Sep 30 2016
NCFI Polyurethanes, a sustainable polyurethane product manufacturer, has transitioned to the new low-global-warming material from Honeywell for roofing applications, and wall insulation systems will follow in the future. Honeywell announced the transition on 29 September, 2016.
Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam that is formulated with Honeywell's Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) is offered by NCFI in the company’s roofing products. This latest offering is a significant one as it marks NCFI’s transition of all its engineered building products from hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agents that has high global-warming-potential (GWP) to low-GWP products.
In order to do this, most of the company’s polyurethane product line has to be converted to Solstice LBA with integral skin and other applications, before the environmental regulations call for a phaseout of HFCs.
Solstice LBA is based on a futuristic, ultra-low GWP hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) technology. The LBA is a major component in closed-cell foam, which allows the foam to expand and enhances its insulating performance. With an ultra-low GWP of 1, the Solstice LBA has a GWP level that is 99.9% less than that of HFCs, and is equal to Co2.
A major part of our White House-recognized low-GWP commitment is to introduce HFC-free spray foam products that meet our high performance standards. Not only is our internal plan for conversions to a SmartSPF® line well ahead of the deadlines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, we also believe these new spray foam products give us a strong competitive advantage.
Chip Holton, President, NCFI Polyurethanes.
By adopting Solstice LBA, NCFI is meeting the terms of its commitment to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases. The commitment was initially published at a roundtable discussion held at the White House in October, 2015 by President Obama. At the event, where 20 companies participated, NCFI was honored for the proactive plans adopted by the company to substitute HFCs with low-GWP products.
Honeywell also won recognition at the event for its presentation of the Solstice product suite as an opportunity to minimize the emission of green house gases. Over 31 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, which equals to emissions from 6 million cars, has been reduced as a result of the adoption of Solstice products across the world.
NCFI continues to make excellent progress with its adoption of Solstice LBA. Not only is NCFI demonstrating environmental leadership by offering spray foam products with reduced climate impact, it is also seeing significant performance improvements.
Laura Reinhard, Global Business Manager for Spray Foam, Honeywell
The new NCFI systems that use Solstice LBA have better consistency, surface finish and sprayability as compared to the company’s HFC products. The new foam is also more robust, reducing the risk of damage that may be caused when walking on the roof to maintain equipment.
The nonflammable Solstice LBA is not listed under applicable EPA air quality regulations as a volatile organic compound. EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program lists Solstice LBA as a suitable substitute for HFC blowing agents. Solstice LBA is not listed under the F-Gas regulation as F-gas, but is considered to be non-global-warming. Solstice LBA is also listed in the European Union's REACH program. Honeywell opened its Solstice LBA world-scale manufacturing plant in Louisiana, in May 2014.
The product is employed in numerous rigid foam insulation applications such as spray foam insulation, commercial and residential refrigeration equipment and insulated metal panels. It is also used in flexible foam applications including slabstock and molded foam, and integral skin.