Reviews

Articles
Upper Sandusky High School Case Study.pdf

http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/So
urcebook/insulation.htm
Cementitious Foam insulation is made from magnesium oxide that is derived from sea water and blown in place with air. No CFCs or HCFCs are used. Because of its inorganic composition, it has very low VOC emissions, is totally inert, and non-combustible. Cementitious foam insulation is available commercially in one product: Air-Krete. There is one installer of this type of insulation in our region. This type of insulation is considered the most benign from an indoor air quality standpoint; it is also more costly.

http://www.greensage.com/SLCH-INSULATION/SLCHInsulationsumm.htm
Cementitious Foam Insulation, including Airkrete, is made from inert materials and considered non-toxic. It's a professionally installed foamed-in (injected) product and a very effective insulator. More often used in commercial buildings.

http://www.harmonyhomeconstruction.com/insulation.htm
Silicate foam or Air Krete is cementious foam insulation made of magnesium oxide extracted from seawater plus calcium and silicate. It is one of the least toxic insulating materials on the market, though still a bit costly. Higher initial costs are off set by higher R-values and tight fitting draft prevention.

http://www.hhinst.com/ArtEEBAdemo.html
A cementitious foam insulation made from magnesium silicate is being marketed as a non-toxic alternative for chemically sensitive people

http://www.iq-home.com/HVAC/types_of_insulation.htm
Made from material extracted from seawater. Its non-toxic attributes make it very popular with chemically sensitive individuals. Since it is not temperature sensitive, it can be installed indoors under any weather conditions. This insulation is also non-flammable. Air-Krete has an R-value of about 3.9 per inch

http://www.mesotheliomaresource.org/articles/asbestos-exposure/asbestos-exposure-article-6485.htm
Another excellent alternative to fiberglass is Air-Krete, a non-toxic foam made from atmospheric air captured in magnesium oxide - tiny bubbles, in other words. "Magnesium oxide is a natural mineral used for hundreds of years to make fire brick," says Carmen Palmer, vice president and co-owner of Air-Krete maker Palmer Industries. Air-Krete costs more than fiberglass, but Palmer says homeowners will recoup their investment in just a few years, because of its 3.9 "R" value (a measure of thermal resistance) and minimal air filtration.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/2002-12-01/Insulation-Options.aspxn
Introduced in the late 1970s, Air Krete, a cementitious foam product containing magnesium oxide, is one of the few insulation products that chemically sensitive individuals seem to tolerate. Like other spray-in foam insulation materials, Air Krete is stable and does not shrink or settle after being applied. It supplies about R-3.9 per inch, but must be applied by people trained in its application.

http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/good_wood/nont_bld.htm
A non-toxic insulating foam called 'Air-Krete', is now marketed in the U.S. as an alternative to fibreglass insulation. Air-Krete is made from tiny magnesium oxide bubbles which encapsulate atmospheric air. Magnesium oxide is a natural mineral used for centuries to make fire bricks. Its higher cost is offset by its superior thermal qualities.

http://alcor.concordia.ca/~raojw/crd/essay/essay000265.html
Air Krete has been on the market since 1983. It is a foam product that must be installed by trained applicators. It is roughly the consistency of shaving cream when it is put in place, then it quickly becomes more rigid. While it is easier to install it in an existing wall by injecting it into holes drilled in the siding, it can also be used in new construction. Costs range from $.80 to $1.30 per square foot for installing it in a 3 1/2" thick wall. Unlike other synthetic foam products, Air Krete is a cementitious material. This means that it is more closely related to concrete than to plastic. As a result it is almost completely odor free. In fact, it is being promoted as being non-toxic, since it contains "no formaldehyde or any other known toxic substances." While a very few sensitive people do find it somewhat offensive, it is generally quite inoffensive. Since Air Krete must be installed by licensed applicators, it is not available is all parts of the country.

http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2524&src=(05/15/2005)
While newer and less well known, Air Krete is a thermally efficient and non-toxic spray insulation that is easily foamed into open or closed cavities in walls, roofs and ceilings. The product's basic raw material components are air, water and cement which, when combined, create a cost-effective, safe and high performance product. The National Audubon Society installed Air Krete in its New York City headquarters as part of an overhaul designed to "green up" that organization's entire operation.

