How do Foams Perform under Fire Conditions? *

Abstract

The fire performance of foams does not, as often stated, solely depend on the chemical and physical properties of the type of material used. On the contrary, it is determined by many other factors including its form, any interactions with other materials used and the design of the finished product.

In order to obtain a realistic assessment of their fire hazard, it is of prime importance to test the fire performance of finished foam systems under normal operating conditions. Thus, several examples of large-scale fire tests for different foams as parts of roof coverings, external walls and as packaging materials are given. The results show that systems containing these foams do not present an unacceptable fire hazard.