Fire Resistance typically focuses on the spread of fire after flashover and is meant to contain a fire within a compartment.
Flame Resistance typically focuses on the initial developing fire within the compartment where the strategy is to reduce the chance of flashover from occurring in the first place or at least delaying it so occupants can escape.
Think of it this way- A fire starts in a hotel room, flame resistant products will slow the growth of the fire within that hotel room. Now lets say you are in the room next to the one with the fire in it, then Fire Resistance products will stop or slow the fire from leaving the first room and entering your room.
So while spray foam performs well in Fire Resistance it is still required to be protected for Flame Resistance so if a person is asleep in the first hotel room they actually have a chance to escape before flashover occurs.
While we see images of foam after a fire or hear comments that spray foam saved a building may be true, this is in regards to Fire Resistance AFTER flashover has occurred and needs not be interpreted that we don’t need to coat foam.
What most of us don’t see is what transpired during the initial stages of the fire up to the point of flashover and how that can impact on the ability for persons within that area to escape……. I have. Protect your Foam! #alllivesmatter #DC315
International Fireproof Technology Inc