Just finished my rough in framing/wiring/plumbing inspection. All went well, but the inspector told me I needed to install a vapor barrier that is rated for 90 degree temperatures around my recessed can lights. I was planning on using 6 mil poly but from what I can see on the box, there is no temperature rating.
Have any of you run into this before? What type of vapor barrier would be rated for these temps? What could I use just around the can lights and then keep the 6 mil poly elsewhere?
upnorthframer
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!!!”
Replies
Sheetrock with vapor-retarding latex paint
I should have mentioned that I'm using 3/4" t & G pine on the ceiling.
upnorthframer
"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!!!"
Oh. I like to install wood over sheetrock for the fire and vapor protection, but I know most people wouldn't bother. Maybe you could make coil stock "gaskets," 24" x 24" to put around the lights, and tape your VB to that?
What a pain!!
Seen literally hundreds if not thousands with the VB taped right up to the flange.
90 degrees. Is that like Fahrenheit?
I left plenty of poly in the hot sun with no problem.
Can you call the BI on it or get an explanation?
is your inspector referring to the pre formed plastic vapor barrier boxes used around electrical outlets?
(I would assume that's 90C, not 90F.)
Are the lights insulation-contact rated? If not you need to box them in anyway. (And if they are IC rated one wonders if the 90C requirement is valid.)
The can lites are IC rated. He's making it sound like (and claimed he's seen it before) the heat from the light bulb will make the poly melt, thus deteriorating the VB and in turn have all of the negative effects of not having a proper VB. I'm baffeled as I have not had this come up before. I thought about sheetrocking the ceiling first, but he stated that the 3/4" pine would provide a 20 min firewall which is all that is required in wisconsin. Coil stock might be the easiest way to go??? Anybody else run into this??
upnorthframer
"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!!!"