Great stuff fireblock needed?
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I sealed this gap on the bottom of a garage wall that is facing the inside of the home using Great stuff big gap filler. Does it need to be the orange fireblock rated foam?
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Replies
There should be wood blocking back there. If it's a complete gap all the way through, then you don't really have a fire rated assembly and I wouldn't trust the foam alone to really do the job.
Aside from that, yes, you should be using the orange fire block foam here, because the wall assembly is part of a fire barrier between the garage and dwelling areas.
Bill
Just a caution. Great stuff fireblock is def flammable. I'd use something else for a garage where its exposed and you may use a grinder, torch etc. I made a video once of normal great stuff, fireblock great stuff and 2 component closed cell foam I used. The 2 component didn't wanna light wirh my blow torch. The 2 great stuffs lit and kept on burning. Look at the MSDS sheets. I'm pretty sure both great stuffs are the same other than colorant.
Plenty of videos on youtube or try yourself. Take a look.
https://youtu.be/djB4dmfHhQk?si=Rh2uxYGhBX9hoS3l
https://youtu.be/IYor83AQEG0?si=q0O7rRyOcmTQ-BT7
Thanks. Anything you recommend that comes in a can and is orange? I need it to pass inspection
DAP Touch 'n Foam Fire Break is the only name brand orange one I've seen that doesn't keep burning. Was a few years ago I dug into this...may be another now as there were a couple off brand ones back then too...but not orange.
You can also use fire putty which is not flammable (it's a reddish clay-like material made for this purpose):
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Fire-Barrier-Moldable-Putty/dp/B002FYAMPM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2IAU9IMRN5TE9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.G_CceqmwK_VcQBohnLxjc9CHXNWkkK-mQb3S-4vh2gW9eG5gAG8EZmKEYKKthmEH2WP0x_TUQkgG_vF5Als6BdzZyCL04xznGQDPMpEIUg1C_ki0WQG88VdzxiHOXSCuuycBF061u3xW_EGiGm3Gw0O1OLyJOfOfZu6ySYJszBIC4j51L71IU7FM230rbrt8yYqI4jn4QyrWukRzboCDx7ELhKbc82hU7888wIr2v_VQW2O_a9hc5UOUQdwUT9JqtP7ulOIHWnfX2QvrssKj-oW_F9DG_9fZ1N9A5gw4luM.sMDlIWTCOKrWBfijBbeBkGsh0KzPBfEiIm1KPJ_S9RA&dib_tag=se&keywords=fire+putty&qid=1745938060&sprefix=fire+putty%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-6
Another option is to use the orange fire block canned foam and then put a wood trim piece over it, which is probably what I'd do in this situation. The wood will provide physical protection for the fire block material, which is a plus since neither the foam nor the putty is particularly durable (although the putty is much better than the foam in this regard).
Note that if you're getting inspected, whatever you use will have to be rated for the purpose, so you can't just use anything.
Bill