Why are Firefree Coatings so unique?
Firefree Coatings are unique because of their unmatched level of performance either as fire retardants or as fire resistants and, in some cases, both.
A fire retardant has the ability to slow down the spread of fire over a surface. The tests measuring this ability range from (i) the
ASTM E-84 (Class A rating) which measures a product's ability to slow down horizontal flame spread and smoke development ( Firefree Class A), to (ii) the more stringent room corner test (
UBC 26-3) which measures the ability to also prevent vertical fire spread and delay
flashover (
Firefree 22 and
Firefree88).
A fire resistant has the ability to resist fire penetration through commonly used wall and ceiling assemblies. This ability is measured by time ratings, often required by building codes. The test criteria is the
ASTM E-119 standard time/temperature curve and the ratings on assemblies are granted based on both the duration of the test (1 hour, 2 hours…) with temperatures up to 1260° Celsius (
Firefree88).
Firefree Coatings are the first and only coatings to pass the fire industry's most stringent tests for either fire retardancy and/or fire resistance. As a fire retardant, FF88 was the first coating to pass the industry's most severe tests (
UBC 26-3 /
UBC 8-2 room corner tests) for a wide variety of materials, showing the ability to prevent vertical flame spread/
flashover. As a fire resistant coating, FF88 has also passed the industry's most stringent test (
ASTM E-119) showing the ability to prevent fire penetration for up to two hours on a wide variety of materials. FF88 has been tested at accredited third party IAS fire testing laboratories, classified with Underwriters Laboratories (U/L) and approved by Factory Mutual (FM Global).
