Summary
• Pressure impregnated fire retardant treatments will last the life of the component.
• Arch’s Dricon has been endorsed by WPA testing.
• Wolman launched Firestop in the UK this year.
• Osmose is testing a range of products for the market.
There’s no doubt that the subject of fire protection stirs emotions – after all, it involves precious lives. It’s a fact that’s not lost on the handful of companies that make up the UK’s fire retardants (FR) market – and those companies which actually supply the treated material.
The main role of FR treatments is clear: to allow extra time for a building’s occupants to escape in a fire. However, smoke is one of the biggest killers when a fire takes hold, and therefore the reaction of the FR product in terms of smoke generation and toxicity is also a key factor to address. Any FR must be tried and tested in both its credentials and application to support confidence in its specification.
David Law, marketing services manager at Arch Timber Protection, said anyone looking for a fire retardant product should consider the type of application, its quality and environmental qualifications and any other accreditations.
“Industrially-applied treatments using proven vacuum pressure impregnation technology ensure that the treatment will last the useful service life of the component,” he said. “Such controlled application cannot be afforded with superficially applied coating products.”
Fire testing
The Wood Protection Association (WPA) has undertaken fire testing of industrially-treated FR samples, which have been exposed in a test environment for 21 years; the results confirmed that these products have retained their original ‘surface spread of flame’ FR classification. Arch’s Dricon was endorsed in this test.
Users should see whether ISO standards (9001 and 14001) are in place with the treater, and whether additional accreditations such as British Board of Agrément (BBA) or WPA approval are available. These ensure that the product has been rigorously and independently tested.
Thanks to a mixture of performance excellence and credentials, the FR sector continues to go from strength to strength, with many product manufacturers and specialist treaters reporting good levels of business.
“We are getting enquiries for HR Prof from all over the world,” said Chris Dilks, from Fire Retardant UK, which imports the water-based, organic treatment. “Demand is growing apace, even through the recession. More than anything, it is because there is growing awareness of the brand name and it’s being recognised by the building industry as a product that does what it says it does. It’s incredibly easy to apply and non-toxic.”
Neil Ryan, managing director at PTG Treatments, which uses Osmose’s FirePro, agrees. “This side of the business serves commercial and public sector construction, which does not appear to have been affected by the current economic climate. It is possible that we are still working on long-term construction projects and there may be a lag in the economic cycle due to this.”
With the introduction of the Euroclass system for construction products in terms of “reaction to fire” (EN 13501), the criteria for an FR treated commodity are becoming increasingly harmonised and recognised across Europe.
“European legislation has superseded the British Standards,” said Mr Ryan. “We treat to Euroclasses, which are similar, but not identical to the British Standards because they involve different test methods. We now offer Euroclass B or C, and if someone asks for a specification to a British Standard, which will continue to happen for some time to come, we will work with them and explain how the new European standards work.”
Arch Timber Protection has also already achieved Euroclass certification for commonly used timber species and sheet materials. “To achieve Euroclass certification for an FR product is a significant programme of work, requiring specific testing and results for both individual species and material thicknesses,” said David Law. “These tests need to be independently accredited by a body such as WarringtonFire, and ultimately determine the optimum retention of product for each timber.”
He believes that, going forward, the Euroclass classification system will provide major benefits for the specifier in terms of harmonised international fire standards. “It is imperative that new specifications take full account of the classification requirements, and include reference to timber species, material thickness and proposed exposure area,” said Mr Law. “In doing so, the project team can be wholly confident that only the most appropriate and thoroughly tested FR product will be used.”
New products
There are a number of new products on the market – and several apparently in the innovation pipeline. Wolman is offering a new fire retardant (high-pressure process) called Firestop, which, says the company, combines a good performance with aesthetic advantages (lower blooming effect). “We have had a good response in Europe after the market introduction and have launched in the UK this year,” said Peter Fitzsimons, Wolman/BASF account manager UK & Ireland.
Meanwhile, Osmose Europe’s marketing director Andy Hodge confirmed that the company is looking at – and testing – a range of products for the fire retardants market. “Demand is growing,” he said. “We’ve seen a growth in FR products in areas such as the cladding market, decking and local authority buildings; we are seeing an increase in requests for FR treated timber.
“This has led us to look for new products, to examine where we have gaps in our technology – and to try and fill them. It’s possible you will see something new from Osmose in the near future: of all those tested, it’s a product we have the most confidence in.”
Specifiers also need to be sure that FR treatments are aligned with the environmental credentials of using timber in buildings, and this is a key driver in the continuing popularity of FRs.
David Law said a further element to consider is that FR treatment does not restrict building designers in terms of what they can achieve from a creative viewpoint. “Quality FR products, like Arch’s Dricon and Non-Com Exterior, do not affect the aesthetics of timber, and therefore allow complete freedom in design, and flexibility in its ‘sculpting’ properties.
“Particularly for public buildings with high footfall, the importance of FR treatments and their credentials is highly regarded. With preparations for the London 2012 Olympics under way, FR specifications have been secured for a number of buildings in the new Olympic complex.”
