CRITERIA OF ASSESSING THE EFFICIENCY OF FIRE-RETARDANT COATINGS FOR POLYSTYRENE FOAM HEAT-INSULATION MATERIALS

Abstract

This work presents the results of studies on reducing the fire hazard with regard to heatinsulation
polystyrene foam materials by applying fire-retardant coatings to them using two methods:
surface method, with which a protective layer is formed on the surface; and the wholevolume
method, with which the saturating composition penetrates inside the material’s structure.
As fire-retardant coatings, water-based compositions of inorganic substances have been used; and
non-combustible mineral substances have been used as additives. Samples of polystyrene foam
plates of grade PPS-20 (as per GOST 15588-2014) or (PSB-S-25-sel-extinguishing as per GOST
15588-1986) have been used for the research. The behavior specifics of the material treated with
fire-retardant compositions have been studied during the tests on combustibility, flammability, and
smoke generation. The criteria of assessing the efficiency of using fire-retardant coatings for polystyrene
foam materials have been suggested.