Hello everyone,
I converted a former music room into an IT room. That means servers, UPS, switches, and similar devices are now located there. Since I used it as a music room before, it is lined with foam panels. Behind the foam are very old wooden boards. Although this room is equipped with a smoke detector, I tested how quickly foam burns. It takes less than 2 minutes to burn a piece measuring 10 x 10 x 8 cm (4 x 4 x 3 inches). Now I want to remove the foam and replace it with something non-flammable. What would you recommend? In an emergency, it should be able to withstand fire for about 10 minutes if a device catches fire. Since I am an apprentice electrician, I have already worked a lot with plasterboard and Fermacell. Are these suitable? And the most important question: with my apprentice salary, it needs to be very inexpensive. What is the cheapest option?
I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance. Märsu
I converted a former music room into an IT room. That means servers, UPS, switches, and similar devices are now located there. Since I used it as a music room before, it is lined with foam panels. Behind the foam are very old wooden boards. Although this room is equipped with a smoke detector, I tested how quickly foam burns. It takes less than 2 minutes to burn a piece measuring 10 x 10 x 8 cm (4 x 4 x 3 inches). Now I want to remove the foam and replace it with something non-flammable. What would you recommend? In an emergency, it should be able to withstand fire for about 10 minutes if a device catches fire. Since I am an apprentice electrician, I have already worked a lot with plasterboard and Fermacell. Are these suitable? And the most important question: with my apprentice salary, it needs to be very inexpensive. What is the cheapest option?
I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance. Märsu
M
MODERATOR8 Oct 2009 22:53Hello Märsu,
There are special fire protection boards designed for this purpose. If those are too expensive, I would recommend Fermacell; for common DIY constructions, the fire resistance duration would be about 30 minutes.
For insulation, I would use mineral wool or rock wool, as it is non-combustible.
Technical information about the fire behavior and installation of Fermacell can be found online.
There are special fire protection boards designed for this purpose. If those are too expensive, I would recommend Fermacell; for common DIY constructions, the fire resistance duration would be about 30 minutes.
For insulation, I would use mineral wool or rock wool, as it is non-combustible.
Technical information about the fire behavior and installation of Fermacell can be found online.
Hello
Thank you very much. I already purchased 10mm (0.4 inches) Fermacell boards earlier this week. Because of my profession, I have had a lot of experience with Fermacell, for example with recessed lighting installation and so on. So I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to use Fermacell. I had initially considered gypsum fiberboards, but as far as I know, Fermacell is easier to work with. Thanks anyway!
Regards, Märsu
Thank you very much. I already purchased 10mm (0.4 inches) Fermacell boards earlier this week. Because of my profession, I have had a lot of experience with Fermacell, for example with recessed lighting installation and so on. So I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to use Fermacell. I had initially considered gypsum fiberboards, but as far as I know, Fermacell is easier to work with. Thanks anyway!
Regards, Märsu
M
MODERATOR9 Oct 2009 01:15Hello again,
Fermacell boards are gypsum fiber boards. The other boards are called drywall panels, which consist of a gypsum core between two layers of paper; gypsum fiber boards are made of cellulose fibers in gypsum.
Drywall panels do not provide sufficient fire protection (there are special fire-resistant boards available for this purpose).
Fermacell boards are gypsum fiber boards. The other boards are called drywall panels, which consist of a gypsum core between two layers of paper; gypsum fiber boards are made of cellulose fibers in gypsum.
Drywall panels do not provide sufficient fire protection (there are special fire-resistant boards available for this purpose).
M
MODERATOR23 Apr 2012 11:24Yes, gypsum fiber boards do provide adequate fire protection under "normal" conditions, offering a fire resistance duration of at least 30 minutes. For firewall applications and other areas requiring higher fire safety, there are special fire-rated boards available.
It is the conventional gypsum plasterboard that does not offer fire protection.
To clarify:
Cross-section cardboard-gypsum-cardboard = gypsum plasterboard
Gypsum board without cardboard facing but with embedded fibers = gypsum fiber board
It is the conventional gypsum plasterboard that does not offer fire protection.
To clarify:
Cross-section cardboard-gypsum-cardboard = gypsum plasterboard
Gypsum board without cardboard facing but with embedded fibers = gypsum fiber board