[Greenbuilding] Poly U foam and fires

[Keith Winston]

Since the melting temperature of the foam is quite a bit lower than 
either of those numbers (around 400F), I would actually expect a house 
tightly built and well-insulated with cellulose or fiberglass might get 
hotter than one with foam before the entire thing is long-gone. But I've 
never heard any concern about this issue before, do you have any 
references? Sounds sort of urban-rumoresque.

Keith


Michael Smith wrote:
>   I have read somewhere that the biggest problem with the P U foams is the temperature range the fire creates. Normal temp in a house fire is around 3500 degrees , leaving many items recognizable after destroyed. The higher insulative value and reflection back of the heat generated in a super insulated P U foamed house reaches closer to 10,000 degrees. Most materials are turned to ash and not recognized. 
>  I would just take extra care in the wiring ( higher than code) to minimize the chances.
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