Insulating the furnace room
 

Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

Insulating the furnace room
 

"sid" wrote in message
...
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

Building code says it should be covered with gypsum board or equal. The
board is made from a fire retarding material, but in the presence of a
flame it will burn. Given that it is a furnace room, I'd cover it.

Insulating the furnace room
 

Because foam board is flammable, I understand that in all cases, it must be
covered with drywall to make it fire resistant. This certainly would apply
in a furnace room, probably more than any other room.

"sid" wrote in message
...
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

Insulating the furnace room
 

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Because foam board is flammable, I understand that in all cases, it must
be covered with drywall to make it fire resistant. This certainly would
apply in a furnace room, probably more than any other room.


Not classified as flammable. It will only burn if there is another source of
ignition (such as a defective furnace) but will not support combustion on
its own. Take a small piece outside and set it on fire. Take away the
lighter and it will go out in a few seconds. .

Insulating the furnace room
 

EXT wrote:
Because foam board is flammable, I understand that in all cases, it must
be covered with drywall to make it fire resistant. This certainly would
apply in a furnace room, probably more than any other room.

"sid" wrote in message
...
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

I keep hearing rumors of a brand with extra-thick foil on the face that
meets fire code as is, as long as you tape the joints with foil tape.
Not sure of the brand (memory is the second thing to go), nor have I
seen it in stores. I have some half-above-grade basement walls where I'd
like to hang a foam curtain from the sill plate, but don't care to
expend the time and money to rock over it. (Especially since I would
have to use the moisture-proof rock.) I have not called the local 'real'
suppliers, but none of the local borgs have it in the racks.

Why are you insulating furnace room? For sound? I'd just use faced
fiberglass bats, and maybe cover with something cheap and easy, like
masonite paneling. If upstairs sound is the problem, insulate ceiling
cavities, and maybe hang the ducts from muffler straps.

(I like the sounds a furnace makes. Reassures me the damn thing is working.)

--
aem sends...

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 12:41*pm, sid wrote:
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? *Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

It maybe code to finish. The fumes are what will kill you if it burns.
Something else to consider is your health, foam off gasses as it cures
and it looses some R value as it cures out. Its hard to find research
on but I think it made me sick in an airtight room. If your house is
old loose construction it may not be bad. UFFI foam made alot sick, it
was banned, I would paint and seal all edges at least. The effects of
chemicals offgassing is known from many building products. Foam is not
designed or often used exposed to inside air.

Insulating the furnace room
 

"ransley" wrote in message

It maybe code to finish. The fumes are what will kill you if it burns.
Something else to consider is your health, foam off gasses as it cures
and it looses some R value as it cures out. Its hard to find research
on but I think it made me sick in an airtight room. If your house is
old loose construction it may not be bad. UFFI foam made alot sick, it
was banned, I would paint and seal all edges at least. The effects of
chemicals offgassing is known from many building products. Foam is not
designed or often used exposed to inside air.

************************************************** ****************

Depends on the foam. Styrene board will not outgas like the urethanes do.
Styrene foam is the same material used in meat trays and coffee cups, except
that they add bromides for fire resistance.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:41:08 -0800 (PST), sid
wrote:

Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks


It makes sense to finish the walls with drywall then paint. You'll
have an additional layer of insulation plus the paint will brighten up
the room and make it easier to keep clean. Both drywall and paint are
inexpensive.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 2:45*pm, aemeijers wrote:



I keep hearing rumors of a brand with extra-thick foil on the face that
meets fire code as is, as long as you tape the joints with foil tape.
Not sure of the brand (memory is the second thing to go), nor have I
seen it in stores. I have some half-above-grade basement walls where I'd
like to hang a foam curtain from the sill plate, but don't care to
expend the time and money to rock over it. (Especially since I would
have to use the moisture-proof rock.) I have not called the local 'real'
suppliers, but none of the local borgs have it in the racks.


Polyisocyanurate...Dow Thermax

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 1:41�pm, sid wrote:
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? �Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

Make sure you have enough air going into the furnace or you'll end up
with carbon monoxide due to incomplete combustion. Basically, don't
seal the room too much. If your furnace gets it's air from outside,
probably no worry about CO.

Hank

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 2:53*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

It maybe code to finish. The fumes are what will kill you if it burns.
Something else to consider is your health, foam off gasses as it cures
and it looses some R value as it cures out. Its hard to find research
on but I think it made me sick in an airtight room. If your house is
old loose construction it may not be bad. UFFI foam made alot sick, it
was banned, I would paint and seal all edges at least. The effects of
chemicals offgassing is known from many building products. Foam is not
designed or often used exposed to inside air.

