CAN/ULC-S705
CAN/ULC-S705.1 is the material standard. It sets what a rigid medium-density spray-applied polyurethane foam must be to be sold as such in Canada.
CAN/ULC-S705.2 is the application standard. It covers how the material is installed: substrate condition, temperature limits, lift thickness, cure, and the documentation that goes with it.
The second one is the one that protects you. A certified product applied by someone working outside the application standard does not deliver certified performance, and the failures that result - delamination, off-ratio foam, trapped moisture - are application failures rather than product ones.
What a certified installer actually carries
- Installer certification under the application standard, held by the individual applying the foam, not by the company generally.
- A daily work record - the documentation of substrate conditions, material lot, ambient conditions and thickness. This is the evidence that the job was done to specification.
- Manufacturer training on the specific product being sprayed, since products differ in their handling requirements.
Ask to see the certification and ask whether the daily record will be provided. Both are normal requests and a professional operation expects them.
Insurance and WCB
Two separate things, both worth confirming.
Liability insurance covers damage arising from the work. Spray foam involves chemicals, heat and a building that is not yours - this is not a formality.
WCB coverage matters to you specifically. In Alberta, hiring an uncovered contractor can expose the property owner if a worker is injured on the site. A WCB clearance letter is easy to obtain and worth having on file.
What we verify
To be precise about who holds what: trade certifications are held by the person performing the work, not by Spray Foam Insulation Alberta as a company. Certification, insurance and WCB coverage sit with the people doing the work, which is where they should sit and where they are enforceable. The documentation for your job comes with the quote, so you can see whose credentials are behind it rather than take a claim on a website at face value.
Building code requirements
Separate from installer certification, foam plastics in buildings carry requirements under the National Building Code as adopted in Alberta - principally thermal-barrier requirements for exposed foam, and the maintenance of rated assemblies where they apply.
These vary with occupancy and use. We confirm what applies to your building and document the assembly used, which is what an inspector will ask for.
Spray Foam Certifications in Alberta: Common Questions
Is every spray foam contractor certified? No. Certification is not automatic and it is not universal, which is exactly why verifying it matters. It is also why price differences between quotes are sometimes explained by something other than efficiency.
How do I check a certification myself? Ask for the certificate and the certifying body, and confirm it directly with them. A legitimate installer will hand it over without hesitation.
Does certification guarantee a good job? It removes a category of risk rather than guaranteeing an outcome. Preparation, detailing and care still separate a good job from an adequate one. Certification is the floor, not the ceiling.
What if something goes wrong later? That is what the workmanship warranty and the daily work record are for. Both should be in hand before the job starts. See warranty and financing.
Get a quote with the documentation
Get a quote - priced from your actual building, never a flat rate. See why choose us and about.