Cementitious foam insulation is a cement-based thermal and acoustic insulation, with an R-value similar to that of

fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth ...

. It is installed as a foam with a consistency like

shaving cream Shaving cream or shave cream is a category of cream cosmetics used for shaving preparation. The purpose of shaving cream is to soften the hair by providing lubrication. Different types of shaving creams include aerosol shaving cream (also kn ...

, or as pre-cast slabs. The current cost is similar to that of

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) refers to a class of polymers composed of organic chemistry, organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethan ...

foams. Unlike many foam-in-place

foams, it is nonflammable and non-toxic. As it is water-based, it offgasses water vapour while curing, requiring ventilation and in some cases a dehumidifier. It cures more slowly than organic foams. However, it does not offgas

volatile organic compounds Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapour pressure at room temperature Colloquially, "room temperature" is a range of air temperatures that most people prefer for indoor settings. It feels comfortable to a ...

as many organic foams do. Like cement, it is water-soluble until cured, but after curing it is water-resistant, but water-permeable. It does not expand on setting, but may shrink slightly in open cavities. Structurally, it does not resemble concrete; at the low densities that make it well-insulating, it is quite fragile. It can be crumbled away to re-expose wiring or pipes, making a pile of grey powder. Also unlike concrete, it is quite lightweight. It is not a new product, having been around for some decades, but exclusive rights to an established cementitious foam product have recently been purchased by a company that has been giving it more publicity.

References

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