Top 3 Questions About Spray Foam Barrier Answered

Spray foam is a great tool for insulating, weatherizing, and protecting your home from a fire. It can be applied to horizontal and vertical surfaces. Once it is cured, it creates an air barrier and adds additional thermal control layers. A foam barrier provides some of the highest R-values per inch available. The higher the R-value, the better it insulates per inch of thickness.

You now know this is the type of fire retardant you want. While this is a fantastic place to begin, you more than likely have quite a few more questions regarding foam barriers. Let's answer them now!

Table of Contents

• What is a Foam Ignition Barrier?
• Can Spray Foam be Applied to Any Surface?
• Can a Foam Barrier be Used on Metal?

What is a Foam Ignition Barrier?

By definition, a foam ignition barrier is designed to stop a perceived hazardous material from igniting. This means the ignition barrier is intended to provide protection from fire in areas where your spray foam insulation is installed, but where entry is limited. They are designed to be installed to provide a ~5 minutes rating to the area, thereby protecting the area from open flames while the fire department tackles the fire.

Can Spray Foam be Applied to Any Surface?

Yes and no. It can be applied to nearly any substrate, but you need to ensure the environment is right. Cold weather can cause problems with these foam applications, and then leads to the two most common problems. These are shrinkage and poor adhesion to the chosen substrate. A foam barrier is best applied when ambient temperatures are between 50°F and 95°F. While the product can be applied at lower temperatures, viscosity may be a problem. If applied at too-high temperatures, there may be a risk of runs or sags. That's why you want to make sure the temperature is just right.

Can a Foam Barrier be Used on Metal?

While it may take longer to catch fire and require hotter, more intense flames, metal will eventually melt and burn as well. If you want to be truly protected, you need to apply a foam barrier. Intumescent paint reacts to high temperatures by swelling and creating thick char barrier layers of foam to insulate the structure behind the paint from fire and smoke. Most often, this amazing intumescent paint will actually become 50 times thicker than its original state! This happens well before the metal undergoes any structural damage.

Particularly for homeowners in California, finding the best way to protect their home from a fire is a serious matter. We're here to help you in this search! What you're looking for is a fire retardant product that will keep your home as safe as possible, for as long as possible. You need a foam barrier. For any additional questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out and ask!