The design of the building is key when it comes to fire safety. The beginning must be a different one and the isolation, if achieved, will be based on the design of the structural element in which it is integrated, and the time that elapses as the fire develops.
This causes the structure to remain stable for some time.įor this reason, polyurethane systems are never the origin of a fire. Polyurethane has the peculiarity that when it comes into contact with the flame, instead of melting, it carbonizes, protecting the core of the fire.
In many cases, it is heard that the origin of fires are plastic materials, like polyurethane, that are used in the isolation of the building, but this is certainly not true. What role does polyurethane play in the origin of a fire? If the fire reached such proportions that this protection would give way, the polyurethane systems, when dealing with a material of organic origin, burn, but with a particularity: polyurethane does not melt or drip like other plastics (for example polystyrene), but the surface coming into contact with the flame carbonizes and protects the core, thereby maintaining some structural stability for a certain period of time.
In addition, in order to avoid fire damage to the building structures, polyurethane systems are protected by other materials that are more resistant to fire, such as concrete, brick, plaster, mortar, etc. If it is directly affected by a fire, the fumes generated during combustion have a composition similar to that of other organic products used on a daily basis, such as wood, cork or cotton. Polyurethane is a material of organic origin and therefore combustible. What is the toxicity of polyurethane fumes? Contrary to what Euroclass classification indicated, the mineral fiber did not prevent the spread of fire, but the polyurethane system managed to stay below the required limit, thus, (moved to start of sentence) avoiding its propagation and contributing to its extinction.Īlso, in the "Fire Resistance of Wood Cladding Systems, using Polyurethane and Mineral Wool according to EN 1365-1" test, it was found that polyurethane systems are capable of responding to fire using the same materials, same fixations, the same U value (0.27) as mineral wool, but with 60% of the insulation thickness due to its lower thermal conductivity. It was the polyurethane constructive system that passed the Broof test (t2). However, in a recent study by ANPE and PU Europe which investigated the actual conditions of a fire on an insulated roof with mineral fiber (material with an A1 rating) and a polyurethane system (material with a B-s1 rating, D0). The polyurethane products reach between F and B-s1, d0 in the Euroclass classification. The wide range of insulation products manufactured with polyurethane systems not only complies with current energy efficiency regulations, but they also meet European fire resistance standards. What is the behaviour of polyurethane in case of fire?
#DIE IN A FIRE SYNTHESIA SERIES#
However, there are still those who question the fire behaviour of this insulating material.īelow, we offer a series of data and scientific studies that will put an end to these false myths surrounding the reaction of polyurethane systems in the event of a fire. Polyurethane systems are present in our lives in dozens of forms. We started a series of myths about polyurethane by talking about its behavior in the face of fire.