Award Number: DE-EE0008182CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6, B5.1Building Technologies OfficeLocation(s): MAOffice(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 14, 2017
Estimated Read Time min
Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities
Award Number: DE-EE0008182
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6, B5.1
Building Technologies Office
Location(s): MA
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to Building Envelope Materials (BEM) for the development of a retrofit insulation process for Enclosed Roof Cavities (ERCs). All design, development, fabrication and preliminary testing activities would occur in BEM’s research and development facility at the Chestnut Innovation Center in Amesbury, MA. Field testing would occur in four buildings in the surrounding area over a two year period.
The proposed project activities include the design, development, fabrication and field testing of new processes and equipment for retrofit insulation of ERCs. The only physical modification to any building involved in the project would be during the field testing portion where building ERCs involved in the testing would be injected with polyurethane foam. No other physical modifications or ground disturbing activities would be required and no change in the use of the home would result from project activities. No modifications to permits or new permits, additional licenses and/or authorizations would be necessary for proposed project activities. Although, the injection process has previously been monitored for health, safety, and environmental concerns which led to an assessment that hazardous particles were “virtually undetectable”, Tyvek suits would be worn during the procedure to ensure safety. The only waste anticipated as part of project activities would be single use personal protective equipment. Site locations for the four field tests where injection processes would be tested have yet to be determined. Based on the project activities proposed, there would be no potential to cause effects to historic properties, assuming they were present, therefore DOE has no further obligations under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. DOE does not anticipate any impacts to resources of concern due to the proposed activities of the project.