Flame retardants provide an important layer of fire protection by helping to prevent or slow the spread of fire. They inhibit or suppress the combustion process, reduce the amount of heat released from a fire, and limit the potential for a fire to spread. Additionally, flame retardants can decrease the amount of smoke produced by a fire.
In today’s environment, with the large volume of electrical and electronic equipment in buildings and the increasing amounts of combustible materials in homes and offices, the use of flame retardants is essential. They offer occupants additional life-saving time to escape and provide firefighters more time to respond, safeguarding against property damage and loss from fire or water used to extinguish the flames.
Benefits of Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are a crucial component in the overall “toolbox” of fire safety measures, helping to reduce fire risk and meet fire safety standards. They offer an important layer of fire protection by:
- Preventing and delaying ignition
- Slowing the combustion process
- Making materials self-extinguishing
These benefits help stop small ignition events from turning into larger fires. Flame retardants not only reduce the risk of a fire starting but also minimize the risk of a fire spreading.
Brominated Flame Retardants
Bromine, like chlorine, fluorine, and iodine, is a halogen. Found in natural salts, bromine is a common element used in flame retardants due to its unique chemical interaction with the combustion process. A relatively small amount of bromine can achieve significant fire resistance, making it highly efficient.
Brominated flame retardants are used to protect a wide variety of products, adding an extra layer of fire safety.
Types of Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are derived from naturally sourced elements and incorporated into materials such as plastics, textiles, foams, and paints. They can be either liquids or solids and are classified into two main types:
- Reactive Flame Retardants: Incorporated into the polymer or material through a chemical reaction, becoming a permanent part of the material itself.
- Additive Flame Retardants: Physically mixed into and encased by the material they are designed to protect.
The Cost of Fire
The financial impact of fires is significant. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the total cost of fire in 2014 was $328.5 billion, representing 1.9% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Over the period from 1980 to 2014, this cost increased by 50.3%.1
Preventing injury or loss of life is the most crucial aspect of fire safety. However, the costs extend beyond physical well-being. Property loss can be devastating, with priceless and irreplaceable items such as photos and family heirlooms often lost in fires. The financial strain from property loss, business interruption, retail costs, and rebuilding expenses can be overwhelming and deeply impactful.
Scientific Insights on Flame Retardants
A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), released in May 2019, rejected a single class approach to assessing the potential hazards of organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs). The findings confirm what scientists, regulators, and other authoritative bodies have already determined: it is not scientifically accurate or appropriate to make broad conclusions or impose a one-size-fits-all regulatory approach for OFRs.
