NEWS
PIN smoke suppressant for intumescents
The mineral synergist, zirconium nitride, reduced smoke production by 40% and improved performance of a PIN APP-melamine epoxy intumescent fire coating for steel.
READ MOREMaryland State, USA
Maryland State, USA, has enacted Bill SB0447 banning the sale of mattresses, upholstered furniture or children’s products containing > 0.1% by mass “flame-retardant chemicals”, defined as intended to resist or inhibit fire and containing halogens, carbon plus phosphorus, carbon plus nitrogen or being nanoscale.
READ MORENGO opposes chemical plastics recycling
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives has published a 35 page document arguing against chemicals plastics recycling, claiming that there is a lack of data showing viability, environmental challenges (possible toxic emissions or waste streams) and negative energy and carbon balance.
READ MORECefic highlights potential of chemical recycling
The European Chemical Council, Cefic, considers that chemical recycling of plastic waste (to produce new chemicals and plastics) can contribute to the circular economy, in complement to mechanical and dissolution recycling of plastics.
READ MOREOrganic contaminants released in fires
Five full-scale fire tests in furnished rooms show that levels of PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) and derivates of brominated and phosphorus flame retardants in fire gases and soot depend on the intensity of fire and to some extent on fire extinguishing method.
READ MOREOrganophosphate esters and birth outcomes
A study of 90 women* found no significant correlation between social and environmental exposure factors (questionnaire) and urinary organophosphate ester (OPE) metabolites.
READ MOREEU new EU Circular Economy Action Plan
Five of the seven targeted product value chains in the new Plan concern flame retardants and fire safety: electronics and infor-mation and communication technology (ICT), batteries and vehicles, plastics, textiles (EU strategy for 2021) and construction.
READ MOREpinfa input to EU textile BREF update
pinfa has proposed, through Cefic, improvements to the textile industry BREF including integration of PIN FRs into fibres and updates on alternative assessments.
READ MORENIST relaunches standard testing cigarette
The original 2010 production of SRM 1196 testing cigarettes lasted less long than expected because of increasing demand for fire testing
READ MOREUS ICC standards process questioned
A vote on amendments to the International Construction Code reversing positions in committee and hearings is casting doubt on the standards process.
READ MOREGrenfell Tower inquiry report published
The rapid spread of the tragic fire from its start in a fridge-freezer was allowed by windows, and by cladding which was not con-form to fire safety regulations.
READ MOREFurniture regulations increase escape time
Full scale fire tests on 34 sofas purchased in different EU coun-tries show that strict national furniture fire safety regulations mean increased escape time
READ MOREFire testing solar PV panels
Efectis has developed a new fire test for photovoltaic panels to take into account mounting and other construction materials
READ MORE“consequence of extreme combustibility”
The US National Fire Protection Association says one in eleven upholstered furniture fires leads to a death, and that the death rates per furniture fire has nearly doubled since the 1980’s.
READ MOREEuropean Fire Safety Action Plan
European Fire Safety Alliance (EurFSA) has published a ten-point “action plan” for fire safety, based on outcomes of the 2019 European Fire Safety Week.
READ MOREHP using recycled PIN FR plastics
Hewlett Packard has objectives to phase out brominated flame retardants and to use 30% recycled plastics. Phosphorus based PIN FRs provide the solution.
READ MORETFP PIN FR fibres deliver UCC fire performance
Valmont Utility has chosen TFP’s non-halogenated fire protection nonwovens, enabling new composite structure poles to resist 1150°
READ MORESpecial silica FR synergist
Biesterfeld is now distributing Elkem’s low specific surface area silica, as a performance synergist or partial filler replacement, for flame retardant rubbers.
READ MOREHFFR cable compound for fire performance
Borealis and Borouge new halogen-free flame retardant cable jacket-ing makes it possible to achieve high CPR fire rating including “d0” – no flaming droplets.
READ MOREIron – P – N – silicone PIN FR synergy
A polymeric N-P-siloxane PIN FR with iron oxide achieved UL94-V1 (3 mm) at a combined loading of 2% in PET. Poly(N,N dimethylene phosphate aminopropyl siloxane) (PDPSI) was tested with F2O3 in PET, with five different combinations of total load 2% (from 0% to 2% PDPSI) and compared to neat PET.
READ MORETannic acid as reactive intumescent PIN FR
Tannic acid is found in tree bark and other plant materials and can be recovered from bio-based industry waste streams.
READ MORENew melamine phosphate PIN FR
A melamine salt of pentaerythritol phosphate showed to be an effective PIN FR in polypropylene, with less toxic fire gases than neat PP.
READ MOREZinc – wood nanocrystals
Zinc oxide coated cellulose nanocrystals, sourced from wood, were tested in 4mm HDPE sheets. Zinc oxide is widely used in for example sunscreens.
READ MOREPIN FRs in recycled plant waste insulation
Mineral PIN FRs prove effective to improve fire safety of insulation boards made from non-reusable plant fibre wastes.
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