ICAA 2026 CONVENTION SCHEDULE

*schedule subject to change*
ICAA 2026 Golf Outing – REGISTER FOR GOLF HERE
Wednesday, September 16 – Cowboys Golf Club
Registered Attendees Only, Additional Fee Required 

ICAA 2026 Welcome Reception
Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

“Cup O’ Joe Special Session: Moisture Happens: Controlling Risk in Hybrid Insulation Assemblies
Thursday, September 17, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Joe Lstiburek, one of the most respected voices in building science, delivers practical guidance, real-world detail, and code-driven insight on one of the most critical risk areas in modern construction: condensation control in insulation assemblies, so you will gain a clear understanding of how and why condensation failures occur, and how to avoid costly liabilities through proper design and installation. Cup O’ Joe will dive deeply into hybrid insulation systems that combine air-permeable and air-impermeable insulation, with a focus on airflow reduction. Emphasis will be placed on explaining how to meet building-code requirements for R-value, air control, and vapor management when integrating air-impermeable insulation with air-permeable insulation. Breakfast is included!

ICAA 2026 TRADE SHOW
Thursday, September 17, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Take Off and Estimating Workshop
Friday, September 18, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Do you trust AI to perform an insulation takeoff and estimate? In this first-ever ICAA session on AI, we’ll check out whether it lives up to its promise of producing an accurate takeoff in a fraction of the time, generating a materials list from construction blueprints, and delivering a spot-on estimate. We won’t suggest you hop on this bandwagon, but it might behoove you to understand what’s going on. We’ll conclude with a contest – between you and AI. We’ll give you plans, specifications, and prices for materials and labor; add in an assigned indirect cost and profit, and you’ll produce a cost estimate. Once cost estimates are submitted, we’ll review the assignment step-by-step. Top three estimates within 5% of the correct estimate will win a cash prize. AI is excluded from winning!

The Science & Marketing of Building Performance
Friday, September 18, 10:00 – 10:30 am
See how building science tools “seal the deal.” We’ll share case studies of blower door testing to measure air leakage rates and calculate the cost of air leakage. Learn what “performance based” really means and how it can play a role in marketing your company’s services. The benefits of Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification, home energy audits, blower door testing and diagnostic, and applied building science education will be explained.

Radiant Barriers as a Complementary Product Line
Friday, September 18, 10:30 – 11:00 am
As a second-layer solution, radiant barriers can prevent condensation, attic rain, customer callbacks, and ensure promised R-value is delivered. The number one complaint of homeowners is “upstairs is too hot.” This session will demonstrate case studies showing how radiant barriers directly reduce attic heat load and increase homeowners’ level of comfort. We will also detail the 4-step due diligence protocol outlined by the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association (RIMA International).

What To Do When You Use 1099 Labor
Friday, September 18, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
What must you do to protect your business when relying on 1099 contractors for labor? What do you do when your 1099 labor files a workers’ comp claim or is not OSHA compliant? What should the role of your supervisors be when “supervising” 1099 labor? What about the dispersing of materials, tools, and equipment? We’ll discuss the ICAA 1099 Labor Model Contract in detail so your 1099 labor does indeed remain a contractor and not an employee, yet ensure they have the appropriate credentials and training to complete work for you.

Demystifying SPF Safety Compliance: Focusing on Respiratory PPE and Ventilation
Friday, September 18, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Gearing up appropriately for installing SPF insulation is imperative to operating your business safely and staying clear from OSHA, EPA, and DOT violations and citations. Listen in as we comprehensively evaluate each protocol of SPF safety. We’ll walk insulators through every step of the job, starting with the mandatory medical questionnaire, a demonstration of the QLFT (“sniff” fit test), details on Safety Data Sheets’ (SDS) section 8 respiratory protection requirements (including PAPR vs. SAR selection). We’ll also show by example how to assess the space and plan for work zone containment and adequate ventilation. And, of course, we’ll disucss re-entry and re-occupancy times, and highlight transport and facility placard requirements.

Insulation Feud 2026
Friday, September 18, 2:15 – 2:45 pm
ICAA’s annual competition returns this year with Texas-sized prizes for winning teams. You may be a winner this year, as we’ve had new winners every year since we started The Feud! So be prepared to play this fast-paced, fun, educational session where your knowledge of the insulation business could make you a winner. (Pro-tip: You might find some Feud questions lifted directly from the year’s issues of Insulation Contractors Report!)

Understanding Workers’ Comp Insurance
Friday, September 18, 2:45 – 3:30 pm
We’ll take this obtuse area of insurance and break it down into understandable parts and show how you can save big money on insurance premiums – and you won’t even have to change insurance carriers! Managing a workers’ compensation claim can be a serious undertaking in which errors and missteps can be extremely costly. The manner in which an individual claim is managed determines not only its own direct cost to your company, but also its financial impact on your workers’ comp premiums in subsequent years. Learn how to design and execute a strategy for claim resolution with optimal cost-saving impact.

Measuring Financial Health
Friday, September 18, 3:30 – 4:15 pm
We’ll analyze your rights as an employer if an Immigration, Customs & Enforcement (ICE) Monitoring the financial health of an insulation contractor through a regular reporting system of financial metrics is a crucial key to success. We will demonstrate, by example, how to calculate key metrics such as gross margin, net margin, operating profit margin, net cash flow, and working capital. We’ll cover the basics on financial metrics and suggest the best metrics to measure. We’ll also discuss “spread” and “break even.”

Pitfalls in Construction Contracts
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 – 10:30 am
You’ll learn what a strong, enforceable contract should include to protect your cash flow and business. We’ll start with the terms and conditions in today’s insulation services contracts, highlight what liabilities to watch out for, and identify what contract clauses to expect in the future. We’ll advise on how to secure prompt payment for unsigned (but authorized) change orders. And we’ll explore why AI-generated contracts fail contactors in real-world disputes. In a roundtable breakout, we’ll share contract challenges and multiple perspectives to work around these challenges.