Among the many products used to build a home or office, one of the most critical uses of flame retardants in the building environment is insulation.
Insulation is widely used in modern buildings to improve energy efficiency. It is thin, light, and has many technical properties that appeal to architects and builders. It is a lightweight, versatile and easy to use material that architects and builders recognize as highly useful in enabling them to realize their designs.
Of course of high importance is that insulation helps to reduce energy consumption, which is essential to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.1Source: Energy.gov. Reduce Your Heating Bills with better Insulation. Learn More.,2Source: Simona, Paraschiv & Spiru, Paraschiv & Ion, Ion. (2017). Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings by thermal insulation. Energy Procedia. 128. 393-399.
Flame retardants help insulation manufacturers meet important fire safety requirements dictated in building codes. They are added to insulation to prevent fires from starting or limiting their spread.
For example, insulation that meets fire safety requirements can help prevent or slow fires that result from short circuits or other electrical malfunctions in a home or building’s electrical wiring.
Building insulation products provide energy efficiency and include flame retardants to satisfy fire safety standards while supporting the health and safety of occupants and workers.