Exposed Spray Foam Insulation In Basement

Many spray foam manufacturers test their spray foam systems with an intumescent coating in place of the ignition barrier.

Exposed spray foam insulation in basement.

I am in the beginning stages of planning out my to be finished basement which is currently unfinished with builder blanket insulation on the wall. Since the spray foam is energy efficient you can correctly use it as an air sealing solution. Existing concrete block wall cellulose or spray foam insulation why basement insulation is the most 0 5 pcf open cell spray foam basement ceiling with exposed joists. For indoor applications per building code requirements foam left exposed is required to be covered by a 15 minute thermal barrier in habitable spaces of a structure.

But the spray foam is still exposed to the attic and needs an ignition barrier. My worry is that in some areas of my basement i get condensation during the summer months against the builder s poly. Also its primary role is to fill crannies and nooks as well as your basement. Spray foam insulation essentially functions by starting as a liquid before hardening into a solid mass after drying.

The foam rapidly cures and adheres in place. Therefore your basement will stop the outside air from accessing the interiors of the building. Most ceilings are made of 1 2 drywall. In some cases explanation.

Instead it is. For attics and crawl spaces being used for storage the above applies. Indeed the foam can fit crevices gaps and wall cavities. Spray foam is applied by a high pressure applicator gun directly to the area being insulated.

For unoccupied space or that of which is being used for equipment servicing the above does not apply. If you ve got spray foam insulation in an attic for example it s probably already separated from the living space by a thermal barrier. In addition foam in place insulation is blown into walls or other cavities where it then hardens. When the coating foam combination passes the screening test the combination is approved for use in the attics and crawl spaces but the coating is not recognized in the building codes as an ignition barrier.

Instead it can be injected poured or sprayed. Open cell foam has an r value of roughly 3 9 per inch. Despite the name spray foam insulation isn t exclusively sprayed. Open cell spray foam has a higher expansion ratio of 100 1 than closed cell and is a great thermal and sound insulator.