I am in the process of insulating my son’s dormer. I have used 2” EPS in some of the area’s because of ceiling height and for thermal breaking. I know you are supposed to drywall the area for fire-proofing but we will not finish the area for another 3 years. Our local utility company pays for 70% of insulation cost so we are doing the insulating now and will finish the rest once he saves the money.
I’ve seen contractors use fireproof plastic sheeting in the hospital where I work. My question is can I use this plastic to protect the EPS foam and also have it act as a vapor barrier before I drywall the area?
Home Depot carries 20 ft. x 100 ft. White 6 mil Flame Retardant Plastic Sheeting Model#CFFRO620 as an example of the material I am referring to.
Thanks in advance for your help or comments.
Replies
Sorry
Never heard of fireproof or flame retardent plastic sheeting.
but, this will take your post to the top-
RIP-rez bump.
I seriously doubt that the stuff is rated as a covering for a flammable material. It's simply rated to not "support combustion" so that it doesn't propagate a fire.
The flame retardant sheeting you mentioned is used as an air barrier over fiberglass batt insulation in unfinished basements or other unfinished areas. This is because the usual tarred paper cover of batts is not flame retardant.
It's not intended or listed for use over foam sheets as a fire barrier.
There is no such thing as a 'fireproof' plastic. Nor is there any similar product that will protect foam insulation from fire.
You want fire protection, you're stuck with stone. Now, that stone can be ground up into little dust and sandwitched between paper shets and called drywall - but that's what you need. Preferably at least 5/8" thick.
If, for some reason, you don't want to use drywall, you can accomplish something similar with tile backer board (DuRock). Or brick.
Tile, by itself, won't do it. It's not thick enough, and will fall off the walls in a fire.
I've never heard of fireproof plastic sheeting either. If you are looking for a temporary fireproofing to meet code until you are ready to finish the space you don't have many options. There is a new "paint-like" product that you spray over the foam. All I know about it is that it meets code and is extremely expensive. If you have room left in the bays you can cover the foam with mineral wool insulation. I recently was in the same situation- had an attic that was spray foamed but not ready to finish it. I ended up hanging blueboard with about 8 screws per sheet so when I am ready I can pull sheets as needed to get wires where I need them, etc. This is probably the most cost effective way to go.