{"id":208304,"date":"2024-02-23T16:26:18","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T21:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=208304"},"modified":"2024-09-24T16:40:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T20:40:15","slug":"evolving-foam-plastics-decoding-thermal-barrier-compliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/evolving-foam-plastics-decoding-thermal-barrier-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Evolving foam plastics: Decoding thermal barrier compliance"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
An industrial facility which uses foam plastics as thermal barrier. <\/span>Photo courtesy Richard Barone <\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Richard Barone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the past several decades, plastic has been increasingly used in the construction industry, and with more plastics in buildings, the International Building Code<\/em> (IBC<\/em>) has updated its requirements to address the flammability of these plastics.<\/p>\n

Regarding the proliferation of plastics and composites, the thermal barrier section of the IBC<\/em> (chapter 26, specifically) came into existence. However, \u201cthermal barrier\u201d is a term used specifically for the fire rating of a building element. It can be confused with terms such as \u201cthermal insulation\u201d or \u201cthermal bridging,\u201d both of which relate to the transfer of heat or cold through building materials. A thermal barrier, however, as defined by the IBC<\/em>, is very specific to heat and fire.<\/p>\n

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) defines thermal barriers as \u201ca material or product that prevents or delays the ignition of a flammable surface, such as foam plastic insulation or metal composite material, in the event of a fire.\u201d1<\/sup><\/p>\n

The requirements for thermal barriers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The IBC<\/em> and the International Residential Code <\/em>(IRC<\/em>) define approved thermal barriers (\u201c15-minute thermal barriers\u201d) as:<\/p>\n