There’s no doubt that the United States uses quite a bit of energy. In fact, statistics from 2016 found that the total energy consumption for the United States was nearly 97.4 quadrillion BTUs. Unfortunately, a sizeable amount of this energy is wasted due to cracks and gaps being present in buildings. Many people rely on a spray foam company in order to have their buildings insulated, especially business owners. If commercial buildings were 10% more energy efficient, these companies would save a collective $40 billion. That being said, those operating spray foam rigs must remain safe. With that in mind, here are tips for safely operating spray foam rigs.
Preparing the Work Site
First and foremost, it’s important that everyone in a building knows what you’re working in. This makes sure that no one without proper safety gear enters your workspace. Next, it’s important to make sure that you and your workers are all wearing safety equipment. While spray foam is truly incredible, you don’t want to touch or breathe in this material. Therefore, workers need to be wearing safety glasses, gloves, and respirators at all times.
After you and your workers are ready, it’s time to secure the work area. You can do this by isolating the environment, ensuring chemical vapors aren’t released throughout a building. However, you’ll still need to ventilate your work area in order to avoid the buildup of potentially toxic air.
Letting the Spray Foam Dry
While applying spray foam, it’s important to give it time to set. If you don’t do this, you’re going to be left with a pile of sludgy liquid rather than adequate insulation. The time it takes for spray foam to dry depends on how much you’re applying and what type of spray you’re using.
Therefore, it’s wise to learn what tack free and curing times mean. Spray foam’s tack free time means how long it takes for this sealant to properly adhere to something. After this happens, curing time starts. After spray foam is fully cured, you can begin to work with this material again.
Once the spray foam is fully cured, you can begin to cut or trim down your material. While you’re not going to be spraying anymore, it’s still important that workers wear all required safety gear. As hardened spray foam is trimmed down, it releases small particles into the air. Breathing in these particles is dangerous and must be avoided at all costs.
Safely Completing Spray Foam Work
After using your spray foam insulation equipment, it’s time to clean up the work area. The main goal of this is to ensure that no building occupants are exposed to chemicals. After thoroughly cleaning and ventilating the work area, the job is complete. Don’t forget to thoroughly wash your protective gear in order to have it ready for the next job.
In closing, it’s imperative to operate spray foam rigs safely. Using these items properly can dramatically help out a business or homeowner. Therefore, many people rely on a spray foam business. Statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency found that adding insulation to seal up air leaks can reduce monthly energy bills by 20%. Spray foam allows buildings to receive a sufficient seal while business and homeowners start noticing lower energy bills.
