SPFA Participates In Public Workshop Led by California Department of Toxic Substances Control

FAIRFAX, VA – May 7, 2014– The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), a leading voice representing spray polyurethane foam industry contractors, manufacturers and the complete product value chain, announced its active participation in the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) planned series of public workshops surrounding the evaluation of spray polyurethane foam and the use of Diisocyanates. The SPFA will be present at the first public workshop on May 7 in Sacramento, California.

The SPFA joins additional industry associations, leaders, constituents, and stakeholders at the May 7 event in a collaborative effort to better educate the DTSC about the performance and energy efficiency benefits of spray polyurethane foam, as well as to dispel any inaccuracies in the Department's initial reports and documentation about the product and its components.

"We noticed a series of misleading items and inaccuracies in the DTSC-authored product profile that we believe will hinder the Department's ability to accurately evaluate spray polyurethane foam," said Kurt Riesenberg, executive director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance. "We hope that we are given the opportunity to voice these concerns in this public forum as well as to better educate all parties on the immense product performance benefits."

As an association focused on the best practices and the safe and effective installation of spray foam, the SPFA asserts that the DTSC's original claims about Diisocyanates and spray polyurethane foam contain false and misleading facts which include, but are not limited to: components listed which are not found in spray polyurethane foam, curing time inaccuracies, and unproven statements as to 'suspected' medical consequences of exposure.

In participating in the workshops, the SPFA will continue its consistent, transparent collaboration with governmental agencies – which include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – to ensure the safe use of spray polyurethane foam ingredients and systems.

"The SPFA will be an active participant in these workshops to ensure that the interests of our members, constituents, customers and affiliate industries are protected," added Riesenberg. "Spray polyurethane foam is a unique insulation and roofing solution which remains unmatched in performance. Harmful, misguided regulation of this valuable product would severely impact the building and affiliated industries and make it extremely difficult for growing energy efficiency demands to be met within the state of California."

The SPFA has been working closely with the aforementioned federal agencies on performance and health and safety initiatives, produced an ISO 17024 compliant professional certification program for installers, coordinated with the agencies on the 2013-released OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Isocyanates, published independent, third-party Life Cycle Assessment and supporting Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) on SPF unmatched by any other insulation or roofing industry, and transparently and vigorously collaborated with the state of California regarding fire retardants, energy codes, and the extension of health and safety programs addressing worker safety. 

About Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA): The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is the premiere organization representing contractors, manufacturers, and the complete value chain of SPF on safety, technical, educational, advocacy, promotional and other issues.  SPFA is a 501(c)6 membership-based technical trade association representing the leading SPF companies in the United States and abroad.  SPFA offers superior training and new professional certification opportunities to our industry's installers and contractors.  SPFA delivers an annual conference and expo serving SPF professionals, utilizes its exceptional partnerships in industry to deliver various services for its members, and provides a unified voice for SPF on insulation, roofing and other installations.