Covering a baseboard heater gap and fire hazard

fire-hazardheater

I noticed a mouse crawl up behind a baseboard heater. I unmounted the heater and found large holes in the wall. exposing styrofoam insulation.

is it a fire hazard to cover the holes with 1/4 inch galvanized mesh. the heater will touch the mesh and the mesh is close to the styrofoam.

I have also considered filling the gap with greatstuff fireblock foam, however I have the same concern with the heater being close to or touching the fireblock foam.

Would speckle with mesh beca good option?

Any advice is appreciated.enter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description here

Best Answer

I would not mount an electric baseboard heater on wire mesh. Baseboard heaters have UL listings for installation and I doubt wire mesh is acceptable.

That wire mesh could heat up and catch the drywall paper on fire (or any paper that falls behind the unit.) The heating element is held out (away from) from the metal baseboard heater enclosure for a reason.

I’d seal the openings with plaster. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it’s going to be covered.

Related Topic