Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TCPP), are present in SPF and their migration is a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of EPA ventilation guidelines in preventing SPF emissions from reaching non-application areas of a home during DIY application.
- To determine if TCPP migrates outside a temporary isolation area during and after SPF application in a residential basement.
- To assess airborne TCPP concentrations in relation to ventilation strategies and application methods.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a DIY spray polyurethane foam (SPF) application in a test home basement.
- Utilized tracer decay tests to characterize ventilation effectiveness within the isolation area.
- Monitored airborne Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TCPP) concentrations in the basement during and after application.
Main Results:
- Tracer gas tests confirmed the importance of proper isolation and ventilation setup for containing SPF emissions.
- Airborne TCPP concentrations in the basement significantly increased during the first eight hours post-application.
- Post-application TCPP levels were not statistically different from levels measured four years prior, suggesting effective containment.
Conclusions:
- Following the EPA SPF ventilation guideline successfully protected the main living areas of the house from elevated TCPP concentrations in this specific test case.
- The findings suggest that proper ventilation and isolation are crucial for DIY SPF applications.
- Results may differ with higher SPF application rates, reduced airflow, less effective isolation, or unmonitored chemicals.
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