http://www.bobvila.com/ArticleLibrary/Subject/HVAC/Insulation/BlownInOptions.html
Cementitious foam is a magnesium-based product that is derived from seawater. Because of its consistency, foam is the most effective product for retrofitting into existing walls. Foam will work its way around any obstacle, providing a near-100 percent wall fill (cellulose, for example, may not fill completely around bundles of wires or pipe runs and leave random voids). Unlike bottled foam insulation used to seal small gaps around pipes and wiring, it does not shrink or expand. In new construction, foam can be installed after drywall is hung, but taping and texturing drywall joints should be completed after the foam has completely dried (usually about 48 hours). Cementitious foam is the most costly insulation to retrofit, but is the most benign in regards to indoor air quality; when it is being applied into a wall there is no dust. http://oikos.com/esb/29/insulation.html It sounds like the perfect insulation. With an insulating value of 3.9 per inch, it would exceed R-21 in a 2x6 wall. It completely seals the cavity preventing air leaks. It doesn't shrink. It won't burn or attract pests. It's non-toxic and popular with "hyper-sensitive" people.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/search/index.cfm?q=air+krete
Air Krete has gained a following both for environmental and health reasons. It is an inorganic foam produced from magnesium oxide (derived from sea water). It is foamed under pressure with a microscopic cell generator and compressed air; no CFCs or HCFCs are used. Because of its inorganic composition, Air Krete has very low VOC emissions, is totally inert, and non-combustible. It is foamed in place in closed wall or masonry block cavities, or behind mesh in open cavities to form a lightweight and rigid, but very friable, foam.

http://www.thorpewood.org/about/green.html
Air krete is 100% non-toxic, free of CFC's and formaldehyde, free of asbestos and all other carcinogenic fibers. It is odor- free, has a high R-value, has no loss of R-value over time (non-shrink, non-settling), fireproof, with no by-products of combustion.

• air krete® has been endorsed by the National Park Service and is listed on their database of Environmentally Sustainable Products .

• Three of the four lecturers of the National Association of Home Builders Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, January, 1992 recommended using air krete® for insulation during the "Healthy House" symposium.

• Solar Today May - June 1993 page 19 " air krete's winning combination of high R-value, resistance to fire and vermin, and the ability as a foam to seal all cavities effectively sold us on the material. "

• Sustainable Design Resource Guide 1995 Edition Published by AIA Denver Environmental Committee Division 07 - Foamed in Place Insulation - air krete® synthetics.

• The Healthy House John Bower page 222 " The insulation made from glass or air krete® are probably better choices than those of synthetics."In Business May-June 1992 The National Audubon Society headquarters used air krete® for insulation.
Healthful House Clint Good AIA with Debra Lynn Dadd 17200 Insulation " Avoid fiberglass batts. Recommended : air krete® . "

• Non-Toxic, Natural, & Earthwise Debra Lynn Dadd page 35 " Manufacturers : air krete ®"

• The Natural House Book David Pearson page 273 " Resources: air krete® foamed in place insulation ."

• East West Magazine September 1989 page 44 " air krete® -some synthetics are safer. "

• New York Times Newspaper January 12, 1992 Architect Paul Bierman Lytle of Environmental Outfitters uses air krete ® for insulation.

• Environmental Products Guide 1995 Edition Published by E2 Los Angeles, California " air krete® carries our highest environmental recommendations."

• Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements 1995 Edition Published by the Center for Resourceful Building Technology Recommended products " air krete® ".

• Progressive Architecture March 1991 page 60 " Material: fiberglass insulation. Problem: Glass wool dust is a possible carcinogen, phenol formaldehyde resin binder. Excellent alternative: air krete® , a non-toxic cementitious foam ."

• The Healthy Home Linda Mason Hunter page 145 " Insulation - Alternative: air krete® ."
Fine Homebuilding Spring 1992 page 68

• Fine Homebuilding October/November 1989 page 39 " air krete® cementitious foam has some characteristics that make it stand distinctly apart from the crowd ."

• Environ-A Magazine for Ecological Living & Health Issue 11 page 14 Comparing the insulation: " It was no surprise that air krete® showed up best ."

• USA Today Newspaper March 15, 1991 page 48.

• Environmental by Design By David Roussoe Recommended product " air krete® "