When it comes to fire safety, the materials used to seal penetrations in walls and floors are critical to containing a fire. Although expanding foam is widely used for general insulation and sealing, it poses serious risks in fire-stopping applications. As part of our commitment to safety, we enforce a blanket ban on the use of standard expanding foam for fire-stopping. This is because expanding foam is unsuitable for ensuring effective fire-stopping. Here’s why:

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1. Inadequate Fire Resistance

• Standard expanding foam is not designed to withstand the extreme temperatures of a fire.
• It breaks down quickly under heat, losing its sealing properties and allowing fire and smoke to spread through walls or floors.
• Fire-stopping materials, by contrast, are tested and designed to contain fire for specified durations, a critical requirement expanding foam cannot meet.

2. Smoke and Toxic Gas Penetration

• Smoke and toxic gases like carbon monoxide are deadly hazards in a fire.
• Standard expanding foam fails in high heat, leaving gaps through which these gases can travel.
• Fire-rated sealants are specifically designed to block both fire and smoke effectively, safeguarding building occupants.

3. Release of Toxic Fumes

• When exposed to extreme heat, standard expanding foam can release toxic fumes such as hydrogen cyanide.
• Hydrogen cyanide is highly dangerous, potentially causing severe injury or death if inhaled.
• Fire-rated materials are engineered to resist combustion and minimize harmful emissions, ensuring safer conditions during a fire.

4. Lack of Certification

• Standard expanding foam is generally not certified for fire-stopping unless explicitly labeled as fire-rated.
• Certification ensures that a material meets stringent fire resistance standards through rigorous testing.
• Relying solely on certified fire-stopping products guarantees compliance and effectiveness in fire-rated assemblies.

5. Unpredictable Expansion

• Standard expanding foam can expand uncontrollably, either underfilling or overfilling gaps.
• In fire-stopping, incomplete or excessive coverage compromises the barrier’s integrity.
• Fire-rated products expand predictably, ensuring gaps are sealed without creating new risks.

6. Breakdown in High Heat

• Standard expanding foams melt, degrade, or even combust when exposed to the intense heat of a fire.
• As they break down, they create pathways for flames, smoke, and gases to spread.
• Fire-rated materials are designed to remain intact and even expand under heat, sealing any gaps that may form during a fire.

Why Our Company Enforces a Ban

We have a blanket ban on the use of non-fire-rated expanding foam for fire-stopping based on the following key reasons:

• Professional Responsibility: As fire safety experts, we are committed to using only materials that guarantee safe, effective, and compliant fire-stopping solutions.

• Compliance with Regulations: Certified fire-rated materials meet stringent fire safety standards, ensuring compliance and reducing regulatory risk.

• Protection of Life: Toxic fumes released by expanding foam, such as hydrogen cyanide, pose life-threatening hazards during a fire.

Conclusion

While expanding foam is useful for general insulation tasks, it is wholly unsuitable for fire-stopping. By enforcing a strict ban on its use, we uphold the highest standards of fire safety and ensure that our fire-stopping installations reliably protect both property and lives in the event of a fire. Choosing certified, fire-rated materials is not just a matter of compliance but also a responsibility we take seriously in safeguarding lives.

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