Foam a No-No

[Midnight Railroader]

Anyone experience or know someone who lost all or part of their layout due to fire?

John Allen. And he used no foam at all. Just flammable wood.

[MisterBeasley]

The Fire Department should be able to provide you with a copy of the regulation.  Take a look at it.  This sort of thing should not apply to furniture or other personal items.  That's not the job of building and construction codes.

[joe-daddy]

The typical HO layout I'm talking about is 10 X 20 feet or larger, contains perhaps a half dozen or more sheets of 1-2" foam and is for all intents and purposes built into the house.

Next time you go camping take a piece of 3/4 plywood and a piece of 1" foam both about a foot square.  Get the fire going and throw both into the fire at the same time.  Notice how long it takes the foam to be totally consumed vs the plywood.

At the minimum, this thread speaks to the need of equiping our train rooms with an approved fire extinguisher and at least one smoke alarm.

Foam melts and disolves into a flamable liquid/gas very quickly.  Wood retains its shape, initial strength and form for a much longer time frame. 

Anyone experience or know someone who lost all or part of their layout due to fire?

 

Joe 

[Scarpia]

Bluhills is correct. Otherwise, everyone with a stryofoam cooler in their house would be in violation, or even the foam trays your pork chops come on.

There are codes concerning construction that may apply to...construction. 

This may be coming from your land lord, but it seems foolish. As a landlord myself, I'd be more concerened about scenery materials in the carpeting than a fire hazard.

[BlueHillsCPR]

Maybe I am out to lunch but it seems to me that the building codes only apply to materials used in construction of the building.  The foam on a layout would not apply as it is not part of the building.  The foam used in your furniture will burn and release toxic fumes when it burns.  I don't suppose the firedepartment wants you to get rid of the sofa.

government!!!

[joe-daddy]

A few minutes on the NFPA website reading about the legitimate  issues of fire protection related to foam insulation tells me this is a bona fide issue.  iIs this issue so dangerous to our health and safety that those who advocate the use of foam should be reminded of their responsibliity to warn us of how to properly protect our family from that danger?  Similar to the warning, before you cut plywood, make sure you are wearing eye protection. 

And if we have chose to use some, just how do we rmake our use of foam safe? 

I for one do not want to have my local fire department citing me for having a fire hazzard in my basement. And I want a fire with the toxic issues even less.  I think Mr. Beasley is correct.

This is not a joke or something to be rationalized away.

Joe Daddy 

 

[jackn2mpu]

The issue is probably not the flammability, but rather the toxicity of the smoke if the foam is in a fire supported by other flammable material.

True. But this guy better not have any OSB wood in his place - the glue they use in that stuff releases formaldehyde when burned. You'll still die, but your body will be preserved. Point is, there's lots more toxic stuff in a dwelling than just the foam, if indeed that is the op's real problem to begin with (see my other post here). 

[doctorwayne]

The building code in these parts also specifies that foam insulation be covered with drywall (not with panelling, though) and I believe that it's because of the fumes released when the foam burns.  I was going to use foam for the second level of my layout, but plywood is cheaper and I find it easier to work with, too.

Wayne 

[jackn2mpu]

Like Jess said: how'd this guy find out about your layout? Did you tell him about it or maybe someone dimed you to the building owners. Either way, don't get rid of the layout. Do some research, maybe even get a lawyer to check into this. I'd be wary of your neighbors for the time being - someone may have it in for you.

I think you're getting railroaded (sorry about that). If indeed foam is such a fire hazard, then all of us that use even Woodland Scenics ground foam or suchlike are in trouble. 

[Midnight Railroader]

I live in an apartment subject to fire deparment inspections. I have to remove the layout (4x8) as it is against fire code to have exposed foam. It must be enclosed by drywall or paneling or the like.

Yeah, your tax dollars at work.

Would covering it with Sculptamold or Hardshell do the job?

What a load of you-know-what.

 

[MisterBeasley]

The issue is probably not the flammability, but rather the toxicity of the smoke if the foam is in a fire supported by other flammable material.

[Red Horse]

How in the world did the fire department find out that you have an illegal layout?

I work as an Emt and know a lot of firemen I will check into this for you within the next day or so and I'll do some reasearch for you on state fire codes. what state is the layout in?

This sounds crazy, I'd hate to see you lose your layout over this.

You say you live in an apartment building, is it the Land Lord who is telling you this?

I'll have to check this out because my layout is a 7'X7' and is constructed out of the while foam that is used to insulate the walls of walk in freezers.

I'll be in touch, please don't tear it down until I look into this for ya, I know how much work goes into these things.

Jess Red Horse.

[HarryHotspur]

My guess is that he's wrong. If you're using the pink or blue foam that most people use, it's my understanding that it will not sustain a fire; i.e. if you hold a torch to it, it will burn, but it will stop burning when you remove the torch. That would make it much safer than the wood paneling he wants you to cover it with.

[jsoderq]

I live in an apartment subject to fire deparment inspections. I have to remove the layout (4x8) as it is against fire code to have exposed foam. It must be enclosed by drywall or paneling or the like. The inspector said some foam is even stenciled with the fact that it has to be covered. Latex paint will not be enough to cover the foam. Also, he pointed out you may be voiding your fire insurance with a foam layout as it is a known fire hazard, same as illegal wiring. I don't want to hear all the crap about government etc.  Anyone else ever run into this? Might be worth checking with your insurance man if he is a friendly guy.