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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Polystyrene Insulation
I have recently insulated under the timber floor (has a void about
18")., with slab polystyrene. (was free, and the sort used in flat roof insulation). The stuff was cut to fit the joists and is pressed down onto tanalised battens. Battens are roof lathes and the polystyrene is 50mm. Extra to this is cooking foil pasted onto the surface This cost less than £2 for the whole room. .. An attempt to duplicate aka Kingspan. No vapour barrier other than the foil and not over the joists.On top is new chipboard flooring. My question to you luvverly people is...IS THIS SAFE. Have I got to undo. |
#2
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Polystyrene Insulation
Polystyrene - fire safety - toxic fumes, bad news.
Polystyrene - contact with pvc insulated wiring - hardening and cracking of insulation. |
#3
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Polystyrene Insulation
I think if your floors ablaze, the polystyrene fumes are the least of
your worries;-) good point about the PVC tho wrote: Polystyrene - fire safety - toxic fumes, bad news. Polystyrene - contact with pvc insulated wiring - hardening and cracking of insulation. |
#4
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Polystyrene Insulation
Thank you for the replies, not sure whether to post at top or bottom.
However, had the idea that the foil would delay spread of flames and flames would burn away from it anyway. Flooring is screwed down so not a big job to dismantle. Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil, and is recommended for under floor. Also I notice Wickes sell Polystyrene for the same purpose. Is consulting the Local Authority Building Inspector FREE.?? wrote: I think if your floors ablaze, the polystyrene fumes are the least of your worries;-) good point about the PVC tho wrote: Polystyrene - fire safety - toxic fumes, bad news. Polystyrene - contact with pvc insulated wiring - hardening and cracking of insulation. |
#5
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Polystyrene Insulation
"ken70" wrote in message ups.com... Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil, Kingspan is polyurethane -- Mike W |
#6
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Polystyrene Insulation
On 21 Dec 2006 07:09:07 -0800 Ken70 wrote :
Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil, and is recommended for under floor. Also I notice Wickes sell Polystyrene for the same purpose. Most Kingspan/Celotex boards are polyurethane which is a much better insulator - 25mm PU is as good as or better than 40mm EPS -- Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk |
#7
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Polystyrene Insulation
ken70 wrote:
I have recently insulated under the timber floor (has a void about 18")., with slab polystyrene. (was free, and the sort used in flat roof insulation). The stuff was cut to fit the joists and is pressed down onto tanalised battens. Battens are roof lathes and the polystyrene is 50mm. Extra to this is cooking foil pasted onto the surface This cost less than £2 for the whole room. . An attempt to duplicate aka Kingspan. No vapour barrier other than the foil and not over the joists.On top is new chipboard flooring. My question to you luvverly people is...IS THIS SAFE. Have I got to undo. If it is flooring grade insulation then chances are it is treated with a flame retardent anyway. So it will melt if you heat it enough, but ought not add to the spread of flames. So if you keepo it out of contact with any PVC it ought to be ok. Note that kingspan etc are not the same - they are Polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#8
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Polystyrene Insulation
ken70 wrote:
Thank you for the replies, not sure whether to post at top or bottom. However, had the idea that the foil would delay spread of flames and flames would burn away from it anyway. Flooring is screwed down so not a big job to dismantle. Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil No. It's foam with added foil, and twice the price of polystyrene. Presumably it smells sweeter when ablaze. , and is recommended for under floor. Also I notice Wickes sell Polystyrene for the same purpose. Is consulting the Local Authority Building Inspector FREE.?? wrote: I think if your floors ablaze, the polystyrene fumes are the least of your worries;-) good point about the PVC tho wrote: Polystyrene - fire safety - toxic fumes, bad news. Polystyrene - contact with pvc insulated wiring - hardening and cracking of insulation. |
#9
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Polystyrene Insulation
On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:09:07 -0800, ken70 wrote:
