The American Chemistry Council’s Spray Foam Coalition (SFC), the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced a cooperative effort aimed at developing innovative solutions to help prevent subterranean termites from entering homes. Together, the three organizations will foster ideas that marry both the benefits of spray foam insulation, including overall thermal efficiency and energy savings, with the need for pest management companies to visually inspect crawl spaces for subterranean termites throughout the home.

“SFC, SPFA and NPMA all have a common goal in mind — making homes more resilient, durable, and comfortable,” said Stephen Wieroniey, Director of SFC. “We’re pleased to be working together in order to find new and innovative solutions that bring homeowners peace of mind.”

Air leaks can waste up to 40 percent of the energy used to heat and cool a single-family home. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF), a spray-applied plastic foam widely used to insulate homes and seal cracks and gaps, makes the home more energy-efficient by reducing unwanted air infiltration through cracks, seams and joints. Further, SPF helps prevent allergens and moisture from entering a home’s interior, provides additional building strength, reduced maintenance costs, and also can act as a sound barrier.

“The benefits of SPF are undeniable. SPF plays a valuable and effective role in helping meet energy efficiency goals, reducing the homeowner’s energy usage year after year” said Kurt Riesenberg, Executive Director of SPFA. “Our three organizations are working together to help find ways that will enable homeowners to continue to experience the benefits of SPF, without compromising other important home protections such as pest prevention.”

Subterranean termites, which can be found throughout the United States, are a destructive species that consume and damage wood. According to NPMA, termites cause more than $5 billion in damage across the U.S. each year. Termite control and periodic inspections are necessary to preserve a homeowner’s investment, as well as protect the structure from damage.

“NPMA and its members are committed to ensuring homeowners are well protected against unwanted and potentially destructive pests in their home,” said Jim Fredericks, Vice President, Technical and Regulatory Affairs of NPMA. “As part of our efforts with SFC and SPFA, we’re working to educate homeowners on the importance of understanding the specific terms and conditions of their termite warranties before altering their homes (including the application of SPF in their homes), protecting both the homeowner and pest management service providers.”