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Terrance Harris Posted: Sep 09, 2009 11:28 PM	New Foam Rigs Typically, to become a journeyman in most crafts you have to be an apprentice and work at the craft for about four years. From what I have seen on this site, anyone can buy a spray rig, get EIGHT HOURS training and be confident they can go into business, immediately get work, be proficient at spraying foam and make money. My question is, do you think this is good for our industry and has spraying foam really gotten that easy?
mason Posted: Sep 10, 2009 07:28 AM	I agree that too many contractors are getting into the business with inadequate training. It takes 6 months to a year even with good training for most applicators to spray quality foam. Having said that, there are many suppliers who have very good training programs and follow up technical service. I think a good program would include 3-5 days of combined classroom and hands on training, with frequent follow-up by technical folks in the field in the first year. I also believe that every applicator should have at least the series of 101 courses offered by SPFA (for the specialty they are in, for example, course 101 Fundamentals of SPF and 101 -BE Fundamentals of SPF used in the Building Envelope or 101 R, Fundamentals of SPF used in Roofing.) I think you will see government regulations in the future for training and certification of sprayfoam contractors similar to the Canadian sprayfoam requirements.

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Terrance Harris

Posted: Sep 09, 2009 11:28 PM

New Foam Rigs

Typically, to become a journeyman in most crafts you have to be an apprentice and work at the craft for about four years. From what I have seen on this site, anyone can buy a spray rig, get EIGHT HOURS training and be confident they can go into business, immediately get work, be proficient at spraying foam and make money. My question is, do you think this is good for our industry and has spraying foam really gotten that easy?

mason

Posted: Sep 10, 2009 07:28 AM

I agree that too many contractors are getting into the business with inadequate training.
It takes 6 months to a year even with good training for most applicators to spray quality foam.

Having said that, there are many suppliers who have very good training programs and follow up technical service.

I think a good program would include 3-5 days of combined classroom and hands on training, with frequent follow-up by technical folks in the field in the first year.

I also believe that every applicator should have at least the series of 101 courses offered by SPFA (for the specialty they are in, for example, course 101 Fundamentals of SPF and 101 -BE Fundamentals of SPF used in the Building Envelope or 101 R, Fundamentals of SPF used in Roofing.)

I think you will see government regulations in the future for training and certification of sprayfoam contractors similar to the Canadian sprayfoam requirements.

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