scorched Foam Insulation

[boo coo tracks]

Friend gave me some foam board, it was stacked away from garage that burned. It is still a full 4" just darkned. Will it still retain most of its insulation ? I think its rated at R-5 per inch.
Thanks
Tracks

 

[Stargeezer]

Take a small chunk of it and take it in the house. If it has a strong stink of smoke- don't use it for anything except under concrete. N0 clue if it is damaged. Pics?

 

[rockchucker]

Agreed. If you put that in your house it is inevitable that it will smell up the works.

I used to do Fire Jobs for an insurance company when remodeling. ANY type of material that came in contact with smoke either had to be removed and replaced or sealed with good primer. IF the wood had burned it had to be cut out and replaced. A few days of demo and it would stick to you so bad that your own home would start smelling like it.

I would just keep this in mind if you are thinking of using it inside of a home. In a shop where it doesn't matter it just depends on how bad it is burned. I personally would not be able to use it because even if I didn't smell it my head would remind me that it was there and I would smell it!

 

[boo coo tracks]

Foam sheets store in drafty old barn, so I never considered smell!! So I think under concrete would be best use of this stuff.
Thanks to all who replied!!!!!!!!!
Thats why I love this fourm, it can keep you from making mistakes!!
Tracks

 

[cowboyjosh]

Off topic, but I HATE fire restoration. Were just finishing up rebuilding what was a tract home in metro Denver that got struck by lighting last summer. Typically I don't do restoration or re-builds since Im a custom builder, but business is sorta slow (our new normal), and the homeowner is friends with my General Superintendent. BTW, the insurance company on this job even required us to demo and replace the foundation and basement floor; thats the first time I have ever had to do that. AMFAM also ok'ed replacing the driveway. The insurance adjustor told us its becoming more and more common to just replace the concrete on a total loss of the building then try to clean and salvage it.

 

[Kevin54]

Is it scorched on the ends or on the sides? Can you cut off what is scorched and use what isn't? For me, I wouldn't be so concerned about R-Value if it's scorched, I'd be more concerned about any odor it puts off. I know when my SIL had a house fire, they had smoke damage in their attic. A company came in and sealed it with something that they sprayed out of sprayers. You would have never known there was a house fire. No odor whatsoever after sealing. You may want to check with a company that does fire restorations.