Foam Insulation Fire Safety
What building standards does icynene spray foam insulation meet.
Foam insulation fire safety. How can industry and the code enforcement community work to promote greater fire safety. Various foam insulation products that are sprayed in buildings including uffi icynene latex and other insulating foams as well as fire resistant spray foam insulation used for sealing building penetrations a different product from the foam board insulation discussed here are. Foam not only feeds fires but when spray foam is improperly installed it can actually start the fire. Design through inspection interactive q a.
Sprayed or foamed in place insulation is usually made of polyurethane polyisocyanurate or another foaming product. The u s based national institute for occupational safety and health niosh is currently researching the non isocyanate based effects of spray polyurethane foam and is asking for help from spray. As reported by martin holladay in 2011 on greenbuildingadvisor the results can be devastating. Foam insulation alternatives to solid foam board insulation.
Products are largely made of newspaper which is highly combustible. The massachusetts division of fire safety dfs is investigating the causes of three house fires that were ignited while insulation contractors were installing spray. All help prevent fire spread. Icynene spray foam is a type of spray foam that meets all of the relevant fire safety codes and it has passed the necessary fire testing.
Proper installation is vital for fire safety at which point cellulose can withstand temperatures up to 1 200 degrees f. The foam core 11 some metal faced polyurethane and polyisocyanurate laminated panels may be exempt from these requirements as a result of fire testing. Spray foam insulation is typically made of polyurethane and isocyanate that is applied to surfaces requiring insulation. The foam begins as two sets of separate liquid and is sprayed as one to create the insulation.
Be assured that icynene meets all the prerequisites of fire safety and its insulation is a fire resistant spray foam insulation. Even though it s heavily treated with fire retardant chemicals prior to installation it is a recognized fire hazard by the consumer product safety commission cpsc. As stated on the manufacturers website uksprayfoam it has an e rated building certificate and is categorised as a class a material and doesn t act as a fuel source. Overview of recent global fire events ibc requirements for exterior walls using foam plastic insulation applicable fire test standards identifying common exterior wall assemblies fire safety.
Icynene classic plus 0 is a class 0 fire rated product that has accomplished a surface spread of class 1 test range class 1 is the best to class 4 being the most exceedingly terrible and generally hazardous.