Technical Supplies and Services Company (TSSC), a producer of insulated metal panels for walls and roofs in the UAE, has launched a new, environment-friendly, insulating foam panel made with Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA).

TSSC’s adoption of Solstice LBA reflects the commitment of the Middle East foam industry to transition to lower-global-warming-potential (GWP) materials, as demonstrated by the meetings in Kigali, Rwanda, that resulted in an amendment to the Montreal Protocol that would phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) for the first time.

“We are committed to producing energy-efficient materials that help our customers transition to next-generation products like our metal panels made with Solstice LBA,” says Miro Donabedian, general manager, Polyurethane and Refrigeration systems, TSSC. “Honeywell’s technology enables the panels to provide superior thermal performance with significantly lower impact on the environment.”

According to Amir Naqvi, regional marketing manager of Honeywell, the world is moving to adopt low-GWP materials, which has accelerated the demand for Solstice LBA.

“Our fourth-generation blowing agent offers an ultra-low GWP, provides improved energy efficiency and requires little to no retrofitting of existing equipment, making it an ideal option for customers seeking environmentally preferable technology that meets global regulations,” he says.

Another company using Solstice is Water Seal. Muhammad Asghar, its managing director, says his company uses the innovative blowing agent technology to provide its customers with building materials that make their homes and offices as energy-efficient as possible.

“Solstice LBA meets the standards set by regional and global environmental policies, and is a top choice for a cost-effective, near drop-in replacement to previous-generation blowing agents,” he adds.

Foam created with Solstice LBA.

Solstice LBA is a critical ingredient in closed-cell foam, allowing it to expand and providing much of its excellent insulating properties. It increases the thermal performance of conventionally-processed polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam in both continuous and discontinuous panel operations.

The product is being adopted by rigid insulation manufacturers worldwide to reduce their environmental footprint and comply with environmental and energy efficiency regulations. Worldwide adoption of Solstice has resulted in the reduction of more than 32 million tons of greenhouse gases to date, equal to eliminating emissions from more than six million cars, says Honeywell.

Solstice LBA is based on hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) technology and has an ultra-low GWP of 1, which is 99.9 per cent lower than HFCs and equal to carbon dioxide. HFCs are high-GWP materials that are being phased down by global environmental regulations. Solstice LBA is nonflammable (ASTM E-681) and is not a volatile organic compound as per the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is listed under the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme and is also registered under the EU’s Reach programme.

Naqvi says the recent amendment to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda, in mid-October, has accelerated demand for low-GWP solutions like Honeywell’s fourth-generation blowing agent technology.

Honeywell has made available the next-generation solution for thermal insulation that it says can help Middle Eastern countries meet energy efficiency requirements. Its new world-scale production capacity manufacturing plant for Solstice LBA started up in May 2014.

Honeywell recently gathered regulators, contractors, foam insulation manufacturers, regional stakeholders and global industry experts in an exclusive workshop to review how its Solstice LBA can help the Middle East meet its Montreal Protocol commitments and also energy efficiency requirements.

Khaled Klaly, programme officer of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), says the Middle East is making tremendous effort to meet its energy efficiency and Montreal Protocol commitments, including phasing out HCFC-141b in the polyurethane foam sector. 

“The UNEP is working with these countries to help them successfully transition to more low-GWP blowing agent technology that reduces emissions and achieves energy goals as required under the Montreal Protocol and in close partnership with other implementing agencies like Unido,” he says.

The Estidama programme outlines methodologies for sustainable building development in the UAE. It is a key component of the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 plan. The plan rewards developers for using insulating materials with a GWP of less than 5.