
Do you need a thermal barrier?

The standard customary material that can be used as a thermal barrier is 1/2" drywall or sheetrock. Anything else has to be approved as an 'equivalent thermal barrier' by undergoing tests for temperature syncromeshed and fire integrity. In some cases , however, you need only one test.
This is where things get a little tricky. If a home has spray foam insulation in an attic or crawl space, the building code requires using materials or assemblies that offer some fire resistance but not as much as is required for a thermal barrier. If you've got spray foam insulation in an attic, for instance, it's probably already separated from the living space by a thermal barrier. Most ceilings are made of 1/2" drywall. But the spray foam is still susceptible to the attic in cases of fires and needs an ignition barrier.
When do you need an ignition barrier?

One thing to be aware of is that not everything claiming to be a thermal or ignition barrier meets the requirements. If it's not on your building department's approved list, ask the company selling it for their test data and evidence of code approvals. You may need them to satisfy your building inspector.
What if your local inspector doesn't require anything ? Well, it sure is tempting to keep your costs low and omit ignition barriers in attics and crawl spaces. But what if that house burns and the insurance company refuses to pay because there was no ignition barrier? It doesn't take a genius to know who the homeowners are going to come after.
The bottom line is that if you're using spray foam insulation, you need to know the code about thermal and ignition barriers and use them where essential. You need to know your materials, too, and what reduces in each case.
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