Open Cell Vs Closed Cell Foam Insulation Metal Building

If an installer was to install the incorrect cell type foam it could cause the insulation to work ineffectively.

Open cell vs closed cell foam insulation metal building.

Importance of knowing the difference between open cell vs closed cell spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation for metal buildings. Both closed cell spray foam and open cell spray foam insulation can be used effectively in commercial building designs to allow the building to achieve energy efficiency and consistent performance. We often compare the texture of open cell foam to a sponge or even angel food cake.

Note the treated wood 2x2 furring on screw offsets. Spray polyurethane foam spf can do stuff that no other stuff can do. It is important to be aware of the difference between open cell vs closed celled spray foam insulation cost uk. The microscopic cells within open cell foam are just that open which give it a soft fluffy feeling.

Closed cell spray foam on the other hand is also called medium density or 2 0 lb foam. When insulating your home or commercial building you must decide which of these types of spray foam insulation you want to use they each have their pros and cons and your choice could make a big difference in the cost of installation and the insulation s performance. There are thousands of metal buildings in texas from spi to houston to corpus christi to san antonio with closed cell foam sprayed on the interior of the metal. Not long ago someone even told me that in florida roofing companies won t let their workers go up on roofs with open cell spray foam because the roofs are so spongy the guys fall right through.

When applied on the interior open cell spray insulation provides performance advantages that differ from those of closed cell spray foam used on the exterior. They have different strengths and weaknesses and one is not necessarily better than the other. It comes down to understanding the benefits of open cell vs closed cell foam and choosing the type that fits your needs. We can build with multiple layers of insulation and membranes and decking and somehow we manage to deal with roof leaks.

In addition to offering a higher r value per inch closed cell foam insulation acts as an adhesive and can increase your building s overall structural integrity. Steel panel cladding above right. Spray foam is also ideal for unusual shapes or areas in a metal building with numerous obstructions. When it comes to spray foam insulation for metal buildings you have two options open cell or closed cell foam insulation.

Alternatively closed cell can be extremely effective. While most people think closed cell is the answer for insulating steel buildings with spray foam the truth of that is really whether the walls are exposed or not. If using open cell i would prefer an additional weather barrier to reduce the potential for water leaks into the foam. Now lets get to it.

The foam also will reduce building movement that cause cause cracks. Murmurs and hearsay about open cell spray foam insulation have been gaining traction for a while. It is not the end of the world.