Tyvek Housewrap Instead of Plastic Sheeting

[Robert.Morris@DOEGJPO.COM (Robert Morris)]

     Here's an operational tip for building a temporary contamination 
     barrier or containment structure: use Tyvek Housewrap instead of 
     plastic sheeting.
     
     We recently completed a project where high surface contamination was 
     expected in an area adjacent to a confined space occupied by workers.  
     The walls outside the confined space needed to be wrapped to prevent 
     major decon problems.  I was uncomfortable using plastic sheeting 
     because of increased fire and smoke loading, and limited personnel 
     egress.  
     
     Just an aside:  In case you hadn't thought about it, traditional sheet 
     polyethylene is approximately like solid gasoline  ;)
     
     Based on my concerns, I specified wall coverings of sheet plastic with 
     low values for "smoke developed value" and "flame spread index."  (See 
     ASTM-84, "Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of 
     Building Materials.") The architect assured me such plastics were 
     available, but the maintenance coordinator told me that in real life 
     he could not get that kind of material.  He thought about it a while, 
     went to the hardware store and came back with a big role of Tyvek 
     Housewrap.  It cost about the same as polyethylene sheeting. 
     
     Tyvek Housewrap has been widely used for the past 15 years as a 
     component in external walls of new houses.  DuPont specifications show 
     a flame spread index of 0 and smoke developed value of 25 (on scales 
     where inorganic reinforced cement board is 0 and red oak flooring is 
     100).   It is strong, UV resistant, easy to handle, and tape sticks to 
     it.  Our waste disposal group was confident that the housewrap would 
     meet waste acceptance criteria.  All in all it is a very good material 
     and it worked well.  
     
     Bob Morris, CHP, CIH
     WASTREN-Grand Junction
     970-248-6704
     rmorris@gjpomail.doegjpo.com