theundermount
Well-known member
Can I use roxul insulation as a fire break between my garage and interior wall or am I still required to use foam board insulation aswell?
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Fire break
- Thread starter theundermount
- Start date
sberry
Banned
I am not sure you are required to use foam at all, maybe not any insulation but sheetrock certain thickness and some fireblock. But,,, wait for others that are more familiar with residential code.
DieselNut88
Well-known member
Around here it is iirc. Double 5/8" rock. Some areas only single 5/8".
oltruckag
Well-known member
Generally each layer of 5/8 drywall is typically a 30 minute fire barrier. 1hr is 5/8 on each side, 2hr is two layers each side with the seams staggered. Insulation must be rated to match the assembly. I'm not aware of any foam board that would be fire rated...
The wall has to be built to a UL rating in commercial space to be a rated wall, not sure how that works in residential.
Tyson
The wall has to be built to a UL rating in commercial space to be a rated wall, not sure how that works in residential.
Tyson
I'm not sure that foam board is fire rated. check withe the City but I suspect 5/8 type x board & roxul
What sort of building? Residential building code here in Ontario is only 1/2" on both sides unless the garage is over a certain size or the building has multiple units (apartment) if I remember correctly. The insulation isn't even a factor.Can I use roxul insulation as a fire break between my garage and interior wall or am I still required to use foam board insulation aswell?
matt_i
Well-known member
I'm not familiar with your local codes but directionally the use of Roxul between drywalls is an excellent choice, all being high temperature materials Type X 5/8" thickness, double layer is typical. But now there is Type C which is a step better. Floor to roof, not stopping at the bottom chord of the truss.
The OP is in Canada so what is required of him will be different that what we are used to seeing here in the US.
Pluribus
Well-known member
Everything I've seen & read shows that rock wool doesn't burn, but foam board will. There may be some foam board with fire retardant properties, but if so, I'm not familiar with it.
(Roxul test)
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
roxul and 5/8 type x should do it... check your codes though...
Like I said, Ontario is just 1/2" on both sides with no specific insulation requirements from a fire break perspective.roxul and 5/8 type x should do it... check your codes though...
ForceFed70
Well-known member
Do you need an actual fire break, or something with a burn rating?
If it's an actual fire break, neither will work for you. It needs to be constructed of non-flammable materials. AKA - block wall and metal doors and it needs to extend all of the way up into the attic space. If you need a burn rating, speak to your inspector and understand your options. Roxul will add to the burn rating, but generally speaking you'll need to combine it with other fireproofing materials like fire rated drywall, sound/fire channel, etc.
To put an apartment above my garage I needed a 2hr burn rating on the garage ceiling, and a 45min burn rating on the walls.
To get the 2hrs on the ceiling I had to upgrade to 5/8" thick drywall, had to use fire rated drywall, had to use 2 layers, and I needed an air gap between the the drywall sheets (AKA fire channel). For the walls, I simply had to go with a single sheet of 5/8" fire rated drywall but was kicking myself as another option would have been regular 1/2" drywall and roxul insulation. Had already insulated when I discovered the fire requirements.
If it's an actual fire break, neither will work for you. It needs to be constructed of non-flammable materials. AKA - block wall and metal doors and it needs to extend all of the way up into the attic space. If you need a burn rating, speak to your inspector and understand your options. Roxul will add to the burn rating, but generally speaking you'll need to combine it with other fireproofing materials like fire rated drywall, sound/fire channel, etc.
To put an apartment above my garage I needed a 2hr burn rating on the garage ceiling, and a 45min burn rating on the walls.
To get the 2hrs on the ceiling I had to upgrade to 5/8" thick drywall, had to use fire rated drywall, had to use 2 layers, and I needed an air gap between the the drywall sheets (AKA fire channel). For the walls, I simply had to go with a single sheet of 5/8" fire rated drywall but was kicking myself as another option would have been regular 1/2" drywall and roxul insulation. Had already insulated when I discovered the fire requirements.
OP
theundermount
Well-known member
thanks guys for replies, I was kinda of vague on details, I live in ontario and it is a residential house. I was reading up on the building code and it appears I may not require any fire break at all, I have foam board insulation installed that I am removing so I was not sure why it was there. i believe because i only have 2x4 walls the board was required to get the appropriate R value for insulation. looks like only requirments for me is proper vapor barrier to keep out gases and fumes from entering the dwelling.
ForceFed70
Well-known member
thanks guys for replies, I was kinda of vague on details, I live in ontario and it is a residential house. I was reading up on the building code and it appears I may not require any fire break at all, I have foam board insulation installed that I am removing so I was not sure why it was there. i believe because i only have 2x4 walls the board was required to get the appropriate R value for insulation. looks like only requirments for me is proper vapor barrier to keep out gases and fumes from entering the dwelling.
Sounds about right. Generally they're worried about exhaust fumes/carbon monoxide more than fire. If there is a man door attaching the garage to the house, it needs to be an exterior style door with weatherstripping, etc. It also needs to have an automatic closer of some sort.
Yup, this is all true too.Sounds about right. Generally they're worried about exhaust fumes/carbon monoxide more than fire. If there is a man door attaching the garage to the house, it needs to be an exterior style door with weatherstripping, etc. It also needs to have an automatic closer of some sort.