Polyiso Insulation Without Halogenated Flame Retardant

In a December 2013 blog post, we presented a green wish list for 2014. The first of seven wishes was for rigid insulation with no flame retardants and insignificant global warming potential. Partly in response to our urging, tomorrow, insulation manufacturer Johns Manville (JM) will introduce ENRGY 3.E, a polyisocyanurate roofing insulation that has been reformulated to eliminate the TCPP, or Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, the halogenated flame retardant (HFR) that is used in other polyiso. HFRs are made with chlorine or bromine; these compounds often have high risk of environmental persistence and toxicity.

The new product will be available right away by special order—with about a 14-day lead time, according to Christopher Griffin, Ph.D., the technical director and business leader for bituminous, boards, and insulation at Johns Manville Roofing Systems. The product is currently made only at the company’s Bremen, Indiana factory, but the other four plants could be adapted to produce the foam.