************************************************** ****************

Depends on the foam. *Styrene board will not outgas like the urethanes do.
Styrene foam is the same material used in meat trays and coffee cups, except
that they add bromides for fire resistance.

What is the pink and blue board. I still hear about carpet, glues,
many things from oil can be of concern when new.

Insulating the furnace room
 

"ransley" wrote in message

Depends on the foam. Styrene board will not outgas like the urethanes do.
Styrene foam is the same material used in meat trays and coffee cups,
except
that they add bromides for fire resistance.

What is the pink and blue board. I still hear about carpet, glues,
many things from oil can be of concern when new.

*******************************************

The pink, blue, and yellow is extruded polystyrene board.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:45:35 GMT, aemeijers wrote:

(I like the sounds a furnace makes. Reassures me the damn thing is working.)

Funny you mention this: ours decided to take a vacation Friday night,
so Saturday morning when I got up at 6:30 and the house was 49F, I
called the installing company. Outside temps were single digits F.
Cold! Interestingly, apparently there was a sag in the exhaust PVC
piping that was backflowing some of the gasses and preventing the
pressure switches from engaging to give the motor the fuel needed to
heat the house, so the motor was running, but not heating the house.
$150 later, we seem to be all set. Whew. Then the snow started
coming down, so the timing was perfect.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:03:20 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:


"EXT" wrote in message
tanews.com...
Because foam board is flammable, I understand that in all cases, it must
be covered with drywall to make it fire resistant. This certainly would
apply in a furnace room, probably more than any other room.


Not classified as flammable. It will only burn if there is another source of
ignition (such as a defective furnace) but will not support combustion on
its own. Take a small piece outside and set it on fire. Take away the
lighter and it will go out in a few seconds. .

True - HOWEVER, when exposed to flame the resulting smoke is TOXIC -
and by code it MUST be covered - anywhere, furnace room or not. I'd
cover it with sheet-rock - 1/2 inch or better in the furnace room.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:45:35 GMT, aemeijers wrote:

EXT wrote:
Because foam board is flammable, I understand that in all cases, it must
be covered with drywall to make it fire resistant. This certainly would
apply in a furnace room, probably more than any other room.

"sid" wrote in message
...
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

I keep hearing rumors of a brand with extra-thick foil on the face that
meets fire code as is, as long as you tape the joints with foil tape.
Not sure of the brand (memory is the second thing to go), nor have I
seen it in stores. I have some half-above-grade basement walls where I'd
like to hang a foam curtain from the sill plate, but don't care to
expend the time and money to rock over it. (Especially since I would
have to use the moisture-proof rock.) I have not called the local 'real'
suppliers, but none of the local borgs have it in the racks.

Why are you insulating furnace room? For sound? I'd just use faced
fiberglass bats, and maybe cover with something cheap and easy, like
masonite paneling. If upstairs sound is the problem, insulate ceiling
cavities, and maybe hang the ducts from muffler straps.

(I like the sounds a furnace makes. Reassures me the damn thing is working.)

For sound insulation rock wool is MUCH better than glass - and it is
fire-proof (made from smelter slag)

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 7:34*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

Depends on the foam. Styrene board will not outgas like the urethanes do.
Styrene foam is the same material used in meat trays and coffee cups,
except
that they add bromides for fire resistance.

What is the pink and blue board. I still hear about carpet, glues,
many things from oil can be of concern when new.

*******************************************

The pink, blue, and yellow is extruded polystyrene board.

Poly as in polyurethane, so it outgasses.

Insulating the furnace room
 

On Jan 11, 12:41*pm, sid wrote:
Most of the basement is lined with Owens Pink Foam-board. If I use
this foam-board to insulate the wall of the furnace room, can I leave
it exposed ? *Do I need to finish the walls ?

Thanks

Use unfaced fiberglass batting or rigid fiberglass board. Anything
else will not have a good fire rating.

Drywall with 5/8 drywall for fire code. Unfaced fiberglass or
fiberglass board you can leave unfinished, but not the faced batting
(even if its aluminized).

Insulating the furnace room
 

"ransley" wrote in message

What is the pink and blue board. I still hear about carpet, glues,
many things from oil can be of concern when new.

*******************************************

The pink, blue, and yellow is extruded polystyrene board.

Poly as in polyurethane, so it outgasses.

************************************************** *

No, poly as in polystyrene so it does not outgas. I've been in this
industry for 39 years. To my knowledge, while Dow does make polyurethanes,
they are not for insulation. Styrene board does not outgas like the
urethanes do.

Insulating the furnace room
 

replying to EXT, James Morgan wrote:
The board is Dow Thermax it comes with 2 sides of foil or you can get one side
with a white embossed foil. It is not cheap a 1 1/2 with the white finish was
$52 & change. Depending on your location you might be able to get factory
second's

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