FIRE SAFETY
A third of UK bUsinesses Are fAiLing to test their fire ALArms As often As LegALLy reqUired
W
are becoming increasingly banned for use in many common applications because of their adverse side effects. Several of the halogenated substances present health hazards, the produced smokes are toxic, and waste is classified as hazardous, making it costly to dispose of.
Modern approach
New trends in adding flame retardant properties to composites are based on the use of non- halogenated substances such as aluminum trihydrate (ATH) and metal hydroxides, including magnesium and phosphorus-based compounds. ATH additives are now the most widely used non- halogenated flame retardants because, despite being less effective than halogens, they are far less toxic when they burn. They operate by releasing water molecules in an endothermic reaction during the combustion process. These water molecules quench the surface of the surrounding materials, providing flame retardancy and smoke suppression. Furthermore, unlike halogenated products, ATH additives do not give off toxic smoke when burned. The downside of ATH, being much less
effective in hampering the fire, is that higher quantities of it are needed to meet the increasingly stringent fire requirements in many applications. Very high filler loadings negatively affect mechanical performance because there is less room for reinforcing fibres, and also influence long term behaviour in difficult environments. Very high resin viscosities, changed reactivities, and important pultrusion pulling forces require narrow process windows
and tight process controls. Special consideration needs to be given to geometrical product details and the highest level of tooling quality is required to successfully produce such parts. Ultimately, when specifying composites for
applications where fire must be considered, a balance must be struck between the desired mechanical properties and meeting the relevant fire safety tests. While this might initially seem like a daunting prospect, this challenge can be overcome by working with a knowledgeable partner who understands all these considerations and can propose the most suitable solution available. This is particularly crucial in applications like
train transportation where fire requirements vary depending on whether the train will travel overground or underground and whether the composites will be used internally or externally. In Europe, trains have three hazard levels and, as we move up through them, the level of FST requirements increases. This is just one example where Exel
regularly hears from its clients that navigating all the necessary fire requirements and knowing what tests to apply can be extremely complicated. As FST demands will affect most other properties and have considerable effect on processing, they should be discussed in very early stages of each new enquiry. Exel Composites has the expertise and manufacturing capabilities to guide customers through it and produce the most suitable composite solution for a given application.
exel Composites
www.exelcomposites.com
ith employees and customers returning to workplaces and stores following the pandemic, new research by fire safety
specialist, JLA, has revealed that many companies are ill-equipped to deal with the growing risk of fires at their sites – posing huge risk to employee and customer safety. According to the nationally representative
survey of 250 business owners, over a third of businesses do not have suitable fire risk assessments in place and more than 80 per cent of businesses do not have written regulations against false fire alarms, and the risks they pose, within their company handbooks. Furthermore, almost 40 per cent of the
businesses surveyed have not given all of their staff training on the common causes of false alarms and how to mitigate the risks of these happening within their workplace. This was particularly prevalent in restaurants, bars and cafes, where this figure rises to 75 per cent suggesting that if businesses do not train their staff in fire prevention, the associated risks could be huge. In particular, damaged reputation, loss of revenue and a decrease in business efficiency, are all potential consequences if businesses and employees are not prepared to deal with the impact of a false fire alarm sounding. The research, carried out by JLA, as
part of its “False fire alarms” campaign, revealed a huge lack of business preparedness in mitigating the risks associated with false fire alarms.
TO BEST PREPARE FOR THESE RISKS, BUSINESSES SHOULD:
Ensure effective, regular maintenance of all fire alarm equipment;
Provide training to employees on how to prevent false alarms
Ensure employees know how to respond to a false fire alarm to minimise disruption to the business
JLA
jla.com
indUstriAL CompLiAnCe | mArCh/ApriL 2022 17
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