Using Intumescent Coatings as Thermal Barriers When Installing Trusscore Technical Guide

This guide provides recommendations when using intumescent coatings as a thermal barrier when installing Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard.

Purpose

Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard does not meet the requirements of a thermal barrier when installed over spray foam insulation. Building codes require that spray foam insulation be separated from interior spaces by an approved thermal barrier that provides 15-minute fire protection.  

Recommendation

Where thermal barriers are required, we recommend using intumescent coatings, which are widely available from multiple manufacturers.  

Benefits

  • Code-compliant: Meet 15-minute thermal barrier requirements 
  • Easy application: Can be spray-applied directly over spray foam insulation 
  • Versatile: Compatible with Trusscore panels

Available Products

Intumescent coatings are widely available from these paint manufacturers: 

Brand Product Name
Benjamin Moore® INSL-X® Fire Retardant Paint (FR-110/FR-210) 
International Fireproof Technology Inc. (IFTI)  DC315 Fireproof Paint
Flame Control Coatings  60-60A Thermal Barrier 

These products are widely available in both the United States and Canada and meet both U.S. building code requirements (IBC/IRC with NFPA 286, ASTM E-119 testing) and Canadian NBCC requirements (CAN/ULC-S124, CAN/ULC-S101 testing). 

Installation Instructions

The typical installation sequence would be the following: 

  1. Install spray foam insulation 
  2. Apply intumescent coating as a thermal barrier 
  3. Install Trusscore panels over the thermal barrier coating 

This approach ensures code compliance while maintaining the aesthetic and functional benefits of your Trusscore wall and ceiling system.