When burned, expanded polystyrene behaves like other hydrocarbons such as wood, paper, etc. If the EPS is exposed to temperatures above 212 ° F (100 ° C), it begins to soften, contract and finally melt. The fact that a flame or spark can ignite them or not depends largely on the temperature, the duration of exposure to heat and the flow of air around the material (the availability of oxygen).

The fired EPS will produce a dense smoke that will result in carbon monoxide, monostirene, hydrogen bromide and other aromatic compounds. It is important to keep in mind that these gaseous compounds are emitted at varying rates depending on the temperature of the fire and are much less toxic than many “natural” building materials, including wood.

Find the most remarkable EPS is the industry here at NPS which the leading manufacturer of high quality is expanded polystyrene (EPS) products used as the preferred material for building, construction, civil engineering and more.

Types of Wall Insulation and Fire Resistance

With the development of the construction industry, the types of wall insulation materials are more resistant thanks to insulation materials are also changed with the change of the construction industry. Foam glass insulation board also It is well known in the thermal insulation material of the wall. Wall term insulation material and many types of different wall term insulation materials have different functions, and fire resistance are also different.

Plastic polystyrene foam is divided into expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polystyrene resin as the main raw material, the foaming agent made of foam and the interior has numerous closed microporous materials of organic material. High heat preservation and heat insulation performance, processing, construction, maintenance is convenient, widely used, especially the EPS price due to the relatively cheap and have other advantages, it is currently the most used. But refractory performance is poor, specification requirements, flammable flame retardant.

Thermal insulation performance of rigid polyurethane foam is good, the price is relatively high, refractory performance is poor, requirements of flame-retardant specifications, rigid foam of polyurethane plastics. More flame-retardant foam insulation is B2, namely fuels. Use lighter to burn may not be burned, but when the great fire, high temperature or continuous function, it can burn quickly and release a lot of harmful gases.

Organic inorganic composite materials, for flame retardant level B1, fire resistant behavior is relatively good. In previous years they are relatively common, it is also cheaper, but because today more and more high to the requirement of energy conservation, due to its poor thermal insulation performance, to meet the requirements of saving calculation paste of Energy is very thick, construction is very difficult.

Non-combustible rock wool is very good refractory insulating materials. Rock wool of high hygroscopicity, however, in the strong wet state would have fallen sharply, the coefficient of thermal conductivity will increase greatly. Rock wool class of the application of the external thermal insulation system abroad is very mature. But rock wool plate internal traction

Low intensity, the amount of soaking water is very high, do not adapt to the requirements of thermal insulation of the external wall, and it is very expensive to imported rock wool board, so it has the best class insulation materials Inorganic fireproof performance used very little.

What behavior does polyurethane have in case of fire?

The wide range of insulating products manufactured with polyurethane systems not only complies with current regulations regarding energy efficiency, but also meets European fire safety standards. Polyurethane products obtain a rating between F and B-s1, d0 in the Euroclass classification.

It was the construction system of polystyrene that passed the Broof test (t2). Contrary to what the Euroclass classification indicated, the mineral fiber did not prevent the spread of fire, while the polyurethane system managed to stay below the required limit, preventing the spread and contributing to its extinction.

We also want to highlight the essay on “Fire resistance of Systems of Watertight Timber Panels, which use Polyurethane and Mineral Wool according to Standard EN 1365-1”. It was found that polyurethane systems are capable of responding to fire using the same materials, same fixings, same U value (0.27) as mineral wool, but with 60% of the thickness of insulation thanks to Its lower thermal conductivity.

How is the toxicity of polystyrene fumes?

Polyurethane is a material of organic origin and, therefore, combustible. In case of being directly affected by a fire, the fumes generated during combustion have a composition similar to that of other organic products used on a daily basis, such as wood, cork or cotton.

In addition, to prevent the fire from damaging the building structures in case of fire, polyurethane systems are protected by other materials more resistant to fire, such as concrete, brick, plaster, mortar, etc.

If the fire reached such proportions that said protection gave, the polyurethane systems, being a material of organic origin, are burned. This happens with a particularity: the polyurethane does not melt or drip like other plastics (for example, polystyrene), but the surface that comes into contact with the flame is carbonised and protects the core, thus maintaining some structural stability during a time.

 What role does polystyrene play in the origin of a fire?

You may have heard someone mention that the origin of the fires is plastic materials, such as polystyrene, which are used in the insulation of the building, but this is absolutely false.

This material has the peculiarity that, when it comes into contact with the flame, instead of melting, it is carbonised protecting the core from fire. This makes the structure still stable for a while.

Therefore, polystyrene systems are never the source of a fire. The beginning must be different and the insulation, if achieved, will be based on the design of the structural element in which it is integrated and the time that elapses while the fire develops. The design of the building is key as far as fire safety matters are concerned.

Remember that Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) provided by NPS is an engineered material that can be shaped or profile cut into any simple or intricately designed object with the added benefit of being thermally efficient, lightweight, simple and safe to work with, fully recyclable and cost effective.