pinfa-NA’s 12th lunch-and-learn webinar, on flame retardant wood, with timber expert Tim Locke, attracted 100 registrants. He explained that PIN chemicals have been used to protect wood from fire since the nineteenth century (e.g. Gay-Lussac ammonium phosphates and borates, 1821). A wide range of proprietary FRs is today available, enabling achievement of specific building code fire performance specifications with different wood species. Most are water born, colourless and are pressure / vacuum impregnated into timber for durable fire protection. Specifications can include non-corrosion (of steel fasteners, nails or screws) and combined FR – preservative action. Challenges are to minimise impacts on the timber’s mechanical and aesthetic properties. Wood FRs work by releasing carbon dioxide and water which dilute and quench fire, and by enhancing the natural capacity of wood to produce a fire-protective char layer and by strengthening this layer. FRs applied to wood surface, such as fire protective paints or coatings, including intumescent coatings, are not classified as “FR wood” in US building codes. Tim Locke identified several trends expected to drive demand for wood flame retardants: increasing use of wood in construction for ‘green’ building objectives; denser urban building so higher residential buildings with higher fire standards; Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI) fire safety requirements; and the development of thermally modified wood (to improve weathering) which also requires FRs for fire safety.
Watch online free, pinfa-NA’s 12th L&L (lunch and learn) free webinar. Wednesday, September 25, 2024, one hour. View all pinfa-NA L&L webinars (free) at: https://www.pinfa-na.org/presented-webinars