Thank you for the replies, not sure whether to post at top or bottom. However, had the idea that the foil would delay spread of flames and flames would burn away from it anyway. Flooring is screwed down so not a big job to dismantle. Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil, and is recommended for under floor. Also I notice Wickes sell Polystyrene for the same purpose. Is consulting the Local Authority Building Inspector FREE.?? snipped ================================ I did this same job about three years ago except that I used just the polystyrene without foil. I asked my local BCO about suitability and he said there were no problems with using polystyrene in this way. I was aware from posts elsewhere that PVC wiring and polystyrene was a bad mix so I made sure that the wiring runs were kept separate from the polystyrene. As far as fire risk is concerned I don't think I've ever heard of a fire starting under a suspended floor so I think the risk must be quite minimal. Cic. -- ================================ Testing UBUNTU Linux Everything working so far ================================ |
#10
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Polystyrene Insulation
Stuart Noble wrote:
No. It's foam with added foil, and twice the price of polystyrene. Presumably it smells sweeter when ablaze. It doesn't burn _very_ well, but it does catch fire. So I found out when using some of it to protect the walls whilst chopping some 1/4" plate with an angle grinder in-situ in the lounge. :¬) -- http://gymratz.co.uk - Best Gym Equipment & Bodybuilding Supplements UK. http://gymratz.co.uk/polar-heart-rate-monitors/ Polar HeartRate Monitors http://fitness-equipment-uk.com - UK's No.1 Fitness Equipment Suppliers. http://water-rower.co.uk - Worlds best prices on the Worlds best Rower. |
#11
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Polystyrene Insulation
In article ,
Stuart Noble writes: ken70 wrote: Thank you for the replies, not sure whether to post at top or bottom. However, had the idea that the foil would delay spread of flames and flames would burn away from it anyway. Flooring is screwed down so not a big job to dismantle. Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil No. It's foam with added foil, and twice the price of polystyrene. Presumably it smells sweeter when ablaze. One of its combusion products is cyanide, although I doubt you would be able to smell the almonds amongst the other things. You can smell it when you cut the sheets with a knife (it's probably a more complex cyanide-based molecule in this case). Combusion products of polystyrene are pretty nasty too because it does a bad job of burning all the products, and you end up with significant amounts of unburned styrene, carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, etc coming off. If it's old polystyrene, you also get combustion products from the incomplete burning of the CFC used to expand it, which can include hydrogen fluoride. -- Andrew Gabriel |
#12
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Polystyrene Insulation
Only cables are from defunct E7 system, disconnected at both ends, and
laid flat on the void concrete 'floor'.The polystyrene was free from a retired flat roof specialist, so is probably treated. Will see the BCO in the New Year, one option being to add gypsum board, tho barely room for this.......... Muchass Grassiuss. Andrew Gabriel wrote: In article , Stuart Noble writes: ken70 wrote: Thank you for the replies, not sure whether to post at top or bottom. However, had the idea that the foil would delay spread of flames and flames would burn away from it anyway. Flooring is screwed down so not a big job to dismantle. Could have sworn Kingspan was Polystyrene with added foil No. It's foam with added foil, and twice the price of polystyrene. Presumably it smells sweeter when ablaze. One of its combusion products is cyanide, although I doubt you would be able to smell the almonds amongst the other things. You can smell it when you cut the sheets with a knife (it's probably a more complex cyanide-based molecule in this case). Combusion products of polystyrene are pretty nasty too because it does a bad job of burning all the products, and you end up with significant amounts of unburned styrene, carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, etc coming off. If it's old polystyrene, you also get combustion products from the incomplete burning of the CFC used to expand it, which can include hydrogen fluoride. -- Andrew Gabriel |
#13
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Polystyrene Insulation
On 21 Dec 2006 04:06:05 -0800, a particular chimpanzee named "ken70"
randomly hit the keyboard and produced: I have recently insulated under the timber floor (has a void about 18")., with slab polystyrene. (was free, and the sort used in flat roof insulation).... My question to you luvverly people is...IS THIS SAFE. Have I got to undo. http://www.vencel.co.uk/products/ins...oors&nav=nav_1 -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#14
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Polystyrene Insulation
Thank you Hugo...lots to read....think I'm covered but checking with
County Hall after the holiday. If not O.K'd cheapest way out would to paint on some flame retardent. Got the original info from a 'Which' DIY book (published 1999), should have come here first. :-) Hugo Nebula wrote: On 21 Dec 2006 04:06:05 -0800, a particular chimpanzee named "ken70" randomly hit the keyboard and produced: I have recently insulated under the timber floor (has a void about 18")., with slab polystyrene. (was free, and the sort used in flat roof insulation).... My question to you luvverly people is...IS THIS SAFE. Have I got to undo. http://www.vencel.co.uk/products/ins...oors&nav=nav_1 -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
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