Spray foam insulation has been steadily becoming an important piece of the modern insulation industry, leading to a growth in both installers and knowledge. While anyone can open a spray foam insulation business or add spray foam to their existing insulation offerings, those who are serious about success take training and certification opportunities seriously.
If you’re starting a new spray foam insulation business or are considering adding SPF to your existing business, exploring your training options and learning how to get certified are two steps that will give you a step up in the competitive insulation landscape.
Spray Foam Insulation Certification
Why Certification Matters
“Do you have to be certified to spray foam insulation?” We get this question all the time from new contractors. The answer is legally no, but we recommend you should be. There are no centralized standards or legal requirements to spray foam in the United States, but there are some certifications that are broadly considered to be valuable by customers, contractors and the industry as a whole — such as Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification and the SPFA Professional Certification Program (PCP).
And while certifications may be optional, customers who do their research or have experience with spray foam insulation will most likely be looking for the inherent trust, credibility and confidence of certifications.
There is no legal risk for not being certified, but you do stand to lose out on jobs and will likely not be able to realistically charge as much as your certified competitors.
Maintaining and Renewing Certifications
Ensuring your certifications are up to date is vital to achieving and maintaining standing in the spray foam insulation industry. Keeping up to date will not only ensure you are providing your customers with accurate information, but they will also help keep you at the forefront of any changes or advancements in the spray foam industry.
The process of renewing your certifications will depend on which certifications you hold. For example, SPFA certifications need to be renewed every year, this only takes about ten minutes, and you must be recertified every seven years with a combination of completing the renewal requirements and completing the number of Continuing Education Units (CEU) required by your level of certification. BPI certifications will need to be renewed, with the option of completing CEUs to bypass re-examination.
CEUs can be completed in a variety of ways and are often not specific to a certification type. For example, CEUs taken for BPI certification can also be applied to SPFA recertification requirements.
Key Spray Foam Certifications to Pursue
Because there are no legally mandated certifications, there are a number of independent certification processes that have been broadly accepted and recognized as high-quality and authoritative. A few of these include:
- CPI recognition. The American Chemistry Council offers health and safety training for the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI). Certification of completion of this health and safety course is valid for two years.
- Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification. Through comprehensive instruction and testing, spray foam professionals can attain BPI certification that proves they have the knowledge and expertise needed to make energy efficiency upgrades, like spray foam insulation, that align with up-to-date best practices in the building performance industry. Certification is valid for three years.
- Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Certification. There are four levels of certification: SPF Assistant, SPF Insulation Installer – Apprentice Level, SPF Insulation Master Installer – Advanced Level, SPF Insulation Project Manager. Each level requires written and practical examinations and must be renewed annually.
IDI offers CPI and BPI certification education and testing at various training sessions throughout the year. Register for an event near you or contact us to learn more!
Spray Foam Insulation Trainings
The Value of Training for Spray Foam Insulation Contractors
The spray foam insulation industry evolves often, making training and ongoing education vital for all SPF contractors. IDI offers trainings for new and seasoned spray foam insulation professionals, covering application techniques, comprehensive education on new products and equipment, and even opportunities for some types of certification testing, like BPI. There are a wide variety of other training programs available, both in-person and online, that can help improve your spray foam knowledge.
Attending training will not only allow you to learn more about spray foam insulation and earn certifications later on, but it will also have an immediate impact on the quality, speed and efficiency of your work. Improve your overall spray foam insulation knowledge and performance by finding an upcoming training session to attend!
Finding the Right Training Programs
There are a variety of spray foam training options available all over the country with differing areas of focus and expertise. When evaluating a training program, research the trainer thoroughly. Look for reviews of their work and, if possible, feedback from previous training sessions they have conducted.
At IDI, we put on trainings that cover a wide range of topics, including application techniques and instruction from our SPF experts, breakdowns of products and equipment from leading brands, building science instruction, advice on running a successful business and more. We offer hands-on training events all over the USA, as well as online options for those that can’t attend in person. Want to make sure your whole team can attend training? Reach out to IDI about setting up on-site training sessions.
Invest in Your Success
Some of the best investments you can make in the long-term success of your spray foam insulation business are attending trainings and attaining valued certifications — the knowledge and hands-on expertise will serve you well far into the future. If you have additional questions about starting an insulation business, check out our New Contractors page for more information. If you’re looking for additional resources, support or answers to training or certification questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at IDI. Our experts are happy to help you succeed in any way we can.