New Foam Insulation May Cut Ignition Barrier Costs

Contractors specifying open-cell spray foam should check whether qualifying assemblies can drop the added ignition barrier.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Construction

Bold flat-color vector illustration of pale open-cell spray foam filling a wood-framed wall cavity between timber studs, with a coiled coral hose on a plywood subfloor. — Huntsman launched Icynene PrimeNM, an open-cell spray foam that may let contractors drop an added ignition barrier on qualifying assemblies under ICC-ES AC377 Appendix U. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Huntsman has launched Icynene PrimeNM, an open-cell spray foam insulation product designed for building envelope applications. It is positioned for contractors and builders across the United States who spray insulation and need to meet current code and environmental requirements.

Why it matters

The product was engineered to simplify processing and improve application efficiency, which matters for spray foam contractors managing labor, scheduling, and material costs. Its compliance with the 2024 code and California VOC requirements affects which projects it can be specified for.

The product specifications are manufacturer-reported: density of 0.45 to 0.5 pound per cubic foot, global warming potential below 1, and zero ozone depletion potential. The source does not provide a competitor comparison, installed cost figures, or independent third-party performance measurements.

The players

Huntsman Corporation

Huntsman is a global chemicals manufacturer whose polyurethane and spray foam systems serve construction and insulation markets.

The details

Icynene PrimeNM complies with ICC-ES AC377 Appendix U, which in qualifying assemblies can eliminate the need for an additional ignition barrier, a step that can reduce material and labor on a job. The foam is designed for pass-on-pass spraying with minimal wait time and is formulated to minimize dripping during overhead applications. It also carries GREENGUARD Gold certification, has been tested to ASTM C1338 for fungal resistance, and meets California VOC requirements.

Huntsman's launch of Icynene PrimeNM is dated November 1, 2026.
The 2024 code is the compliance framework the product is positioned against.

Market Landscape

Spray foam insulation sits within a building envelope market where code compliance under ICC-ES AC377 Appendix U and state VOC rules increasingly determines which products can be specified. Launches framed around ignition-barrier compliance and low-VOC certification follow the pattern of product differentiation on regulatory fit rather than on price alone.

Contractors and builders specifying spray foam should review whether PrimeNM's ICC-ES AC377 Appendix U compliance applies to their assembly designs, since qualifying assemblies may avoid an added ignition barrier. Procurement and estimating teams should compare installed cost and labor time against current products before changing specifications.

The takeaway

Operators should confirm with a qualified building official or engineer whether a specific assembly qualifies for the ignition-barrier exemption before relying on it in a bid. Track independent field performance data as it becomes available, since the source contains only manufacturer-reported specifications.