1. Products made from environmentally attractive materials

a. Products made with post-consumer/industrial content

2. Products that are green because of what isn’t there

b. Alternatives to ozone-depleting substances

3. Products that reduce environmental impacts during construction, renovation or demolition

a. Products that reduce the impact of renovation

4. Products that reduce environmental impacts of building operation

a. Building components that reduce heating and cooling loads

b. Products with exceptional durability or low maintenance requirements

5. Products that contribute to a safe, healthy indoor environment

a. Products that don’t release significant pollutants into the buildings

1. Materials

2. Manufacturing

1. Process

3. Operational Performance of Installed Product

4. Indoor Air Quality

5. Corporate Environmental Policy.

• Engineering thinner roofs with shorter fasteners.
• Less change in building dimensions to meet a determined R-Value.
• Immediate cost savings caused by a reduction in materials and labor.

“Green” Polyiso, until the last few years, would have been considered by some to be an oxymoron. Polyiso has long been a proven as an energy efficient insulating solution. The chemistry make up of Polyiso has been changing over the years in an attempt to have less impact on the environment. Man-made substances such as CFC's and Halons (e.g., bromotrifluoromethane) are considered ozone-depleting substances (ODS) because they break down in the presence of strong UV radiation and release chlorine or bromine atoms, which then react with ozone molecules. (One chlorine or bromine molecule reportedly can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules). The development of an environmentally friendly, Ozone safe, Polyiso is a direct result of the United States adoption of The Montreal Protocol (includes 175 countries) on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Ozone-Destroying Chemicals

Name		Use		When U. S. production ends*
CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons)		solvents, aerosol sprays (most spray can uses banned in 1970s) foaming agents in plastic manufacture		January 1, 1996
Halons		fire extinguishers		January 1, 1994
Carbon tetrachloride		solvents, chemical manufacture; carbon tetrachloride causes cancer in animals		January 1, 1996
Methyl chloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethene		very widely-used solvent; in many workplace and consumer solvents, including auto repair and maintenance products		January 1, 1996
HCFC's (hydro CFC's)		CFC substitutes, chemicals slightly different from CFC's		January 1, 2003**

**Production of the HCFC with the most severe ozone destroying effects ended January 1, 2003. Production of the rest of the HCFC's will end by January 1, 2030.

Control measures for the United States to reduce Ozone depletion responded to petitions to accelerate the phase-out of HCFC's with the highest ozone depletion potentials (ODP's) (58 FR 65018 , December 10, 1993). The HCFC's with the highest ODP's Including HCFC – 22, HCFC-141b ( the primary blowing agent used to manufacturer Polyiso), and HCFC – 142b were scheduled first. Therefore, on January 1, 2003, the ban on the production and import of HCFC-141b, the highest ozone-depleter of the HCFC's, became effective.

Another distinction that needs made is that the United States EPA accelerated this phase out date and is different than the Montreal Protocol which call for a 35% HCFC reduction by 2004 and total phase out by 2010. However, most Polyiso manufacturers will be producing HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso by January 2003. BY specifying HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso you are assured of an environmentally friendly, ozone safe insulation.

Note: there is a chart that goes here showing phase out dates of various chemicals as relates to different insulation materials including polyiso, polystyrene, urethanes. We can also include the Montreal Protocol schedule for Canadian readers http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaa06.html

A key factor to understand is the US HCFC phase out date of January 2003 does not mean that Polyiso insulation with HCFC’s can not be sold or manufactured in the United States. It eliminates production and importation of HCFC’s. It is probable that Polyiso products containing HCFC’s will be available after January 2003 perhaps extending for as long as a year due to inventory levels. At the 2002 NRCA Convention, Mark Graham, NRCA’s Associate Executive Director, acknowledged that only two suppliers of Polyiso had recognized programs for conversion to HCFC FREE material, Atlas Roofing and Firestone**.

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/overview.html

HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso is available now, even though the US EPA compliance date is January 2003, with environmentally friendly, Zero Ozone Depletion, Zero Global Warming formulations replacing damaging HCFC’s. This new environmentally friendly benefit of “Green” Polyiso is an additional value to its established proven energy performance and with little to no additional costs to the market.

HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso products are ideal for Whole Building, and Sustainable Design projects that put emphasis on specifying environmentally sensitive “green” products.

New HCFC FREE chemistries with old issues, new questions.

In 1993, US EPA required polyiso manufacturers to eliminate CFC’s from production that were the primary blowing agent chemistry at that time. The entire industry transitioned with the HCFC alternative solution.

Unlike converting from CFC’s when a single industry solution emerged, several early blowing agent*** chemistries were identified as possible alternatives to replacing HCFC’s. The list included: Hydrocarbons (HC), Hydrofluorocarbons (HCFC) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The early finalists where HC’s, HCFC-245fa, HC Blends, Blends of HC and HCFC-245fa with the winner** being HC’s. Both Atlas Roofing and Firestone, the 2 manufacturers NRCA recognized with HCFC FREE solutions, are using HC formulations. Of the two manufacturers noted only Atlas Roofing is actively producing HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso.

Blowing Agent	Ozone Depletion Potential	Global Warming Potential
HCFC-141b	.11	630.0
HC	0.0	0.0

When any new product is introduced into the construction industry there are always questions and/or confusion/skepticism. Understanding the performance data of HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso is critical in avoiding this industry confusion during this period of transition. Performance issues critical in specifying compatible roof systems include the following ASTM Standards, which define the physical properties of all polyiso including HCVFC FREE “Green” Polyiso.

• Independent laboratory testing reports typically will include:
• Property Test Method
• Dimensional Stability
• (Length & Width)
• CCMC Test Program
• NRC Test Program
• ASTM D 2126
• Compressive Strength ASTM D 1621
• Water Absorption ASTM C 209
• Moisture Vapor
• Transmission ASTM E 96
• Product Density ASTM D 1622
• Flame Spread ASTM E 84
• Smoke Development ASTM E 84
• HCFC FREE “Green” Polyiso performs “equal to or better” than Polyiso with HCFC’s.