Friday, October 4, 2013

Some Important Details About Fire Retardant Coatings

By Rhea Solomon


Fire retardant coatings are used in buildings and other surfaces to stop, control or slow down the rate of spread of flames. Fires keep on claiming property worth millions and lives of people in most parts of the world. This calls for people and the government to take measures that keep citizens safe from such a menace. One way is by meeting some set building standards to curb spread of fires.

Any material that has high potential of catching flames should be treated with a flame retardant substance. These include, but not limited to, plastics, textiles, wood and some metals. Of importance is to note that there are no completely incombustible substances in the market. What this kind of paint does is hinder flames from starting, by raising the threshold required to ignite or slow the rate of burning so that firefighters can take action

Prevention and limitation of spread of fires plays a key role in reducing damages and casualties as a result of an inferno. Most consumers do not know that some items they use are coated with the said paints to reduce chances of catching flames. Some of these include electronics and electrical appliances, like dryers, which can easily go into flames during use in case of an electricity fault.

When buying the paints, you need to realize that the flame retardants are not the same. This means each item that requires coating may have its suitable flame resistant paint. The physical nature and chemical composition of a product will determine the kind of coating used on it. This is because different products react differently to fire. Again, buyers should learn that these coatings are not interchangeable.

This makes it necessary to find out what material makes an item before looking for the right protective coat. You will need the help of your painting contractor during this process. They are knowledgeable of various building codes and other flame protection requirements. Any good coating should offer the desired protection without hindering or interfering with basic functioning of the item coated.

With most homes using many electrical appliances today, they are at high risk of fires. In this case, there is need to adopt effective protection procedures. Any home owner should make sure their construction contractors follow the set guidelines to reduce risks of flame breakouts. Buying flame resistant paintings will also of great help in such situations.

The chemical industry has developed various paints for use in different situations. Most building and construction materials, furnishings, transport mediums like trains, airplanes and automobiles form major areas where the paints are widely used. There could be an increase in demand for such chemical products as technology advances.

Any application is done after consultation with the home owner, architects, engineers and other specialists to ensure that painters attain the required standards. Find out from your local fire department what is required of you too. Today, it is greatly beneficial for people to use fire retardant coatings if they are to curb serious dangers posed by this hazard. Their effect to slow down ignition, prevent spread or stop flames is a great way to save lives and property either in a commercial or residential setup.




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