The Montreal Protocol, which banned most uses of ozone-destroying chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) called for their global phase-out by 2010. The worldwide effort was a huge success. CFC consumption declined from over 800,000 metric tons in the 1980s to an estimated 156 metric tons in 2014. Experts estimate that by 2050, the ozone layer will be back to the state it was in 1980.
Whilst no CFC or HCFC is used in the manufacture of Kingspan insulation products and they have zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP), the whole language of blowing agents can be confusing. It is important to note that if you look at a Kingspan Insulation Environmental Product Declaration, you will see that there is some ODP associated with our products. This is not linked to our manufacturing but rather the combustion of fuel when our product is transferred. To eliminate this ODP in the product lifecycle, we are trialling electric vehicles and electric forklifts.
Blowing Agent
A blowing agent is a substance used during the manufacture of rigid cellular foam insulation products. Its purpose is to provide a closed-cell structure within the foam.
Blowing agents are typically used to enhance the thermal performance of the finished product by filling the cells within the insulation with a low thermal conductivity gas. A closed-cell structure reduces heat transfer.
To manufacture our range of Kingspan Insulation products, we use blowing agents with zero ODP and low GWP.
What is Global Warming Potential?
Global Warming Potential is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere, and in turn how much the product is estimated to contribute towards global warming.
How is Global Warming Potential measured?
It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide.
A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval, commonly 20, 100 or 500 years. GWP is expressed in terms of CO2 equivalent per weight of product/substance e.g 10kg CO2e/m2 of insulation.
What is Ozone Depletion Potential?
ODP is the ratio of the ability of a substance to degrade ozone, to that of CFC-11. Ozone Depletion Measurements of Different Products HCFCs are thought to be between 0.001 and 0.11, i.e. up to 1000 times less degrading than CFC-11, which has a value of 1.0, whilst other substances, such as certain types of Pentanes, have an ODP of zero., i.e. they do no harm to the ozone.
What are HCFCs?
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are a group of compounds, whose structure is very close to that of CFCs but including one or more hydrogen atom. However, they are much less stable.
HCFCs are also part of a group of chemicals known as the volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HCFCs are often now used as blowing agents during the manufacture of foam insulation products.
Why should we remove them?
Releases of HCFCs can have serious environmental consequences. Although not as damaging as CFCs or Halons, they can still end up in the higher atmosphere (stratosphere) where they can trap heat within the atmosphere.
HCFCs therefore, contribute to Global Warming (through "the Greenhouse Effect") and, as such, have a high "Global Warming Potential".