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Next Generation Spray Foam

On January 1, 2021, Environment and Climate Change Canada prohibited any person to manufacture various foam products where a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agent is used, in a decision made as part of Canada’s commitment to The Montreal Protocol. This affects some types of insulation, including certain types of spray foam insulation that Great Northern Insulation installs across Ontario. It goes without saying that that’s a lot of complicated information to take in, so we’ll be breaking down what exactly a blowing agent is, what types of blowing agents are allowed, and what this change means for Canadian homeowners and home builders.

To understand what a hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent is, and what alternative will be replacing it, it is important to know what role a blowing agent plays in the creation and installation of spray foam insulation.

Image displaying the spray polyurethane foam installation process.

What is a "blowing agent"?

Unlike other insulation types that are manufactured in a factory before being transported to a job site and directly installed, spray polyurethane foam insulation (commonly referred to as spray foam insulation) is a manufactured-on-site form of building insulation. As you may know, spray foam insulation is best installed by a trained professional using proper protective equipment. This is because your trained insulation professional is creating the spray foam insulation on-site and installing it in place by combining two chemical components at specific ratios. Just as a teacher knows certain chemicals to create an impressive reaction in teaching chemistry, a trained insulation professional can combine an isocyanate and resin (the two types of chemicals that create spray polyurethane foam insulation) to create a long-lasting, effective form of insulation.

This on-site manufacturing process is the “spray” in spray foam insulation, and a big reason for its popularity and effectiveness. Unlike fiberglass batts or rigid foam board insulation, spray foam insulation is applied directly to a surface as a liquid and expands to fill every crack and crevice before curing. That expansion phase is caused by the last piece of the chemistry puzzle that is spray foam insulation – the blowing agent. A blowing agent is an additional gaseous ingredient that causes the sprayed foam insulation to expand up to 30 times its original volume and fill with ‘bubbles’ (otherwise known as ‘closed cells’) that add insulative value and rigidity to the foam.

Currently, many spray foam insulation types utilize a blowing agent that is a compound of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon, known as a hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs). As part of the Kigali Amendment to The Montreal Protocol, Environment and Climate Change Canada has mandated that HFCs will become prohibited from use on January 1, 2021, and must instead be replaced by a compound with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Why were HFCs used to begin with?

Hydrofluorocarbons are not the first blowing agent to be utilized in foam insulation products. In fact, HFC blowing agents were created to be a more environmentally friendly blowing agent! Blowing agents have undergone constant improvements since the invention of rigid foam insulation in 1940s, with each revision aiming to be a safer, more environmentally friendly improvement over the last.

As part of this constant improvement, Environment and Climate Change Canada is transitioning away from HFCs and requiring individuals and companies to utilize a newer blowing agent that has less of an impact on the environment through its Global Warming Potential. For most foam insulation products, this means using hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) as their blowing agent. HFOs as a blowing agent have zero ozone depletion potential and an extremely low global warming potential, meaning this next generation of spray foam insulation products are far more environmentally friendly to produce.

Graph of blowing agents utilized in polyurethane insulation products through Canadian history.

How Does This Affect Canadian Homes?

If you have an existing home that was built with spray foam insulation installed by Great Northern Insulation that used HFCs as the blowing agent, your home was built with the best possible spray foam insulation technology available at that time. Regardless of the blowing agent, spray foam insulation still provides the best possible insulative value per square inch.

If you are looking to build a new home or renovate your existing home with spray foam insulation after January 1, 2021, the spray foam insulation used will still provide the best insulative value per square inch, but it must be installed using HFOs as a blowing agent for a drastically lower global warming potential to reduce global warming impact.

How Does This Affect Great Northern Insulation?

Great Northern Insulation has been a leading Canadian owned-and-operated insulation company since 1980 and has always kept up to date with the latest industry updates and products. In October 2020 we completed our full changeover company-wide to HFO-based spray foam insulation, ensuring we continue to provide our customers with the best products on the market.

Just as other forms of technology receive improvements and revisions to be better and more efficient, so too does the technology that creates your home’s insulation. This change from HFCs to HFOs as a blowing agent in spray foam insulation ensures that Great Northern Insulation and the spray foam products we utilize continue to provide the best possible insulation solution for your building while also contributing to a more energy-efficient, environmentally conscious Canada.

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935 Keyes Drive
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada N4V 1C3

Phone: 1-800-265-1914

Fax: (519) 539-7946
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

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Eastern Ontario

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Niagara Region

25 Lincoln Ave
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L2P 2C7

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Great Northern Insulation - Better Business Bureau Profile.

Homestars Best of 2021 Award

Best of 2021

HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2021.

Homestars Best of 2022 Award

Best of 2022

HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2022.

Lowes

GNI is the Authorized & Trusted Insulation and Air Sealing Installer for Lowe’s

Trusted for Over 40 Years

Over 40 Years in Business

At GNI, we service your project with the most experienced staff in the industry. Ongoing professional development is an obsession at GNI and we will not compromise at any level to bring to our customers the very best Installers, Sales Representatives, Customer Care Personnel, Field Superintendents, Estimating and Technical Support to your project.

100% Canadian

100% Canadian

Great Northern Insulation is recognized as Canada's largest full-service insulation contractor. GNI is 100% Canadian owned, proudly serving Ontario customers since 1980.

Foam Masters

Do it right the first time
- with foam mastersTM

January, 2021 regulatory phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with the introduction of WALLTITE CM01. Using hydrofluorolefins (HFOs) with lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to HFCs, WALLTITE CM01 is the next generation of spray foam insulation.

HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Huntsman HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Heatlok® Soya HFOTM leverages Honeywell’s latest Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent technology. This new hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agent is the most environmentally conscious blowing agent produced to date, with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, which is more than two orders of magnitude (99.9%) lower than HFCs used in this industry.

3M

3MTM products.
Quality + Performance = Savings

3MTM energy-saving products are designed to keep warm air in, and cold air out, while keeping energy bills down. Products optimize energy efficiency in buildings and homes; improve indoor environment for occupants; and effect the reduction of seasonal energy costs. 3M products are authorized for LEED credits (Leadership in Energy/Environmental Design).

Holmes and Holmes

Holmes and Holmes

 

Mike Holmes and his son Mike Jr. (MJ) convert MJ’s bachelor bungalow into a two-storey home for MJ and his girlfriend Lisa. Choosing the newest materials and build techniques, the father and son team follow Mike’s famous motto – “Make it right.” The show can be watched on HGTV and DIY Network.

Enbridge

Enbridge Incentives

The Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program offers up to $10,000 in home reno rebates – and Great Northern Insulation can pave the way.

Renomark

Great Northern Insulation proudly abides by a renovation-specific Code of Conduct set by RenoMark™.

eRenovate

We are Verified & Bonded by eRenovate. When you choose to proceed with our services through their platform, you receive the gaurantees set forth through their program.

As Seen on Love It or List It

The GNI crew have been featured installing insulation on Love It or List It - have you seen our logo in an episode?

Climatizer Cellulose

Climatizer

CLIMATIZER PLUS cellulose insulation is manufactured from a minimum of 85% locally-sourced post-consumer recycled newsprint. Non-toxic additives are applied to the uniquely fiberized paper generating a building material with superior thermal and acoustic properties, as well as exceptional resistance to fire, moisture, mould and pests.

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