[Alberg30] Plastic insulation burns.

[EddieDiver at aol.com]

While reading the Alberg Manual, I noticed that some skippers are thermal 
insulating the engine side of their ice boxes and sound insulating their 
engine cover/companionway stairs with rigid insulation. The insulation of 
choice seems to be polyisocyanurate or Styrofoam (which is Dow's trade name 
for closed cell polyethylene foam insulation).

Be advised that both of these plastic insulations will easily burn and when 
they burn, can give off dense black smoke and very noxious fumes. Theu used 
to be called "flame-proof" until the government stepped in. Now the 
literature states that they will only burn until the source of the flame 
dies. Huh?

When most single materials are fire tested, as opposed to assemblies of 
different materials, they are tested in accordance with the American 
Standards and Testing Materials Association (ASTM) test E-84 The Steiner 
Tunnel Test. This is a rectangular box approx. 2 ft. wide by 3 feet high by 
25 feet long. The top is removable so that they can affix the material being 
tested to the underside of the top. There are glass inspection ports along 
the long side for observation.

A gas fire is started at one end, a measured amount and speed of air is 
induced at the same end. At the opposite end there is a chimney and a 
measuring device to test for amount and density of smoke. How fast the flame 
spreads along the material being tested determines it's Flame Spread Rating. 
The other number is Smoke Contribution.

Notice that the test is horizontal. No matter that most rigid insulation  of 
this type is used to insulate vertical side walls of building construction.

Sound insulation requires density to reduce engine noises. Foam insulation 
does little, if any, good.  A heavy lead foil would be much better to reduce  
sound transmission.

I would strongly suggest that this insulation be removed. If it can't be 
removed, cover the face and edges with gypsum board glued on with 
construction adhesive. Make sure that the adhesive does not contain solvents 
that will dissolve the insulation.

Ed. Schroeder #303, Architect/ Materials Consultant

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