Quonsets
Curved steel arches don't take drywall without strapping and a lot of cutting. DC315 follows the curve.
Fireproofing / Coatings
DC315 thermal and ignition barrier in Edmonton
DC315 is a fire-rated paint for spray foam. We spray it over exposed foam in Quonsets, shops and barns so the foam can stay open without drywall.
Quonset, DC315 over foam
What it is
A fire-rated coating made for spray foam
DC315 is an intumescent coating from International Fireproof Technology Inc. that Aires sprays over exposed spray foam in Edmonton and across Alberta, so the foam meets thermal barrier and ignition barrier rules without drywall over it.
Building codes say foam plastic insulation has to be separated from occupied space. Drywall is the usual answer. In a Quonset with curved steel arches, or a machine shop with a 16 foot ceiling full of lights and heaters, hanging board can take longer than the insulation did. DC315 goes on with a sprayer instead.
It dries white, so a dark steel building ends up a lot brighter inside. That's the Quonset in the photo at the top of this page.
How it works
What intumescent means
The coating looks like thick paint until it gets hot.
Intumescent coatings swell when heated. In a fire, DC315 puffs up into a thick layer of char, and that char insulates the foam underneath from the heat. The foam behind it takes longer to reach the temperature where it starts to break down and burn.
That delay is what a thermal barrier is for. DC315 is listed as a 15-minute thermal barrier, which is the same job 1/2 inch gypsum board does in the code. It is also listed as an ignition barrier for spaces like some attics and crawlspaces where the lighter rule applies.
Product facts
What the listing covers
These come from the manufacturer's listing. Your inspector may ask to see it, and we can send it.
| Item | DC315 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | International Fireproof Technology Inc. |
| Type | Intumescent coating over spray polyurethane foam |
| Thermal barrier | 15-minute thermal barrier |
| Ignition barrier | Yes |
| Codes | IBC, IRC and the National Building Code of Canada |
| Listing | Intertek (Warnock Hersey) |
| Fire test | NFPA 286 room corner test |
| Application | Single coat, up to 24 mils wet film thickness |
| Formaldehyde | None |
DC315 or drywall
When a coating makes more sense than board
Drywall is cheap per sheet. The cost is in framing, hanging and finishing it in an awkward building.
Shops and garages
High ceilings, overhead doors, heaters and conduit everywhere. Spraying around them is faster than boarding around them.
Barns
Drywall in a barn gets kicked, chewed and wet. A coating bonded to the foam has no seams or edges to pull at.
Exposed ceilings
Warehouses and retail units where the owner wants the deck and foam left visible.
Drywall still wins in plenty of places. If the space is a basement or a finished room that needs a wall surface anyway, board is usually the cheaper route. We'll tell you which one we'd pick.
The process
How we spray DC315
Usually right after the foam, while the lift is still in the building.
Surface check
We make sure the foam is cured, clean and dry, and trim back any loose overspray. Dust and frost both get in the way of a good bond, so winter jobs need heat in the building.
Masking
Windows, doors, lights and anything else that shouldn't be white get covered.
Spraying
DC315 goes on in a single coat, at the thickness the listing calls for, up to 24 mils wet.
Wet film checks
We press a wet film gauge into the fresh coat as we go. If a spot reads thin, we hit it again before it dries.
Cure
The coating needs time and airflow to dry. We tell you when the space is ready to use and leave the job clean.
Foam and coating together
Foam and coating on the same quote
Most DC315 work we do is in buildings we've just insulated, so we price both on the same quote. That works for farm buildings on our agricultural spray foam page, shops and warehouses on our commercial spray foam page, and the closed cell foam that goes under the coating.
If your project has structural steel that needs a rating, that is a different product: see cementitious fireproofing. For the code background, start on our fireproofing page.
All of it follows our SECOR-verified safety process and carries our 1-year workmanship warranty.
Related services
FAQ
Questions we get asked
What is DC315?
DC315 is an intumescent coating made by International Fireproof Technology Inc. It is sprayed over spray foam and is listed as a 15-minute thermal barrier and as an ignition barrier, so foam can be left exposed where drywall would normally be required.
Does DC315 meet the National Building Code of Canada?
DC315 is listed with Intertek (Warnock Hersey) as meeting thermal barrier and ignition barrier requirements under the IBC, IRC and the National Building Code of Canada. Your local inspector still signs off on the building.
How thick does DC315 go on?
The listing for the foam and the use sets the thickness. DC315 can go on in a single coat up to 24 mils wet film thickness, and we check it with a wet film gauge while we spray.
Is DC315 cheaper than drywall?
It depends on the building. In a Quonset or a shop with a high, curved or cluttered ceiling, spraying is often simpler than framing and hanging board. In a plain basement wall, drywall can win. We'll price it honestly.
Is DC315 safe to use in a barn?
DC315 contains no formaldehyde. Ask us for the product data sheet if you have questions about animals or stored feed, and keep the building ventilated while it cures.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you're insulating and where. We'll book a walkthrough, measure it, and send you a written quote. Serving Edmonton, Calgary and across Alberta.
Call or text(780) 916-7131Request a quote