Below you will find additional information on Spray Foam:
SPFA Contractor Safety and Product Stewardship Program (CSPSP)
The importance of comprehensive safety and health programs is increasingly recognized in industry and government. Under current federal Occupational Safety and Health Adminsitration (OSHA) standards, empolyers involved in construction activities must have appropriate safety programs that are necessary to comply with the requirements of the OSHA construction industry standards. Compliance with these requirements is often easier to demonstrate if a company has a broad based safety program that covers all the common elements of a construciton project. For more information on the CSPSP article in the February issue of Spray Foam Magazine, click here.
Spray polyurethane systems typically include two components.
Due to the reactive nature of these components, vapors and liquid aerosols present during application and for a short period thereafter must be considered—and appropriate protective measures taken—to minimize potential risks from overexposure through inhalation, skin or eye contact. These protective measures include:
Adequate ventilation
Safety training for installers and other workers
Use of appropriate personal protective equipment
A medical surveillance program
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has many useful documents. The CPI website is www.polyurethane.org. The document links provided below can be found under the Health, Safety, or Environment tabs.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) website is www.osha.gov.
Click links below to view and save spray polyurethane safe use and handling documents.
GENERAL SAFE HANDLING GUIDANCE
PMDI User Guidelines for Protective Clothing Selection Technical Bulletin AX178 describes the resistance of various gloves and other protective clothing to polymeric MDI (pMDI). The 8-page booklet analyzes performance characteristics for gloves, coveralls, splash suits, and other protective gear commonly used when working with pMDI. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
Transloading of Polymeric Methylene Diphynel Diisocyanates (PMDI) Technical Bulletin AX409 was developed to describe various options for transloading Polymeric Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanates (PMDI) from rail tank cars to cargo tank trailers. The guidelines are not meant to be all-inclusive and may not cover all legal requirements for transloading at a particular facility or operation. Additionally, material safety data sheets (MSDSs) should be reviewed and considered prior to transloading PMDI. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
Guidelines for the Responsible Disposal of Wastes and Containers from Polyurethane Processing Technical Bulletin AX151 is designed to help processors of polyurethane chemicals manage waste chemicals and empty containers in a responsible manner that complies with federal and state regulations.In particular, this 8-page booklet focuses on those chemicals used in polyurethane processing operations that may be regulated as hazardous waste. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION
Polyurethane & Polyisocanurate Foam: Six Steps for Fire Safety During Construction Technical Bulletin AX236 advises construction trades of precautions needed for performing hot work around polyurethane and polyisocyanurate insulations.While fires involving polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam during construction are rare, they do happen and steps can be taken to help prevent these accidents. In this 6-page folder, safety precautions are suggested for the construction site. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
Fire Safety Guidelines for Use of Rigid Polyurethane and Polyisocyanurate Foam Insulation in Building Construction Technical Bulletin AX230 provides fire safety guidelines for polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam insulation, as well as information about the storage and disposal of the materials.Precautions that should be taken by insulation contractors and trades performing hot work are addressed and an extensive list of organizations is provided for information on fire tests, building codes and standards. The guidelines in this 6-page folder reflect practices generally recognized by federal agencies, the model building codes, insurers, and other regulatory bodies as providing requisite levels of safety to life and property. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
THERMAL DEGRADATION
Handling the Heat: Polyurethanes & Thermal Degradation Technical Bulletin AX396 highlights the toxic products that may be of concern when polyurethanes are thermally degraded. This 3-page document also explains the risks of working in proximity to those toxic products and identifies some worker safety and health precautions to consider. Source: Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDSs)
The "A" side of a spray polyurethane system is commonly comprised of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI). The "B" side is typically a blend of polyols, catalysts, blowing agent, flame retardant, and surfactant. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for both A and B side chemicals in a spray polyurethane system should be consulted before use to determine the components present, their approximate percentages, and appropriate health, safety and environmental precautions to be taken.
