Section R303 — FOAM PLASTIC

The provisions of this section shall govern the materials, design, application, construction and installation of foam plastic materials.

R303.1.1 Spray-applied foam plastic. Single- and multiple-component spray-applied foam plastic insulation shall comply with the provisions of Section R303 and ICC 1100.

R303.1.2 Insulating sheathing. Foam plastic materials used as insulating sheathing shall comply with the provisions of Section R303 and the material standards in Table R303.1.2.

TABLE R303.1.2—MATERIAL STANDARDS FOR FOAM PLASTIC INSULATING SHEATHING

Packages and containers of foam plastic insulation and foam plastic insulation components delivered to the job site shall bear the label of an approved agency showing the manufacturer’s name, the product listing, product identification and information sufficient to determine that the end use will comply with the requirements.

R303.2.1 Labeling of polystyrene foam insulation without flame retardants. In addition to the requirements of Section 2603.2 of the California Building Code, polystyrene foam insulation boards manufactured with no flame retardants added shall be labeled in accordance with this section.

1. Each board shall be labeled on each face every 8 square feet in red [1] / 2 -inch text with the following information:

WARNING – FIRE HAZARD This product is required to be installed below a minimum 3.5-inch thick concrete slab on grade

NOT FOR VERTICAL OR

ABOVE GRADE APPLICATIONS This product contains NO flame retardants. Not tested for flame spread or smoke development requirements of the model building codes. 2. Each package shall be labeled on at least two sides in red [1] / 2 -inch text with the following information:

WARNING – COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL Keep away from ignition sources. Maintain code-required separation between product storage and structures under construction (minimum 30 feet).

Unless otherwise allowed in Section R303.5, foam plastic, or foam plastic cores used as a component in manufactured assemblies, used in building construction shall comply with Section R303.3.1 or R303.3.2. Loose-filltype foam plastic insulation shall be tested as board stock for the flame spread index and smoke-developed index.

Exception s: 1. Spray foam plastic insulation more than 4 inches (102 mm) in thickness shall have a flame spread index of not more than 25 and a smoke-developed index of not more than 450 where tested at a thickness of 4 inches (102 mm) and at the density intended for use. Such spray foam plastic shall be separated from the interior of a building by [1] / 2 -inch (12.7 mm)

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BUILDING PLANNING

gypsum wallboard or by a material that is tested in accordance with and meets the acceptance criteria of both the Temperature Transmission Fire Test and the Integrity Fire Test of NFPA 275. 2. Polystyrene foam insulation boards with a maximum thickness of 2 inches where installed below a minimum 3.5-inch thick concrete slab on grade.

R303.3.1 Foam plastic insulation 4 inches thick or less. Foam plastic insulation installed at 4 inches (102 mm) in thickness or less shall have a flame spread index of not more than 75 and a smoke-developed index of not more than 450 where tested in the maximum thickness and density intended for use in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723.

R303.3.2 Foam plastic insulation more than 4 inches thick. Foam plastic insulation installed at more than 4 inches (102 mm) in thickness shall have a flame spread index of not more than 75 and a smoke-developed index of not more than 450 where tested at a thickness of 4 inches (102 mm) in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, provided that the end use is approved in accordance with Section R303.6 using the thickness and density intended for use.

Unless otherwise allowed in Section R303.5, foam plastic shall be separated from the interior of a building by an approved thermal barrier of not less than [1] / 2 -inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard, [23] / 32 -inch (18.2 mm) wood structural panel or a material that is tested in accordance with and meets the acceptance criteria of both the Temperature Transmission Fire Test and the Integrity Fire Test of NFPA 275.

The following requirements shall apply to these uses of foam plastic unless specifically approved in accordance with Section R303.6 or by other sections of the code or the requirements of Sections R303.2 through R303.4 have been met.

R303.5.1 Masonry or concrete construction. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required in a masonry or concrete wall, floor or roof where the foam plastic insulation is separated from the interior of the building by not less than a 1-inch (25 mm) thickness of masonry or concrete.

R303.5.2 Roofing. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required where the foam plastic in a roof assembly or under a roof covering is installed in accordance with the code and the manufacturer’s instructions and is separated from the interior of the building by tongue-and-groove wood planks or wood structural panel sheathing, in accordance with Section R803, that is not less than [15] / 32 inch (11.9 mm) thick bonded with exterior glue, identified as Exposure 1 and with edges supported by blocking or tongue-and-groove joints or an equivalent material. The smoke-developed index for roof applications shall not be limited.

R303.5.3 Attics. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required where all of the following apply:

1. Attic access is required by Section R807.1.
2. The space is entered only for purposes of repairs or maintenance.
3. The foam plastic insulation has been tested in accordance with Section R303.6 or the foam plastic insulation is protected against ignition using one of the following ignition barrier materials: 3.1. 1 [1] / 2 -inch-thick (38 mm) mineral fiber insulation. 3.2. [1] / 4 -inch-thick (6.4 mm) wood structural panels. 3.3. [3] / 8 -inch (9.5 mm) particleboard. 3.4. [1] / 4 -inch (6.4 mm) hardboard. 3.5. [3] / 8 -inch (9.5 mm) gypsum board. 3.6. Corrosion-resistant steel having a base metal thickness of 0.016 inch (0.406 mm). 3.7. 1 [1] / 2 -inch-thick (38 mm) cellulose insulation. 3.8. 1 / 4 -inch (6.4 mm) fiber-cement panel, soffit or backer board.

