NEWS
Global insurer flags warehouse fire problem
Zurich in the UK points to a “dramatic spike” in warehouse fires and in North America flags severe warehouse fire risks. Demand for large warehouses has increased fast with e-commerce, with taller buildings and more densely stored goods.
READ MOREExtension lead blamed for fatal fire
Ten dead in China apartment building fire, Urumqi, Xinjiang, where electrical cable fire is stated to have ignited bedding.
READ MOREUK fire response times continue to worsen
Primary fire response times in the UK have increased by nearly a minute over the last decade, to nearly nine minutes. This is the time between a call being made and fire services arriving at a fire, f...
READ MORE254 000 fires in France in 2021
France’s fire services were called to over 254 000 fires in 2021, of which around 80 000 in buildings (+7% from 2020) and around 45 000 fires in vehicles (the remainder in vegetation or other).
READ MOREAnalysis of UK fire fatality statistics
Nearly 300 victims die each year in UK fires, with nearly 8 000 injuries. Old age, smoking and heating devices are key factors.
READ MOREEU Firestat project report
Report underlines importance of fire statistics to define policies to reduce fire risks and proposes standards for data. The Firestat project was requested by the European Parliament and engaged by th...
READ MOREAdvances in polyurethane fire safety are PIN
A review of flame retardants for rigid and flexible polyurethane (PU) foams shows that progress is centred on PIN solutions.
READ MOREXeriant non-halogenated fire safety
Aerospace specialist Xeriant has developed a low-toxicity, low-smoke PIN FR for textiles, constructions and polymers.
READ MOREPIN FR systems: high rate of development
Compounding World’s annual review of flame retardants notes high interest and development of all types of PIN FR systems.
READ MOREPolymeric phosphorus sulphur PIN FR
Researchers tested a sulphur polyphosphonate PIN flame retardant in PET achieving UL 94 V-0 (3.2 mm) at 8% loading but with dripping.
READ MOREPIN functionalised mineral FRs for epoxy
Magnesium hydroxide (MDH) treated with polydopamine and metal ions showed improved fire performance effect in epoxy.
READ MOREPhytic acid, melamine, peanut shell PIN FR
Biobased PIN flame retardant reduces heat and smoke release from epoxy by over one third. Waste peanut shells were pyrolysed at 700°C, to produce biochar, which was then combined with phytic acid (a natural phosphorus rich molecule widely present in plant seeds) and melamine (a nitrogen compound).
READ MOREPIN FRs act as indoor air improver
Mineral nitrogen FR flame retardants in wood function as indoor air purifier, removing oxygen ions. The natural mineral tourmaline (an acyclic silicate containing metals such as Na, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Al, Li) and KH550 (a silane: 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane) were vacuum impregnated into balsa wood.
READ MOREPhosphorus FRs and smoke toxicity.
Lab tests of six aryl phosphate FRs in PC/ABS show reduced fire hazard but increased smoke emission and fire gas toxicity. Six different aryl phosphate PIN FRs (TPP, CDP, RDP, BTPP, BDP and Sol-DP) were tested at 10% w/w loading in 8:1 PC/ABS, with also PTFE anti-drip agent.
READ MOREReview article by over 40 scientists suggests that chemical exposure increases susceptibility to obesity.
Chemicals cited include phthalates, bisphenols, PFAS, pesticides, tributyltins, parabens and brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs).
READ MORE17th Fire Resistance in Plastics Conference 2022
This Special Issue of the pinfa Newsletter summarises the 17th Fire Resistance in Plastics Conference 2022 (AMI FRiP) that has taken place in Cologne on 28-30 November 2022.
READ MORERegulatory and market perspectives
Adrian Beard (pinfa) summarised policy and stakeholder trends impacting flame retardant chemical selection in Europe and in North America.
READ MOREDelivering fire safety for end-use applications
Patricia Lamouche, Hager Group - Flame retardants are essential for Hager to ensure fire safety and to respect applicable product standards.
READ MOREFRs for specialist cables, films, coatings
Markus Kemmler, Kemmler Consulting - Cable producers today often try to meet, with the same non-halogenated product, the fire test requirements of Europe, China and the USA.
READ MOREIndustry PIN FR innovations
Franck Gyppaz, Nexans, underlined the importance of cables for fire safety and presented a new mineral PIN flame retardant solution.
READ MOREFRs for speciality materials
Jean-Jacques Flat, Arkema - Arkema is looking for sustainable FR solutions with positive LCA, including bio-based, to ensure fire safety whilst maintaining material performance.
READ MORECompounding to material requirements
Giulia Spezzati, Avient - Avient is responding to customers’ wishes to move 100% halogen-free and is developing new PIN FR solutions to combine this with performance.
READ MOREResearch into PIN FRs
Bernhard Schartel, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM), Germany discussed durability of non-halogenated flame retardancy in E&E plastics.
READ MOREFire Resistance in Plastics (Europe)
The leading European conference on flame retardants comes back to Cologne for 2023, covering flame retardant materials, applications and testing.
READ MORE