What are the fire code rules and general fire safety concerns when using rigid foam panels in the following applications.
Rigid foam insulation board is required to be covered with a fire resistant layer such as.
Since most fire codes call for a minimum of half hour fire rating over foam insulations paneling would probably not provide a sufficient fire barrier over the foam insulating board.
Rigid foam insulation whether it is expanded or extruded polystyrene does have to be covered if it is installed in the interior of a building.
This foam board insulation is the rigid pink or blue panels that can be found at home centers in many different thicknesses.
It is denser than eps and provides more r value with a rating of 5 per inch of thickness.
Decmebr 2brm0e 2 12534bem06ce7rc47mb3r test such as but not limited to nfpa 286 with the acceptance criteria of section 803 1 2 1 fm 4880 ul 1040 or ul 1715 some polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam insulations and systems have earned.
Rigid foam can be used as sheathing a continuous layer of insulation on wall exteriors attached before the installation of house wrap and siding.
Exposed foam board insulation fire hazards.
Indoors rigid foam is the material of choice on walls where the insulation will be touching masonry mostly this means the exterior walls in basement build outs except for daylight facing walls such as.
Exterior of wall with furring strips on top to form a vented rain screen behind siding.
This q a article discusses the requirement for a fire resistant covering for foam and foam board board building insulation.
3 benefits of rigid foam sheathing.
Plywood has an r value of 1 25 and fiberglass batts have an r value of 3 14.
This phenolic foam known as megaphen combines excellent thermal and fire resistant properties and is used in the mining industry to insulate chilled water pipe systems against heat loss.
Isogard hd cover board provides the highest thermal performance of any 1 2 insulation cover board product on the market and it is resistant to extreme weather conditions.
Exterior of roof with furring strips on top to form a vented roof plain interior of roof to form an air tight vent baffle a less traditional approach but a possible retrofit.
Cover boards should be set over the bottom layer of insulation.
The cover board should be secured to the bottom layer of insulation in a full and even application of hot asphalt applied at a rate of 30 pounds per square or specially formulated adhesive applied at a rate of 2 gallons per square.
More effective insulation with r values ranging from 3 6 to 8 0 rigid foam sheathing has much better insulation per inch than other materials i e.
This wall covering must have a minimum fire rating.
