SPF Containment and Ventilation Meeting Objectives/Agenda

NIOSH Cincinnati, Ohio

May 6, 2010

8:00 AM Welcome (NIOSH) 5-min.

8:05 AM Introductions 5-min.

8:10 AM Overview, Current Practices, and Guidance for SPF Operations 

(INDUSTRY) 2-hours 

1. Variability of Spray Polyurethane (SPF) Workspaces (INDUSTRY: Jim 

Andersen, BASF; Bob Duke, Carolina Comfort Foam) and Guidance for 

Feasible Engineering Controls (Ventilation) -1 hour and 25 min. 

(Note: for each item, discuss variability and how that impacts ventilation 

approaches, describe current and typical industry practices, and present 

current and planned guidance. Include time for group discussion on 

guidance) 

a. indoor vs. outdoor operations

b. new construction vs. retrofits

c. commercial vs. residential

d. different foams - 2KHP (1⁄2-lb, 2-lb, 3-lb, open-cell, closed-cell)

e. DIY – 2KLP

f. OCF

2. Safety (INDUSTRY) – 15 min.

3. Comparison SPF Application vs. Truck Bed Liner Application (INDUSTRYBill Robert, BASF) 20-min.

a. Equipment

b. Properties

c. Physical Conditions

10:10 AM Break – 10 min.

10:20 AM NIOSH/DART/EPHB Engineering Control Interventions (Scott Earnest, 

NIOSH) 10-min.

10:30 AM NIOSH/DART/EPHB Ventilation Laboratory, 1-hour

11:30 AM Working Lunch

12:30 PM Discussion/Summary of Existing Air Monitoring Data (INDUSTRY: Brian 

Karlovich, Bayer Material Science) 1 hour 30 min.

2:00 PM Update - existing SPF OSHA data/activities (Janet Carter, OSHA) 10 min.
2:10 PM Brief Discussion – SPF control strategies (Dan Almaguer, NIOSH) 5 min.

1. Handout – OSHA Respiratory Protection Assigned Protection Factors table

2. Rationale - need for both PPE including respirators and ventilation

3. Ventilation – Concentration Reduction

Break 2:15 10-min.

2:25 PM Regulations and Standards 40-minutes

1. Responsibilities under the OSHAct (Janet Carter, OSHA) 10-min.

2. EPA guidance on exhausting to the outside during and after SPF application 

– regulations and requirements. (Bradley Grams, EPA Region V) 10-min.

3. Building Standards for Ventilation. (Laureen Burton, EPA) 10-min.

4. Disposal issues (Bradley Grams) 10-min.

3:05 PM VENTILATION PRINCIPLES and DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 

(GARCIA/SIKORA) 1-hour 15

1. Building a negative pressure containment - 15 min.

2. Air Supply (active –two fan vs. passive-single fan) and exhaust - 50 min. 

a. Location (Kevin Sikora, ERG)

b. Fans – Air flow rates/Air exchange rates (for contaminant reduction – these 

rates are dependent on the volume of material sprayed) (Alberto Garcia, 

NIOSH)

c. Filtration – Efficiency MERV

- for contaminant removal from exhaust stream

- to protect equipment

3. Dust Control Issues (Jennifer Topmiller, NIOSH) 10 min.

Trimming – potential adaptation of NIOSH wood dust controls to SPF 

trimmers

4:20 PM Wrap-up - Discussion of future research and data collection needs.

a. 2KHP Systems, DIY or 2KLP Systems, OCF

b. Panel System

c. Two fan system

d. Single fan system

e. Filtration 
List of Attendees:

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

Daniel Almaguer, MS

Industrial Hygienist

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Applied Research and Technology

Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-5

Cincinnati, OH 45226

513/841-4232

dla3@cdc.gov

G. Scott Earnest, Ph.D., P.E., C.S.P.

CAPT, USPHS

Branch Chief

Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch

Division of Applied Research and Technology

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Ph: 513-841-4539

Fax: 513-841-4506

GEarnest@cdc.gov

Alberto Garcia

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Applied Research and Technology

Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-5

Cincinnati, OH 45226

513/841-4596

doq0@cdc.gov

David Marlow

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Applied Research and Technology

Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-5

Cincinnati, OH 45226

513/841-4204

dam2@cdc.gov
Kenneth R. Mead, PhD, PE

CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service

Senior Research Engineer

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

phone: 513-841-4385

email: kmead@cdc.gov

Jennifer L. Topmiller 

Team Leader 

Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-5 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 

513-841-4292 

Anjali Lamba, MPH, CIH

USEPA

Chemical Engineering Branch

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

202-564-0996

Lamba.Anjali@epamail.epa.gov

Kevin Sikora – EPA Contractor/Consultant

ERG

14555 Avion Parkway, Ste. 200

Chantilly, VA 20151-1102

703-633-1707

kevin.sikora@erg.com

Bradley Grams – EPA Region 5

Environmental Scientist, OCSPP 

Sublead Region Coordinator Reviewing and Reducing TSCA Risk

Land and Chemicals Division

Chemicals Management Branch, Toxics Section

Chicago, IL 60604

312-886-7747

Grams.Bradley@epamail.epa.gov

Janet Carter - OSHA

Health Scientist

OSHA - Directorate of Standards and Guidance

200 Constitution Ave. NW - Room N3718

Washington, DC 20210

202-693-2282

Carter.Janet@dol.gov
SPF INDUSTRY: 

Theresa Lucado

American Chemistry Council – Center for the Polyurethanes Industry 

Theresa_lucado@americanchemistry.com

Jim Andersen

BASF Corporation 

jim.andersen@basf.com

Laughton Cockrell

RPC Industries, Incorporated 

cockrell@rpcindustriesinc.com

Rand Duhe

Huntsman Polurethanes 

rand_duhe@huntsman.com

Robert Duke

Carolina Comfort Foam & Applied Energy Savings Systems 

bduke1@bellsouth.net

Rick Duncan (via conf call)

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) 

rickduncan@sprayfoam.org

Brian Karlovich

Bayer MaterialScience, LLC 

brian.karlovich@bayerbms.com

William Robert

BASF Corporation 

William.robert@basf.com

Clarence Tolbert

NCFI Polyurethanes 

Clarence.tolbert@ncfi.net