Knauf Insulation & Sealing System Q&A Q What is KISS, what is EcoSeal? KISS is the Knauf Insulation & Sealing System. We emphasize system because it is the combination of a specially designed sealant package with highly sustainable, acoustically and thermally efficient Knauf Insulation products that make KISS the most cost effective means for assuring energy efficiency in building envelopes. EcoSeal is the sealant component of KISS. It is a specially formulated sealant that combines outstanding strength and flexibility in all environmental conditions. Its properties have also been carefully designed to make it sprayable through relatively low cost, commonly available equipment. Q Isn t fiber glass old technology? The foams are the new wave in insulation, aren t they? It s true that fiber glass insulation has been around for more than 70 years. That s the point. This outstanding record of longevity is primarily the result of its unbeatable combination of performance and cost. Knauf Insulation has developed modern processes that combine high post consumer recycled glass content with bio-based binders to make insulation products that deliver R-values that can t be matched by cellulose or low density spray applied foams. KISS was developed to address the total thermal performance of walls and ceilings, both thermal and air infiltration resistance. It combines a very efficient air sealant (EcoSeal) with the high thermal and acoustical efficiency of EcoBatt Insulation and Jet Stream 73.3 Blowing Insulation. Q Many of the competing systems use a two part sealant. This must be better than a single part caulk-like material, right? Absolutely not. First, EcoSeal is not a caulk; it is a specially formulated sealant that combines outstanding strength and flexibility in all environmental conditions. It is a very low VOC material that also has extremely low embodied energy compared to foams. Its properties have been carefully designed to make it sprayable through relatively common equipment. This simplicity is one of the key strengths of KISS. It is an outstanding complement to KI s sustainability leadership position. Q I ve invested a lot of money in equipment to install light density foam. How can a setup costing $4000 possibly compete? Just because an alternative method costs more money doesn t make it any better. To further illustrate the advantages of EcoSeal, Knauf Insulation has demonstrated that one simple sprayer setup can actually run two spray nozzles at once, doubling the application rate. Most homes can be sealed in hours instead of days, for a fraction of the cost. Plus, the KISS system is much less dependent on the cost of oil, so future price stability should be greater. The use of EcoBatts or Knauf Insulation premium loose fill insulations with EcoSeal gives a system that equals foam for air infiltration while surpassing it in thermal and acoustical performance, fire safety and installed cost. Q What kind of equipment do I need to spray EcoSeal? The website and installation instructions provide much more detailed information, but the equipment used for EcoSeal is very commonly used for painting. It is distributed nationally and the total cost of an initial setup is around $4000.
Q Foams are clearly superior insulators to fiber glass. Why does Knauf Insulation say that KISS is thermally superior? First, it s incorrect to assume that all foams are good insulators. Open cell foams (also known as light density foams), such as the type typically sprayed into residential walls, are not exceptionally efficient. For 2x4 construction, Icynene and other open cell foams can achieve maximum R-values of 13; for 2x6 walls their maximum R-value is R-20. With KISS, an installer can supply up to R-15 and R-24 in EcoBatts and up to R-15 and R-23 with premium loose fill insulations, either Jet Stream Ultra or EcoFill Wx. Combine this outstanding thermal resistance along with EcoSeal air infiltration performance and you have insulated, sealed wall systems that are clearly superior to foamed walls. Q What kind of warranty will I get if I use the KISS system from Knauf Insulation? The first thing to remember is that KISS is a combination of EcoSeal and either EcoBatts or Knauf Insulation premium loose fill insulations, EcoFill Wx or Jet Stream Ultra. Knauf Insulation offers a limited lifetime warranty to the installing home owner on KISS installations. Please see the warranty documents for details. Q If I use the KISS system, will I be able to qualify the home for the NAHB National Green Building Standard? Yes, the thermal performance of the Knauf Insulation products in combination with the outstanding air sealing attributes of EcoSeal should allow maximum points under the National Green Building Standard, energy efficiency clauses, the air infiltration clause and the recycled materials clause. Q Can I have access to documentation of KISS performance? Knauf Insulation has documentation for all technical claims available. We are prepared to provide manufacturers certificates of assurance or, if required, full documentation of all aspects of our system. Q Has EcoSeal been approved by the codes? With the fire testing and air infiltration testing that has been performed, EcoSeal meets all existing code requirements as a sealant fit for use in building envelopes. There is no category for air sealants to be approved in the ICC. However, Knauf Insulation is in the process of getting an ICC Research Report documenting our performance claims. If you take a lighter and compare the fire resistance of EcoSeal with that of foams, you will see that EcoSeal has clearly superior resistance to burning. Q Can anyone install KISS? While KISS is relatively simple, Knauf Insulation offers training to certify installers to ensure they understand all of the important details necessary to achieve optimal performance. Knauf Insulation recommends that contractors with KISS training be used wherever available. Please contact Knauf Insulation for a list of certified contractors. Q Are there temperature or other environmental limitations on the installation of KISS? EcoSeal can be applied over a wide range of temperatures, from 20 F to 115 F, as long as the sealant itself is fluid in the bucket. Because it is a water based material, EcoSeal should not be allowed to freeze. However, if it does freeze, the product is still usable if it is allowed to totally thaw before it is sprayed. (Do not try and speed up the thawing process by mixing partially thawed buckets) Knauf Insulation fiber glass products have no temperature limitations for installation. Many foam sealant and insulating systems have significant challenges with widely varying temperatures. This significant difference can give KISS a usable logistical advantage in many climate zones.
