Fireproofing in terms of finish

Fireproofing is the process by which wood is treated with substances that slow down the spread of fire (the term used for such products is more accurately used in English - fire retardants). In recent times, these materials and methods of treating wood have been continuously developed and have achieved remarkable performance. Thus, it is possible to obtain, by impregnation in autoclaves under pressure, wood with a very high resistance to burning. This wood is primarily intended for construction.

When the requirements are not so high, the wood can be impregnated with special solutions before or after installation. These are aqueous solutions which penetrate as deeply as possible into the wood, thus increasing its fire resistance. They can be applied by brushing or spraying in the recommended quantity according to the application instructions. Such products are also manufactured in Romania, and are officially accredited by the Romanian Fire Department.

Sometimes fire protection requirements are limited only to the finishing system applied to the wood.In the case of wood stains, the problem is not very complicated because, even if solvent-based stains are used, the thinner evaporates completely and the danger is removed after drying. Not so with primers and varnishes. They burn and can even intensify the burning. This is why fire retardants should be used when finishing wood or furniture for public buildings.

These products can be both waterborne and solvent-based. To be effective, they do not have to be applied by themselves. The flame retardant system must always be accompanied by a technology indicating the quantities to be applied, the number of coats, drying times, etc., which must be strictly observed. Accreditation of flame retardants is done as a system and not as individual products. In other words, in order to achieve a retardation of the spread of fire, the products must be applied strictly in the quantity and with the application indications described in the approved system.

The material consumption for a fire-retardant finish should be 450-500 g/sqm. A smaller quantity will not produce the flame retardant effect and a larger quantity will increase the risk of the film cracking due to the thickness and thus rendering the treatment unnecessary.

Manufacturers of these materials have accreditation for them from the relevant bodies in their countries. In order to be valid in our country, however, they must also have the approval of the specialized department of the ISU. In addition, the company that applies the materials (i.e. the furniture factory) must specialize a person in the application of fireproofing products. That person has to follow a course on specialization, where he/she is accepted only if he/she has graduated high school and has a baccalaureate. Only under these conditions the building that has wood finished with fireproofing products receives the ISU approval.

Beyond all these bureaucratic issues, it is good to think that, at some point, people's lives could be in danger and fireproofing, done correctly, can mean the difference between life and death.