Fire Performance of PVC Foam Board

What is Fire Performance?

Fire performance refers to how a material behaves when exposed to fire, including its ability to resist ignition, limit flame spread, and reduce smoke production. This property is crucial for ensuring safety in both residential and commercial settings. Materials with high fire performance ratings help prevent the rapid spread of flames, reduce smoke hazards, and maintain structural integrity during a fire, which is essential for protecting occupants and property.

Fire Resistance Ratings

PVC foam board is tested for various fire performance metrics, including flame spread and smoke development. These ratings are determined through standardized fire tests that evaluate how well the material resists catching fire, how quickly flames spread across its surface, and the amount of smoke produced during combustion. It's important to note that Boardway standard eco-friendly PVC foam boards are self-extinguishing once the flame source is removed, adding an extra layer of safety.

Flame Spread: This measures how quickly flames spread across the surface of the material. PVC foam board generally has a moderate flame spread rating, indicating it can resist immediate ignition but should be used with appropriate safety measures.

Smoke Development: This rating assesses the amount of smoke produced when the material burns. PVC foam board often demonstrates low to moderate smoke development, which helps in reducing visibility issues during a fire.

In fire tests, PVC foam board performs adequately, though its exact ratings can vary based on specific formulations and thicknesses. It is essential to choose PVC foam board products that comply with relevant safety standards to ensure effective fire performance.

Coloured Pvc Foam Board For Basement Walls

Fire Retardant Additives

To enhance the fire performance of PVC foam board, manufacturers often incorporate fire retardant additives. These additives improve the material's resistance to ignition and slow down the rate of flame spread. At Boardway, our flame-retardant-grade PVC foam boards are engineered to meet the stringent ASTM E84-18b standard, achieving a Class A rating. This means our boards have a Flame-Spread Index (FSI) between 0-25 and a Smoke-Developed Index (SDI) between 0-450.

Role of Additives: Fire retardant additives work by promoting the formation of a protective char layer on the material's surface when exposed to high temperatures. This char layer acts as a barrier, slowing down the spread of flames and reducing the material's flammability.

Common Additives: Examples of fire retardant additives used in PVC foam board include brominated compounds, phosphorus-based chemicals, and inorganic fillers. These additives help improve the board's fire resistance without compromising its other properties, such as durability and flexibility.

By integrating these fire retardant additives, Boardway ensures that its PVC foam board products not only meet but exceed fire safety standards, providing peace of mind and reliability for various applications.