Q What jobsite precautions do I need to take when installing EcoSeal? There are no precautions required for EcoSeal during installation beyond those that one would take when spraying a latex paint. The main precautions would be avoiding spraying EcoSeal into someone s eyes. If EcoSeal is sprayed onto other surfaces than those intended for sealing, it can be easily removed before curing by a damp cloth. After curing, removal will generally require fairly aggressive mechanical scraping to remove. Q How is EcoSeal packaged? EcoSeal is available in 5 gallon buckets. Q How many buckets will I need to use? What s the coverage? Actual field trials have shown that a 5-gallon pail of EcoSeal will yield approximately 2000 linear feet of a ¼ inch bead. Our experience tells us that a typical 2000 square foot house will use about three five gallon pails of EcoSeal. Q What about the adherence of EcoSeal, won t it come loose or crack like latex caulks? EcoSeal is not a caulk. EcoSeal is a sealant that has been formulated to provide exceptional adherence, flexibility and longevity. It s adherence to wood is superior to foam materials, as demonstrated by the hand samples. In addition, Knauf Insulation has evaluated EcoSeal by accelerated aging tests that demonstrate that EcoSeal will not fail in residential applications. These tests give us the confidence to offer our warranty, which is unsurpassed by competitive systems. Q Will EcoSeal stick to surfaces other than wood? Yes, EcoSeal has very good adherence to materials such as galvanized sheet metal, masonry products, all sheathing products and copper. It will also stick to a lesser extent to PVC and other common construction plastics. Q One of the big advantages of foam is its expansion to fill gaps. How does KISS handle this? EcoSeal is sprayed at a pressure of approximately 2200 psi. It will penetrate gaps of as little as 1/8". It will also coat the face of gaps smaller than 1/8", like the joint of double plates, effectively sealing the joint. Once sprayed, a simple putty knife can put a thin film of EcoSeal across these narrow gaps and create a permanent seal. This is an area where rapidly expanding foams are deficient as they cannot provide significant sealing at very small thicknesses. For very large gaps, greater than 3/8 width, the gap should be filled with a backing material such as fiber glass, backer rod or gun foam prior to being sprayed with EcoSeal. Q Will I have to make several trips to the job to complete the sealing? The sealing process is typically a two stage process. In stage one; the exterior walls are done prior to installing wall insulation. In stage two, the attic is done from the attic side after the installation of drywall. In each stage, EcoSeal is installed in a one pass application. EcoSeal applies as a tough, thin film that does not require scraping and splicing like caulks or shaving as most foams require.
