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Commercial and industrial spray foam projects come with a challenge that residential projects often do not: the building may need to remain operational while the work is being performed. Production schedules, employees, inventory, equipment, customers, and Other operations cannot always simply stop because insulation is being installed.

ISO has experience developing containment and ventilation strategies that allow spray foam work to be performed inside large, active facilities while limiting the movement of overspray and maintaining separation between the work area and the operating portion of the building.

Working Around Active Operations

The objective is not simply to spray foam quickly. On a commercial or industrial project. the work has to be planned around the facility's operation. ISO can establish a controlled work area so insulation can be installed while other portions of the building continue to operate.

• Contain the spray foam work area
• Separate the installation zone from active production or occupied areas
• Control the movement of overspray
• Use negative-air systems and air exchanges to move contaminated air out of the controlled area
• Coordinate work around production schedules when the facility cannot shut down
• Perform work during off-hours when the facility's schedule requires it

Airtight Containment Chambers

For large facilities, ISO can construct airtight, ventilated containment chambers around the area being sprayed. These chambers create a controlled environment inside the larger building, allowing spray foam installation to take place without exposing the entire facility to the work area.

This approach is particularly valuable when shutting down production is not practical. Instead of treating the entire building as the spray area, the project is broken into controlled work zones.

198,000-Square-Foot Warehouse

ISO has applied this approach on a 198.000-square-foot warehouse project. Rather than shutting down the entire facility, ISO built an airtight, ventilated chamber around the active spray area. 

The containment system allowed the spray foam work to be performed within a controlled zone while the remainder of the warehouse could continue operating. Negative-air exchange was used to control airflow through the work area and remove overspray and airborne contaminants from the controlled space.

Negative Air and Air Exchange

Negative air is an important part of controlling a commercial spray foam work area. The containment is configured so air is drawn from the surrounding facility toward the controlled work zone rather than allowing air from the work zone to freely migrate into occupied or operating areas.

Air is then exhausted through the appropriate filtration and exhaust setup. The purpose is to control the movement of overspray and airborne material while maintaining the containment boundary. The size and configuration of the containment and ventilation system depend on the project, work area, building layout, and operating conditions.

Overnight Commercial Applications

Not every facility can accommodate a containment chamber while remaining operational. For some businesses, the best solution is to schedule the spray foam work when the facility is closed. ISO has completed spray foam work in a grocery store at night, allowing the work to be performed outside normal operating hours rather than interfering with customers and daytime store operations.

Large commercial and industrial spray foam projects require coordination before the first day of installation. The work area, access, production schedule, containment, ventilation, material handling, and daily shutdown or restart procedures all need to be considered.

• Identify the areas that need to remain operational
• Determine where the spray foam work will take place
• Establish containment boundaries
• Determine the appropriate negative-air and exhaust configuration
• Coordinate work around production or occupancy
• Sequence the project so completed areas can be released while work continues elsewhere

The ability to work within an active facility can make a major difference to the project schedule and the owner's operations. Instead of requiring an entire building to shut down, ISO can develop a work strategy that isolates the spray foam operation from the areas that need to remain open.

Depending on the facility, that may mean working inside a contained chamber, working in phases, or completing the work during overnight or other off-hours.

Commercial and industrial spray foam can be used for large roof and wall areas, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail buildings, distribution centers, and other structures where thermal performance and air sealing are important.

The larger the facility. the more important project planning becomes. ISO's experience with containment and ventilation lets us treat insulation installation as a controlled construction operation rather than simply bringing a spray rig into an occupied building.

Every commercial and industrial project has different operating requirements. ISO works around the facility's schedule and develops the containment and ventilation approach around the actual building and work area.

From a 198,000-square-foot warehouse that needs to remain operational to an overnight grocery-store installation, the goal is the same: install the spray foam correctly while minimizing disruption to the facility. 

For commercial or industrial spray foam projects, contact Insulation Systems Of Oklahoma to discuss the building, schedule, and installation requirements.