58 | Sector Focus: Preservatives & Fire Retardants
SUMMARY
■ For some, fire safety has been a barrier for building with timber
■ The industry needs an effective non-toxic fire retardant
■ There are five categories of flame retardants
■ Phosphorus flame retardants form the basis of Zeroignition’s portfolio
SUSTAINABLE SAFE AND
There is an urgent need to build sustainably, but how do we ensure all dwellings are safe and sustainable? asks Ian King, chief operating officer of fire retardant technology company, Zeroignition
Above: Ian King is COO of Zeroignition
There is an ever-growing demand within the construction industry for building materials that are both sustainable and cost-effective. Propelled by legislation forging the UK’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050, and the very real threat of irreversible climate change, the industry is being forced to closely consider the materials they use. Further, ESG factors (environmental, social and governance) in business now matter greatly and there is increasing pressure on companies to become more responsible and transparent about their environmental impact.
TTJ | May/June 2021 |
www.ttjonline.com
Concrete has ruled the roost as the most popular building material in the UK for several years. However, legislative changes, coupled with an increasing amount of education surrounding the construction industry’s impact on the environment means that traditional timber-framed construction is gaining popularity once again.
There is still significant uncertainty over what level of sustainable bio-energy could be available to the UK when we reach 2050, and part of the answer to this will be influenced by the level of timber construction at the time.
CURRENT BARRIERS According to the UK Housing: Fit for the future? report by the Climate Change Committee, there are several barriers surrounding timber construction. These include a lack of skills in the use of timber materials in construction, and the sheer amount of forward-planning that is needed to create a robust supply chain to facilitate the needs of the UK’s timber construction industry. Additionally, wood burns, and we also know fire is a devastating force. Its effects have been seen far too often for the impact of fire to be ignored. Fire safety is one reason why, in the past, timber has not been considered a realistic alternative to concrete or steel. However, proper engineering design, correct material choice and effective installation, coupled with a robust inspection regime, ensure that timber constructions can be as fire-safe as concrete and steel options. Furthermore, while it is a combustible material, timber can provide the necessary two-hour window required for fire protection due to its slow rate of charring. Safety can be further enhanced if you use timber that has been treated with a specialist fire retardant, which will provide the material with an invisible shield to help protect against fire.
Flame retardant products are made from materials that are chemically treated to be slow-burning or self-extinguishing when exposed to an open flame.
These products can be made from any material, but these materials must be treated
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