As a result, code language has evolved to require that exposed foam plastic must be covered with a material that will preclude it from readily igniting. Other sections of the IBC permit the use of thinner gypsum board and other panel materials in specific instances.Ĭovering foam insulation In a broad sense, model building codes basically prohibit the installation of exposed foam plastic in occupied areas of most buildings. Numerous material evaluation reports also contain identical or similar language, including ESR-1338, which is evaluated by ICC-ES and sponsored by the Gypsum Association.
Section 2603 of the International Building Code (IBC), for example, specifically requires foam-plastic insulation to be “separated from the interior of a building by an approved thermal barrier of 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard or equivalent.” Similar language occurs in Section R314 of the International Residential Code. Brick, masonry, and stone are examples of other basic materials that also usually require supplemental insulation to achieve an acceptable system R-value.īuilding codes have long recognized the ability of gypsum board to serve as a thermal barrier for flammable or ignitable materials. An exterior wall system, for example, sheathed with a gypsum panel product, can provide a fully acceptable R-value when the wall is properly insulated and sealed. Using supplemental insulation Gypsum board, similar to other low R-value products, has to be combined with other materials–primarily insulation–to provide an acceptable overall R-value for a specific building system. Insulation materials tend to have higher R-values as do products specifically manufactured to provide high R-values, such as vacuum insulation panels, specialized caulking and sealant products. It is not unique in this regard since many earthen materials–natural rocks, dirt, concrete, and the like–display similar low R-values. Gypsum board has a relatively low R-value–usually listed as 0.5, but varying slightly depending on the thickness of the material–so it does not function well as a stand-alone thermal insulation material.
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