Chemical fire retardants
Chemical fire retardants help delay or prevent combustion, but there are potential health and environmental issues around the use and production of the chemicals, and the cost or possible harms of chemical fire retardants need to be weighed up against the benefits.
Burning combustion-modified foam
Chemical fire retardants can help delay or prevent combustion. In this sofa, chemical retardants have been added to create combustion-modified foam. This slows down the burning, as ignition of the foam is difficult.
Why do we need retardants?
Fire is unpredictable, can be very fast and can lead to flashover effects, and people often don’t get the time to get out.
Chemical fire retardants can be added to foams and fabrics (known as combustion-modified foams and fabrics) that are used in the production of furniture. Chemical fire retardants slow combustion and save lives by giving people the time they need to evacuate.
How chemical fire retardants work
Different chemicals delay combustion in different ways:
Some chemical fire retardants interrupt the chemical reaction in the gas phase of combustion (e.g. halon and phostrex).
Some chemical fire retardants break down the polymers in the solid phase of combustion so that they melt and flow away from the flame.
Other solid phase chemical fire retardants cause a layer of carbon char to form on a polymer surface. The carbon char layer is very difficult to burn.
Intumescents are materials that contain chemicals that cause swelling up behind the protective char layer, providing even more insulation.
Potential problems with chemical fire retardants
There is concern that the production of chemical fire retardants can result in risk to human health and the environment. Studies have shown that some toxic chemicals have been found in human tissue and in the environment where the chemicals are produced (they are not produced in New Zealand). There is concern about human contact during the production of the chemicals and over the disposal of waste products.
Slowing down fire
In this video clip, Associate Professor Charley Fleischmann from the University of Canterbury describes the work being done to slow down fire in furniture. This gives people time to get away from the fire.
Points of interest
What is better fire performance?
How are scientists slowing down fire?
What are chemical fire retardants? How do they work?
When used in furniture:
some of the chemicals are toxic and may be dangerous for small children who might suck on furniture
some scientists wonder if the chemicals will affect the performance (comfort) of the furniture
some scientists have expressed concern that fumes may be emitted from the retardant chemicals even without a fire
smoke from burning furniture is toxic, and some argue that chemical fire retardants may add to that toxicity
adding chemicals to furniture will make the furniture expensive. (People will have a choice between furniture with chemical fire retardants and without. The furniture without chemical fire retardants looks the same and is made of the same materials but is less expensive.)
Nature of Science
Once, scientists were only concerned with the science – for example, how to produce fire-retardant materials – but now they need to consider all the effects the production and use of these chemicals will have in society.
Making a decision
Scientists have to weigh up the benefits against the costs and possible harms of using combustion-modified foams and fabrics. The benefits include the possibility of saving lives and buildings through the use of chemical fire retardants, causing slower burning and difficult ignition.
Presently, New Zealand does import some combustion-modified foams, but it’s not a requirement for people to have them in their homes.
Aircraft seats
There is a requirement for all aircraft seats to be treated with chemical fire retardants but there is currently no regulation in New Zealand to have furniture treated with chemical fire retardants.
Seats used in aircraft are regulated in New Zealand and are treated with chemical fire retardants.
All furniture in the United Kingdom (UK) is regulated, both in homes and in workplaces.
There is an ongoing debate in the United States about the regulation of furniture. Many fire scientists and firefighters want furniture regulated, but furniture companies do not. They are afraid that the higher prices will stop people buying their furniture. Some people are concerned about possible health and environmental issues.
Related content
Fire engineers Charley Fleischmann and Mike Spearpoint are trying to slow how quickly flammable items like furniture burn, through the use of chemical fire retardants.
Research on Invasive weeds and wildfires is contributing to understanding how certain Low-flammability plants could help our homes survive bushfires.
Useful links
A CBS news item on the controversy over fire-retardant chemicals.
New Zealand Herald news story on the Call for fire tests on lethal furniture.
Read about how the petrochemical foams used in domestic furniture pose significant risks in a fire on the New Zealand government website Product Safety..
Download this pdf, Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home , a guide to UK regulations.
Visit the US Environmental Protection Agency webpage to find out about flame retardants used in flexible polyurethane foam.