Urethane Foam Insulation Fire Hazard

Foam as a fire hazard.

Urethane foam insulation fire hazard.

As a result these types of fires provide some unique life firefighter property safety and fire suppression challenges. Polyurethane foam including foam rubber is sometimes made using small amounts of blowing agents to give less dense foam better cushioning energy absorption or thermal insulation. Reason foam fails 2 unacceptable fire hazard is it really too much to ask that our thermal insulation not be a fire accelerant. One of the major safety precautions to be taken around organic foams is to prohibit sources of ignition such as open flames cutting and welding torches.

In addition 15 of the components that comprise most spray on foams are fire retardant. Fire safety guidelines for use of rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam insulation in building construction published by the urethane division the society of the plastics industry. When sprayed on the interior of a building with no covering such as shotcrete or drywall polyurethane foam can create a dangerous fire hazard. Precautions should be taken to minimize any potential for fire through accidental ignition in handling storage and use.

See the 13 reasons foam fails here for an idea of what it means to be an accelerant take a look at the video below produced. In the early 1990s because of their impact on ozone depletion the montreal protocol restricted the use of many chlorine containing blowing agents such as trichlorofluoromethane cfc 11. For more information on urethane foam please review urethane foam. Fire rating spray on polyurethanes and fire rating with so many conflicting reports about spray on polyurethane insulation as a fire hazard it s time to set the record straight.

Spray on polyurethane insulation carries a fire rating of class 1. Organic foam insulation regardless of whether the foam contains fire retardants should be considered combustible and handled accordingly. South with appendices by david vaughn. Magic material and the best kept insulation secret authored by david b.

After all thermal insulation can and should continuously and completely envelop the buildings we occupy.