Why Canadian Spray Foam Comes in Different Colours: A Northern Perspective

Jan 21, 2026

By Curt Janzen (A Canadian Spray Foam Contractor)

You’re standing in your basement, attic, or job site, staring at spray foam that’s purple… or green… or blue, and your brain does the only reasonable thing it can do:
“Is this normal — or did someone mess up my house?”

That hesitation is fair. Spray foam is buried inside your walls. Once it’s in, it’s not coming out without a saw, a mess, and a lot of regret. Colour shouldn’t matter, but when you see something unexpected, trust takes a hit.

I’ve been installing and inspecting spray foam across Canada long enough to know this question never comes from curiosity alone. It comes from fear of being burned, of getting the wrong product, or of discovering too late that someone cut corners.

This article is for homeowners, builders, and facility managers who want straight answers, not marketing gloss. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand why Canadian spray foam comes in different colours, what it actually means, what it does not mean, and how colour helps protect you, especially in cold climates.

Why Is Canadian Spray Foam Different Colours Than U.S. Spray Foam?

If you’ve watched spray foam videos online, especially from the U.S., you’ve probably noticed most of their foam looks… beige. Maybe slightly yellow. Very “vanilla ice cream.”

Canada doesn’t do vanilla.

Here, spray foam comes in distinct, intentional colours, and that’s not a branding choice or a chemistry quirk. It’s a regulatory decision tied to accountability.

In Canada, medium-density closed-cell spray foam must comply with CAN/ULC S705.1, a national standard introduced to solve a very real problem: installers using the wrong product, or inspectors having no way to verify what was actually sprayed once walls were closed.

Colour coding was the simplest, most visible fix.

Does the Colour of Spray Foam Mean Better or Worse Quality?

Short answer: No.
Longer answer: Also no, but I understand why you’d think that.

Colour has zero impact on:

R-value
Strength
Air sealing
Vapour barrier performance
Longevity

All of that is controlled by chemistry, density, installation technique, and curing conditions, not pigment.

If colour affected performance, we’d be testing houses with paint chips instead of blower doors.

Where colour does matter is verification, not insulation value.

"Colour coding was the simplest, most visible fix."

What Do Spray Foam Colours Actually Indicate in Canada?

In Canada, colour tells you who made the foam, not how “good” it is.

Each approved spray foam manufacturer uses a unique colour so inspectors, builders, and homeowners can visually confirm the product matches what was specified and permitted.

Think of it like a licence plate, not a performance badge.

This matters more than most people realise, especially once drywall goes up and the only proof left is paperwork and trust.

What Is CAN/ULC S705.1 and Why Does It Require Colour-Coded Spray Foam?

CAN/ULC S705.1 is Canada’s standard for medium-density spray polyurethane foam. It governs:

Product formulation
Installation requirements
Installer licensing
Quality control
Traceability

One key requirement is that foam must be “easily and uniquely identifiable on the job site.”

Colour coding solves that instantly.

An inspector doesn’t need to take a core sample or wait on lab results. They see purple, green, or blue and immediately know which product was installed.

That protects homeowners from substitutions and protects good contractors from suspicion.

How Colour Coding Protects Homeowners From Wrong or Substandard Spray Foam

Here’s a scenario I’ve personally seen more than once.

A crew shows up with the wrong set of drums. Same density. Similar specs. Cheaper product. If everything were beige, no one would notice until it failed, or worse, never noticed at all.

With colour coding, mistakes get caught before they become disasters.

It also makes it harder for fly-by-night contractors to swap in non-compliant foam. You can’t explain away the wrong colour once it’s on the wall.

Which Spray Foam Brands Are Used in Canada and What Colours Are They?

While formulations change over time, here’s what you’ll commonly see on Canadian job sites:

BASF Walltite — Purple
Huntsman / Demilec Heatlok Soya HFO — Green
Johns Manville Corbond IV (Canada) — Grey
Elastochem Insulthane Extreme — Red / pinkish-brown
Shunda ComfortLock HFO — Light blue
Carlisle SealTite ONE — Blue
CUSE Grizzly Gold — Amber

There are others, and manufacturers do update colours, so technical data sheets always win. But if your contractor can’t tell you what colour they’re spraying and why, that’s a conversation worth having.

Why Multiple Spray Foam Brands Use Similar Colours (And Why That Gets Confusing)

There are too many greens. Everyone knows it. It's a joke among inspectors and a complaint amongst contractors.

Colour coding works best when colours are clearly distinct, and the system isn’t perfect. That’s why documentation still matters, especially when colours are close.

Colour is the first check, not the only one.

Can Contractors Fake Spray Foam Colours or Use the Wrong Product?

Let’s be real.

Yes, a dishonest contractor could spray the wrong foam and hope no one notices. Colour doesn’t stop fraud. But it is an additional effort to stop it.

That’s why proper contractors:

Pull permits
Provide product documentation
Use licensed installers
Welcome inspections

If someone gets defensive when you ask what foam they’re using, that’s not a colour problem. That’s a trust problem.

How Building Inspectors Use Spray Foam Colour to Verify Compliance

Inspectors use colour as a visual confirmation, then cross-check it against:

Permits
Product approvals
Installer licensing
Installation thickness

It speeds up inspections and reduces disputes. Everyone’s on the same page before walls are closed.

That’s good for homeowners and good for builders who don’t want delays.

Does Spray Foam Colour Affect Performance, R-Value, or Durability?

No.
No.
Still no.

Performance depends on:

Correct thickness
Proper substrate prep
Temperature control
Experienced installers

You can spray the best foam in the world badly and get poor results. You can spray a perfectly average foam well and get excellent performance.

Colour doesn’t change physics.

"It speeds up inspections and reduces disputes."

Why Colour-Coded Spray Foam Matters More in Cold Canadian Climates

Cold climates are unforgiving. Small gaps become big problems. Moisture moves where it shouldn’t. Vapour control matters.

Canada adopted stricter spray foam standards because failure costs more here. When insulation fails in January, it’s uncomfortable and it’s destructive.

Colour coding adds one more layer of accountability in a climate where mistakes compound quickly.

What Questions to Ask a Spray Foam Contractor to Confirm They’re Using the Right Product

Ask these, plainly:

What spray foam brand are you using?
Why is it approved for my application?
What colour should I expect to see?
Are your installers licensed under CAN/ULC S705.1?
Will documentation be provided after install?

If those answers come easily, you’re probably in good hands.

Is Colour-Coded Spray Foam a Sign of Higher Industry Standards in Canada?

Yes, imperfect, but intentional.

Canada chose traceability over convenience. Colour coding isn’t flashy, but it reflects an industry that learned from mistakes and adjusted.

That benefits homeowners most of all.

"Colour coding isn’t flashy, but it reflects an industry that learned from mistakes and adjusted."

Final Takeaway: What Spray Foam Colour Really Tells You — And What It Doesn’t

Spray foam colour doesn’t tell you how good the insulation is.
It tells you who made it, and whether the system is accountable.

In a cold climate, with hidden assemblies and long-term consequences, that matters.

If you’re planning a spray foam project and want straight answers about products, compliance, and what actually performs in Canadian conditions, book a discovery call with a contractor who welcomes scrutiny.

Good insulation should disappear into the background.
Trust shouldn’t.

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