How Flame Retardants can increase escape time in fires

With Flame Retardants

1000 °C Flame retardants reduce the risk of ignition

Temperature

and fire spread of many plastic and textile

materials which results in more available
800 °C
escape time for occupants.

Time to flashover can increase from

600 °C
5 minutes to 15 minutes which can make

© 2015 Clariant International AG

the difference between escape and fatalities.

400 °C
Bear in mind that the escape time includes
the time to discover the fire, alert other
200 °C people, take the decision to call the fire
brigade, take own actions to extinguish or
take the decision to evacuate the building.
0 °C

Ignition Flame spread Fire penetration

The times and temperatures in the graphs
Flashover Fully developed fire Time
are typical numbers, but can vary according
Start of fire

15
to the circumstances and materials involved.
Escape time min

Without Flame Retardants The 3 phases of fire and the protecting

features of flame retardants
1000 °C
Temperature

Ignition source
· Prevent ignition
· Possibly self-extinguish
800 °C

Flame spread (reaction to fire)

· Slow down flame spread
600 °C
· Reduce heat release
· Delay flash-over
© 2015 Clariant International AG

400 °C Fire penetration (resistance to fire)

· Prevent the collaps of structures,
e. g. steel columns protected by
intumescent coatings
200 °C · Prevent fire moving to adjacent
room or building compartment

0 °C

Ignition Flame spread Fire penetration

Start of fire Flashover Fully developed fire Time

Escape time 5 min