The Synergy of Fire Protection and Weather Resistance
Although achieving the B-s1, d0 fire reactivity class, which ensures the fire safety of materials and low smoke emission, is a critical aspect of fire retardants, the real test of their effectiveness and practical application is their resistance to harsh weather conditions and moisture. Typically, after drying, fire retardant agents can dissolve back into water, making it easy for rain to wash them out of wood.
Achieving weather resistance and solving the leaching issues of fire retardants from wood is arguably the most crucial aspect of developing modern fire retardants for wood. Both factors determine not only the initial usability of the material but also its long-term durability and functionality. Many fire retardants, which might work under laboratory conditions, may not retain their fire protection properties in the real world when exposed to rain, high humidity, UV, and other environmental factors.
Traditionally, various binders are used to achieve weather resistance in fire retardant treatments, forming a protective layer on the wood that helps reduce moisture absorption and enhance the wood's resistance to various weather conditions. While such binders can improve the moisture resistance of wood, they have a significant drawback: they affect the fire resistance properties of the wood, and the wood no longer meets the B-s1, d0 fire resistance class.
This compromise casts doubt on the effectiveness of many fire retardants, especially in outdoor conditions where resistance to extreme temperatures and moisture is crucial. Additionally, preventing leaching is important indoors, as fire retardant agents like fire retardant salts are generally hygroscopic, and fluctuations in air humidity can cause the movement of fire retardant agents within the wood. This makes the wood vulnerable to fire and, as a visual problem, the wood surface can become unsightly and slimy as the fire retardant salts come to the surface. Fire safety specialists and product developers are therefore forced to look for innovative solutions that can maintain both weather resistance and fire resistance without compromising each other.
Unlike conventional solutions, we at Solid Protect have developed a fire retardant that uses novel chemical polymerization technology to ensure excellent weather resistance without sacrificing fire protection properties, and rather enhancing them. At Solid Protect, we have worked to ensure that SPFR100 is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, providing a fire protection solution that is enduring and does not have a negative impact on the environment.
In summary, we have managed to combine fire safety and weather resistance in the development of our fire retardant through unique polymerization technology, offering long-lasting protection for wood. We continue to engage in ongoing research and development at Solid Protect to remain at the forefront of the fire safety field.
