What a Code of Conduct Says about an Organization
A code of conduct tells a unique story about its organization. It shows increased commitment and leadership. It demonstrates the organization’s willingness to “walk the talk.”
The Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) is the leading organization of companies that produce spray polyurethane foam (SPF). And the SFC is walking the talk.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 56% of the energy used in a home is expended on heating and cooling. SPF acts as both insulation and an air sealant, which means that hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of a building where heating and cooling escapes, are sealed. SPF helps maintain a building at a constant temperature with less air loss, and results in lower energy bills and less energy waste. SPF provides superior energy savings for consumers in basements, crawl spaces, and roofs, where other insulations cannot easily reach and adhere.
But the SFC is about more than just beneficial energy savings for its customers.
The SFC understands the critical role that trained professional installers play in maximizing the benefits of SPF. Because of the unique nature of SPF and its ability to meet very challenging construction needs, the foam is custom-created for each installation. This customizable and long-lasting product demands a high standard to ensure that customers are receiving the best quality installation. Installers must be trained to proper standards.
SFC represents an organization that wants to generate wider understanding of SPF among the public and has taken a leading step to guide the SPF industry. The SFC voluntarily created and unanimously approved a Code of Conduct that its systems house members are required to sign. The process began last year as an effort to collectively deepen the purpose and commitment of the SFC. By March 2014, all active systems house members signed the Code of Conduct, officially launching the implementation for the Code. Any prospective systems house members will be required to sign the Code in order to join the SFC. The Code includes commitments to leadership, communication, applicator training, education and research.
The Code of Conduct is a public commitment that further solidifies the SPF industry’s importance in an energy-conscious world.
Beyond SPF Industry Best Practices
Since its inception, SFC has stressed the value of training and education for the installation of SPF, which benefits homeowners, SPF installers, architects, and builders.
The free online CPI SPF Health and Safety Training is a well-known and highly utilized training program for SPF installers across the country and is one of the minimum requirements for all Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) certifications. The importance of certification cannot be understated.
Additionally, the SFC has created a series of guidance documents on SPF installation, including health and safety, engineering practices like ventilation, application on the jobsite, design guidance for compliance with building codes, and post-application inspections. The SFC provides the tools for the value chain to make informed choices.
For more information visit whysprayfoam.org and americanchemistry.com/polyurethane/spray-foam-coalition.