Q What storage considerations do I have with EcoSeal? EcoSeal should be stored in a dry location with temperatures between 35 F and 120 F. Q How soon can I insulate after spraying EcoSeal? The drying time will vary with environmental conditions. Typically insulation can be installed within just a few hours. Colder and damper climates may require a longer drying time, but in all cases insulation can be installed within 24 hours. Q What if I use insulation from other manufacturers with EcoSeal? The warranty on KISS only applies if EcoSeal is used in conjunction with Knauf Insulation fiber glass products. Q How would someone identify EcoSeal after it has been applied? The distinctive blue color of EcoSeal makes it fairly easy to identify. Knauf Insulation is not aware of any other sealants currently on the market which have the same color. Q How much sweeping or cleaning do I need to do before I spray EcoSeal? The pressure from the EcoSeal sprayer generally blows all debris away from the sealing surfaces before the sealant is applied. We demonstrate this in our training videos. However, because it is impossible to account for the quantity of debris that might be present at any job, Knauf Insulation would always recommend that the cleaning of visible debris away from surfaces before applying EcoSeal is good work practice. Q Do I need to be concerned with VOC s coming off EcoSeal? No, EcoSeal has been formulated and tested to meet the requirements of GreenGuard Children and Schools. The results from the testing show EcoSeal emissions are at least ten and generally hundreds of times below even the extremely stringent requirements of the Children and Schools Standard. In addition, the curing of EcoSeal releases no hazardous levels of chemicals. When applying EcoSeal, there is no need for the additional personnel protection required during the application of foams and many other sealants. Also, there is virtually no water released during the curing of EcoSeal, minimizing concerns for water contribution to wall cavities which could result in future problems. Q Can other trades be in the building when EcoSeal is being applied? Yes! Unlike many foams, EcoSeal has does not involve mixing hazardous chemicals at the jobsite, nor does it generate hazardous offgassing during cure, nor does it pose any risk from explosion due to chemical offgassing. Q What are the cleanup procedures with EcoSeal? Because EcoSeal is water based, cleanup is very simple and involves no chemical solvents. Additionally, the water that is used for cleanup can be disposed of without special containment. Pails of EcoSeal containing small amounts of leftover material should generally be transferred to new pails for use. However, if disposal is preferred it should be handled like latex paint and not thrown into the landfill. Q What about sealing and insulating behind obstructions like electrical boxes? How does KISS handle that? First, the EcoSeal will easily reach behind all obstructions and seal any joints. After that, Knauf Insulation loose fill insulations or EcoBatt products can be used to pack the areas behind the obstruction with a minimal amount of effort. In both cases, the higher density fiber glass will provide more thermal resistance than spray applied foam.
Q How does KISS prevent unconditioned air from moving from the attic down into the conditioned space, especially through fiber glass? Attic air can move down into the conditioned area through all types of joints and penetrations. By applying EcoSeal in the attic before insulation is installed, all joints and penetrations can be sealed. High efficiency Knauf Insulation products can then be installed to give optimal thermal efficiency in a very cost effective manner. Q Why is KISS a good deal for the contractor? KISS allows a contractor to offer a premium energy efficient envelope, addressing thermal performance and air infiltration, and excellent acoustical insulation at a very competitive cost. The contractor has minimal equipment costs, minimal logistical obstacles during installation and cleanup, and the highest level of sustainable materials available. KISS can also be an advantage if there is any need to go back into a wall. With spray foams, it is very difficult to remove the insulation, make an alteration and then reinsulated. With KISS, access to the wall is as easy as cutting the fiber glass out of the areas to be changed. Often the glass can be replaced when changes are complete. Q Why is KISS a good deal for the builder? KISS offers the opportunity for the builder to differentiate his projects based on energy efficiency in a very cost effective manner. When compared to alternative insulation materials such as light density foams and cellulose, higher thermal resistances can be achieved with the KISS system. In addition, air leakage can be controlled well below even the most stringent green building requirements with a minimum of disruption and risk at his jobsite. There is no need to quarantine the building from other trades or future homeowners during installation and curing. At the same time, the builder can take pride in the fact that he is using a highly recycled insulation material. In the case of EcoBatts, he can also point to the bio-based ECOSE Technology as another significant differentiator. When combining a very competitive cost with all of these advantages, KISS is a very effective differentiator for the builder. Q Why is KISS a good deal for the homeowner (building owner)? The homeowner can know that they have a highly thermal and acoustically efficient home that can meet any level of green building construction they desire. They can also be assured that their home has used highly sustainable insulation materials, minimizing reliance on petroleum based products. They can also be assured that their insulation package will not degrade their indoor air quality because those materials are certified to the most stringent levels of indoor air quality, GreenGuard Children and Schools. Q Where can I get more information regarding KISS? Contact your local Knauf Insulation representative or visit our website, www.knaufinsulation.us.