The ignition barrier is not required where the foam plastic insulation has been tested in accordance with Section R303.6.

R303.5.4 Crawl spaces. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required where all of the following apply:

1. Crawl space access is required by Section R408.4.
2. Entry is made only for purposes of repairs or maintenance.
3. The foam plastic insulation has been tested in accordance with Section R303.6 or the foam plastic insulation is protected against ignition using one of the following ignition barrier materials: 3.1. 1 [1] / 2 -inch-thick (38 mm) mineral fiber insulation. 3.2. 1 / 4 -inch-thick (6.4 mm) wood structural panels. 3.3. 3 / 8 -inch (9.5 mm) particleboard. 3.4. 1 / 4 -inch (6.4 mm) hardboard. 3.5. 3 / 8 -inch (9.5 mm) gypsum board. 3.6. Corrosion-resistant steel having a base metal thickness of 0.016 inch (0.406 mm). 3.7. [1] / 4 -inch (6.4 mm) fiber-cement panel, soffit or backer board.

R303.5.5 Foam-filled exterior doors. Foam-filled exterior doors are exempt from the requirements of Sections R303.3 and R303.4.

R303.5.6 Foam-filled garage doors. Foam-filled garage doors in attached or detached garages are exempt from the requirements of Sections R303.3 and R303.4.

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R303.5.7 Foam backer board. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required where siding backer board foam plastic insulation has a thickness of not more than 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) and a potential heat of not more than 2000 Btu per square foot (22 720 kJ/m [2] ) when tested in accordance with NFPA 259 and it complies with one or more of the following:

1. The foam plastic insulation is separated from the interior of the building by not less than 2 inches (51 mm) of mineral fiber insulation.

2. The foam plastic insulation is installed over existing exterior wall finish in conjunction with re-siding.

3. The foam plastic insulation has been tested in accordance with Section R303.6.

R303.5.8 Re-siding. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required where the foam plastic insulation is installed over existing exterior wall finish in conjunction with re-siding provided that the foam plastic has a thickness of not more than 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) and a potential heat of not more than 2000 Btu per square foot (22 720 kJ/m [2] ) when tested in accordance with NFPA 259.

R303.5.9 Interior trim. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required for exposed foam plastic interior trim, provided that all of the following are met:

1. The density is not less than 20 pounds per cubic foot (320 kg/m [3] ).
2. The thickness of the trim is not more than 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) and the width is not more than 8 inches (204 mm).
3. The interior trim shall not constitute more than 10 percent of the aggregate wall and ceiling area of any room or space.
4. The flame spread index does not exceed 75 when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. The smoke-developed index is not limited.

R303.5.10 Interior finish. Foam plastics used as interior finishes shall comply with Section R303.6 and shall meet the flame spread index and smoke-developed index requirements of Sections R302.9.1 and R302.9.2.

R303.5.11 Sill plates and headers. Foam plastic spray applied to sill plates and headers or installed in the perimeter joist space without the thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 shall comply with all of the following:

1. The thickness of the foam plastic shall be not more than 3 [1] / 4 inches (83 mm).
2. The density of the foam plastic shall be in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 pounds per cubic foot (8 to 32 kg/m [3] ).
3. The foam plastic shall have a flame spread index of 25 or less and an accompanying smoke-developed index of 450 or less when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723.

R303.5.12 Sheathing. Foam plastic insulation used as sheathing shall comply with Section R303.3 and Section R303.4. Where the foam plastic sheathing is exposed to the attic space at a gable or kneewall, the provisions of Section R303.5.3 shall apply. Where foam plastic insulation is used as exterior wall sheathing on framed wall assemblies, it shall comply with Section R303.8.

R303.5.13 Floors. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is not required to be installed on the walking surface of a structural floor system that contains foam plastic insulation where the foam plastic is covered by not less than a nominal [1] / 2 -inch-thick (12.7 mm) wood structural panel or equivalent. The thermal barrier specified in Section R303.4 is required on the underside of the structural floor system that contains foam plastic insulation where the underside of the structural floor system is exposed to the interior of the building.

Foam plastic not meeting the requirements of Sections R303.3 through R303.5 shall be specifically approved on the basis of an approved large-scale test reflecting the actual end-use configuration and performed on the finished foam plastic assembly in the maximum thickness intended for use. Assemblies tested shall include seams, joints and other typical details used in the installation of the assembly and shall be tested in the manner intended for use. The approved large-scale test shall comply with one of the following: NFPA 286 with the acceptance criteria of Section R302.9.4, FM 4880, UL 1040 or UL 1715.

The use of foam plastics in areas of “very heavy” termite infestation probability shall be in accordance with Section R305.4.

Foam plastic insulation complying with ASTM C578 and ASTM C1289 and used as exterior wall sheathing on framed wall assemblies shall comply with ANSI/ABTG FS 100 for wind pressure resistance unless installed directly over or under a sheathing material that is separately capable of resisting the wind load or otherwise exempted from the scope of ANSI/ABTG FS 100.