GOOD JOBS GREEN JOBS NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2010 

Communicating Safety and Health Hazards in

Spray Polyurethane Foam Training

Neeva-Gayle Candelori, Director

ACC Center for the Polyurethanes Industry

May 4, 2010
Overview

• Who is CPI?

• 2009 - Enhanced Product Stewardship Program

• 2010 - Next Stage of Spray Polyurethane Foam 

Product Stewardship Program

• Summary
Who is CPI?

CPI is part of the ACC, 

the largest trade association 

for the chemical industry, 

and its Plastics Division, 

the lead organization for 

plastics resin producers
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry

Mission

CPI is the voice of the polyurethane industry in 

North America

CPI promotes the sus es the sustainable growth of the owth of the 

polyurethane industry in cooperation with user 

groups.

CPI coordinates on key industry activities with 

polyurethane trade associations across the globe.
Product Stewardship History

 Guidance materials on 

polyurethane raw 

materials

 Polyurethane training 

programs

 Regulatory Compliance 

Assistance Program

 Truck Bed Liner Health 

and Safety Program

 Spray Polyurethane Foam 

Health and Safety 

Program

5
Truck Bed Liner 

Health and Safety Program

• Multi-year pr year program, 

included alliances with 

OSHA Regions IV, V, and 

VI.

• Alliances focused 

exclusively on use of 

MDI in spray-on truck 

bed liner applications. 
Truck Bed Liner 

Health and Safety Program

• Resulted in extensive training programs, guidance and outreach. 

– Joint CPI/OSHA Training Seminars

– Website

– Guidance documents

– Speaking engagements

– Trade Shows

– Video (in final stages)
Spray Polyurethane Foam

Health and Safety Program:

Supporting Green Jobs Growth

 Helps fuel economic recovery, improve energy efficiency, and 

supports growth of green jobs.

 Some SPF made in part with renewable resources

 Use of soy based and castor Use of soy based and castor-oil based oil based polyols polyols.

 Some SPF manufactured from post consumer and industrial PET scrap. 

 Conserves energy

 Monthly energy savings up to 40%; investment can be recovered in less than 5 years 

through energy savings.

 Saves GHG emissions

 Ratio of GHG emission savings to emissions used to make insulation is 233 to 1.
Spray Polyurethane Foam

Health and Safety Program:

Supporting Green Jobs Growth

 Increased interest in energy savings – commercial market.

 Home improvement is up - energy tax credits, stimulus funding. 

 One of the highest R-values/inch of all commercial insulation 

materials, upwards of 6.0 upwards of 6.0-6.5 per inch. 6.5 per inch.

 Enables a builder to obtain LEED credits. 

 Rapid growth of SPF brings with it need for increased outreach and 

communications on safe use and handling.

GREEN JOBS ARE GOOD JOBS

WHEN WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY

IS INTEGRATED INTO WORKPLACE PRACTICES! 
Industry Led Enhanced 

SPF Product Stewardship Program

PRIMARY GOAL

TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF

SAFE INSTALLATION PRACTICES REGARDING

USE, HANDLING AND DISPOSAL OF SPRAY POLYURETHANE FOAM.
Industry-Led Enhanced 

SPF Product Stewardship Program

• Launched in 2009 by both CPI and the 

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance.

• Has both a worker focus and 

consumer/building occupant focus

• Initial worker focus (2009) – improve

understanding among high pressure 

workers.
Spray Polyurethane Foam: Posters
Spray Polyurethane Foam: Guidance 
SPF Health and Safety Website

SPRAYPOLYURETHANE.COM
Next Stage of

Spray Polyurethane Foam 

Product Stewardship Program
Next Stage of Program...

• Program focuses on practices and communications that can help to minimize 

potential for exposure to workers and building occupants to spray foam chemicals. 

• Three-pronged strategic approach to SPF product stewardship:

– Worker Performance er Performance and Training. Build and deploy a national health and saf Build and deploy a national health and safety 

training program for professional SPF contractors working with 1 and 2-component SPF.

– Outreach. Educate DIY’ers, consumers and the building/construction sector about key 

issues informing the selection of a contractor; differences between SPF products; health 

and safety practices for DIY’ers and consumers during and after product installation; 

understanding green marketing claims; and re-occupancy guidance. 

– Research. Develop research and testing programs to develop a better understanding of 

chemical issues and analytical exposure assessment methods associated with SPF, and 

engineering controls used during installation. 
Worker Training
Worker Training: SPF Contractor

• Existing Worker Training and 

Testing Module (for high-pressure 

systems)

– Short term: 

• Updated existing workbook, 

presentation, and test questions –

available on CPI website.

• Engaged third parties with existing 

training programs for rapid deployment. 

• Individual company training webinars, 

online programs, and enhancements 

underway utilizing CPI materials. 
Worker Training: SPF Contractor

• Proposed Learning Module / Testing Concept

• Implement a national SPF health and safety training module and 

testing program for high-pressure SPF systems. 

• Identification of par Identification of parameters for training pr aining program underw am underway. 

• Identification of third party contractors to manage testing.

• Outreach to systems houses, distributors, related industry organizations, 

and other third parties underway. 

• Administer online training webinar and test exam.

• Provide documentation of test completion. 

• Collect metrics.
Worker Training and Performance:

Weatherization Contractor

• Proposed Training Module Concept

– Materials to be developed and 

delivered to weatherization 

contractors via:

• Federal and State weatherization 

programs

• Third-party training facilities

• SPF Health and Safety website
Additional Guidance

• Ventilation Guide

– To provide contractors with options on how to set up an effective containment 

and ventilation for removal of SPF chemicals during and after application.

• Respirator Selection Guide Selection Guide

– Technical guidance on the selection of a respirator and accessories and 

cartridge changeout schedules.

– Paper to be presented at CPI’s Polyurethanes 2010 Conference. (10/12/10)

• Translations

– Spanish translation of SPF product stewardship training and guidance materials
Consumer Outreach
Outreach

• Develop weatherization contractor, D-I-Y,

and consumer-facing content to answer 

key questions:

– Re-occupancy times / ventilation

– Questions on installed product

– Two –component low pressure applicator FAQs, 

guidance, tip sheets

– Marketing claims guidance

– Additional Resources

• Promote training programs, guidance 

materials, and videos.

• Communicate health and safety 

information on installing SPF.

SPRAYPOLYURETHANE.COM
Research
Research

• Conduct research on diisocyanates (MDI, pMDI) and other SPF raw 

materials used in 1 and 2-component SPF. 

• Proposed pr oposed projects ar ojects areas to support the ov o support the overall product stewar oduct stewardship 

program include:

– IH monitoring methods for MDI and pMDI 

– pMDI and polyurethane dust exposures during the post-application of trimming / cutting 

– Ventilation Techniques

– SPF Emissions Testing Protocol

– Emissions (to help refine re-occupancy guidance)

– Curing rate
Summary

 SPF is fueling economic recovery, improving energy efficiency, and 

supporting growth of green jobs.

 SPF can be use safely when worker health and safety is integrated 

into workplace pr to workplace practices! Gr actices! Green jobs should be health een jobs should be healthy and saf y and safe jobs! e jobs!

 SPF is an essential part of the solution in answering the call for 

improved energy efficiency nationwide.

 We are continuing to update materials and programs regularly, visit 

our website often. 

Visit SPRAYPOLYURETHANE.COM for more information!
Contact Information:

Neeva-Gayle Candelori, Director

ACC Center for the Polyurethanes Industry

1300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209

Tel: 703-741-5000

Email: Neeva_Candelori@americanchemistry.com

SPRAYPOLYURETHANE.COM