Flame-retardant or Fire-resistant Tapes
Protecting people and components from fire and smoke is crucial in many automotive, aerospace, building and construction, marine or transport applications and there are special solutions available. But it can be complex to differentiate products that are fire-retardant, fire-resistant, flame-retardant or flame-resistant!
These terms are commonly referred to as “FR”, and though often thought of as synonyms, it’s important to know the difference — especially when selecting fire protective materials or to meet specific regulations. To avoid burning your fingers in selecting the wrong materials, find out more about the main differences between flame-retardance and fire-resistance and which one fits your needs best.
Every child knows what fire is. It is hot, bright, can be good for cooking but also bad if we burn ourselves on it. But what is it exactly and where is the difference between fire and flame?
Fire is defined as a rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light while flame is the hot zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion. Both are safety considerations within a given application but to what degree depends on environmental, consumer and market factors.
As it is important to protect from fire and flames, these terms will be used interchangeably in the following where we’re solely focusing on the differences between Resistance and Retardance.
The highest priority in fire safety is that fire cannot occur in the first place. Therefore, flame-retardant materials, like our complete range of UL510 rated tapes, are designed to prevent ignition. Special ingredients combined with highly resistant substances allow these materials to withstand high temperatures without catching fire.
But when overheated, they can nevertheless start to burn. Even in case they catch fire, flame-retardant materials are designed to slow down the flame spread rate and even enable small fires to self-extinguish.
Advanced flame-retardant solutions like tapes designed for demanding aerospace or automotive applications provide low outgassing with low toxicity, resulting in cleaner white smoke when ignited to protect people even better.
Time is of the essence in order to evacuate in the event of a fire or to be able to take action to extinguish. To prevent fire from spreading or extend the time until fire can break through, fire-resistant materials, like our Norseal® FS1000 intumescent, airtight, watertight and resilient sealing foams and tapes, work by creating a barrier against fire.
When exposed to fire, special ingredients and designs form a protective char layer. This barrier safeguards against heat, flame and smoke and increases the time before a fire can penetrate through. This char layer works differently depending on its material and the environment but in general, fire-resistant materials are great to prevent structures or components from collapsing.
The time limit given to fire-resistant materials — such as 30-, 60-, or 90-minute resistance — doesn’t define the length of time they resist fire, but it is how long it takes for the material to fail and thus let fire pass through the barrier.
Flame-retardant solutions reduce the chance of ignition, slow down the rate at which a fire can spread in case they catch fire and are therefore the first choice to prevent fires from starting.
If you are looking for an insulating barrier to fire and smoke that protects various structures and components to maintain their integrity for longer, fire-resistant materials are the ideal choice. A combination of flame-retardant and fire-resistant materials can offer optimal protection especially in critical applications.