Does Spray Foam Insulation Need A Fire Barrier

The irc specifically lists gypsum drywall as an acceptable thermal barrier material.

Does spray foam insulation need a fire barrier.

Welcome to ask the pole barn guru where you can ask questions about building topics with answers posted on mondays. One of the key differentiators between traditional insulation materials and spray foam insulation is the latter s ability to insulate and air seal. Foam insulation as an air sealing material. With many questions to answer please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future monday segment.

If you put spray foam insulation in a building it needs a thermal barrier. All foam plastics including spray polyurethane foam used in residential building construction are required to have a thermal barrier installed that separate the foam from the interior of the building. Code requirements for fire barriers fall into three categories. The code does provide guidance for testing the installation of spray foams without an ignition barrier.

If you put spray foam insulation in a building it needs a thermal barrier. Dc315 meets ibc irc codes in the usa canadian nbcc and many international building code requirements. If there s a fire in the building a thermal barrier keeps the combustible spray foam from the flames to increase fire resistance. It s hard to say does your building need vapor barrier or not.

If there s a fire in the building a thermal barrier keeps the combustible spray foam from the flames to increase fire resistance. The ibc and irc list 6 ignition barriers. Does spray foam insulation need a vapor barrier. Not required thermal barrier and ignition barrier.

Many spray foam manufacturers test their spray foam systems with an intumescent coating in place of the ignition barrier. If you have more questions about using spray foam insulation please contact as and you will know the answers. It depends on typical weather climate zone and usage of this building. These are the only ignition barriers.

According to a guide for spray foam installers thermal barriers and ignition barriers for the spray polyurethane foam industry when exposed to fire sources such as trash fires welding arcs cutting torches or red hot metal unprotected spf spray polyurethane foam can ignite and may result in a flash fire. That s what separates it from the occupied spaces. Dc315 thermal and ignition barrier for spray polyurethane foam spf dc315 is a fully tested and approved intumescent coating to meet alternate 15 minute thermal barrier and ignition barrier protection over spray polyurethane foam spf. That s what separates it from the occupied spaces.

The increased use of foam plastic insulation in csg s home performance programs makes it necessary to clarify what types of fire barriers are needed to cover this material as required by code.