Air Conditioned Respirator System Increases Spray Foam Productivity

HARRISON, TN - January 27, 2012 - The Tennessee Chill Box has been gathering momentum across the country as a must-have accessory for spray foam applications. It’s an ambient A/C air supply unit invented and owned by Mike Asbra that offers workers a breath of fresh air- literally- when stuffy environments make for an insufferable work experience.

Asbra was inspired to create the Tennessee Chill Box over a decade ago while working in South Florida. As many a contractor in the southern US will attest, working a spray foam job in the heat can be brutal. Blistering temperatures, stuffy attics, and mandatory clothing and gear combine to create a degree of discomfort that often borders on danger.

“We had guys spraying for only 15 minutes before switching out to go back on the ground,” said Asbra of his time with Rice Insulation & Glass. Asbra said temperatures in attics reached up to 140 degrees. Workers suffered from weakness, dizziness and fatigue constantly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data, 81 heat- related deaths in the construction industry have occurred from 2003 – 2009. Over that same time period, 4,110 heat-related injuries or illnesses requiring days away from work have occurred.

“The safety conditions were a huge issue, there were constant morale problems, and productivity was low,” he said. “Also, due to the constant worker rotations, we just weren’t making any money.”

One day, Asbra fashioned a homemade box with a sheet of plywood and an A/C unit. Enter the prototype that would eventually become the Tennessee Chill Box. Once the unit had been tested, Asbra brought it to the team at Rice Insulation.

“Those guys never came out of the attic after that,” he said. Morale boosted, safety was no longer compromised, productivity doubled and net profits went up by 13% within weeks, Asbra said.

After keeping the product under the radar for a decade, Asbra brought the Tennessee Chill Box to the national market this year. The majority of sales being made in the southern US, Asbra estimates that more than 150 units have been sold in the past 8 months.

“The biggest boost we ever got was advertising on SprayFoam.com,” Asbra said. “We’ve made a lot of headway.”

The latest model of the Tennessee Chill Box, the CB8000, provides 97 cfm (cubic feet per minute) and allows the use of two hoses for multiple air lines.

To find out more about the product please call 855-213-0778 or e-mail tennesseechillbox@hotmail.com