Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I went to ikea today and found that their PAX line of customizable shelves come in two sizes that fit my planned hatchling and adult tubs perfectly size wise.

The materials are listed as particle board covered with melamine for most of the rack, which I have been recommended by people here as being more fire safe, HOWEVER:

1) The back board is listed as "Fiberboard". I have never heard of this and since I plan to stick the flexwatt on the back panel, would like to know if this is safe. If "fiberboard" is not a fire safe material, do I need to replace it with another board? Or can I simply throw away the back wall, tack the flexwatt to the top and bottom shelves vertically with no board behind it and place it near the wall of the room?

2) The horzontal shelves are particle board coated with melamine foil. Unfortunately, the melamine is only over the top, bottom and front edge of each shelf (i.e., the visible parts when built as they recommend). That is, the back (where it touches the back board), and sides (where it touches the side boards) of each shelf is exposed particle board. Is this ok?

3)The height of the whole rack is 6.5 feet. Let's say I use 6 feet of it, with 6 inches on the bottom space. Does 11 inch flexwatt available in strips long enough for that, and is it any less safe to run at that length? Or should I separate it into two 3 feet strips is better?

Someone's gotta know at least this part... Is fiberboard safe with flexwatt?

Yes.. if you make sure the temperature of the fiberboard/Flexwatt setup is below what it takes to ignite it. I think as long as you are below 100 deg F you are well clear of danger. The ignition point is alot higher, but I forgot what it is. I have had 100 deg F temps on particleboard and pegboard with no issues.

BTW, that vinyl-coated pegboard can make a nice back for your setup. I put Flexwatt on it with no issues but keep the temp reasonable as stated above.

1) The back board is listed as "Fiberboard". I have never heard of this and since I plan to stick the flexwatt on the back panel, would like to know if this is safe. If "fiberboard" is not a fire safe material, do I need to replace it with another board? Or can I simply throw away the back wall, tack the flexwatt to the top and bottom shelves vertically with no board behind it and place it near the wall of the room?

Fiberboard is likely a fire-rated material. It's just another form of particle board. Commonly used in Europe.

But it's not problem not using the back but you might want to reinforce it somehow. You could then cover the back with Reflectix once the flexwatt is installed. Reflectix is fire-rated.

2) The horzontal shelves are particle board coated with melamine foil. Unfortunately, the melamine is only over the top, bottom and front edge of each shelf (i.e., the visible parts when built as they recommend). That is, the back (where it touches the back board), and sides (where it touches the side boards) of each shelf is exposed particle board. Is this ok?

I'm not sure if I understand. IMO, the most important thing is that the underside of each shelf is covered with melamine. In other words, the entire area where the open top of the tub will be exposed to is melamine. It's more cleanable and less likely to provide surface area for microbrial growth.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)