I was talking about SIPs to a friend of mine the other day(who is a former electrician), and he brought up some questions I hadn’t thought of yet. So, for those of you who have worked with them:
he asked about the fire danger of the polystyrene within the SIPs. When on fire, it would seem to have a tendency to act as napalm, he thought. I was initially thinking that there would be no air movement within the wall, eliminating 1 of the needed three elements for fire, but then I remembered that styrofoam is mostly air. What is the danger of fire with SIPs? And ICFs, while we are at it.
My other question deals mostly with running mechanicals. I know early planning is the best way, but is there a way to retrofit or make any changes without affecting the structural integrity?
Thanks in advance.
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I was under the impression that Styrofoam was blown with something other than air--carbon dioxide now, I thought. Used to be blown with one of the gases (there's a name for them, how soon we forget--CFH's or something) that was said to be causing the hole in the ozone layer, so they changed, if i recall correctly. I don't know that it would actually burn until the OSB burned through, but if it got hot enough, it may vaporize or outgas something flamable.