Knowra Flame retardant Flame retardant A substance or treatment that inhibits ignition, slows combustion, or limits flame spread in a material. Flame retardants work through chemical or physical effects and do not necessarily make materials noncombustible.
Gas-phase radical inhibition : A chemical process that interrupts flame reactions by removing reactive radicals from combustion gases. Halogen-containing flame retardants can suppress the chain reactions that sustain flames.
Fire safety standards : Rules and test requirements intended to limit fire hazards in buildings, products, and transportation. Standards determine which materials require treatment and how their fire performance is evaluated.
Persistent organic pollutants : Organic chemicals that resist environmental breakdown, persist for long periods, and can accumulate in organisms. Some flame-retardant chemicals persist and travel far from where products were used.
Fire-resistant material : A material designed or treated to withstand ignition or resist burning under specified conditions. Fire resistance describes a material property, while a flame retardant is one possible means of achieving it.
Brominated flame retardants : Flame-retardant chemicals containing bromine, used in some plastics, textiles, and electronic products. Some members have faced restrictions because of persistence, toxicity, or environmental contamination.
Intumescent coating : A coating that swells when heated, forming an insulating char layer over a surface. It slows heat transfer and blocks fuel gases from reaching the flame.
Upholstered furniture : Furniture built with padding and a fabric or leather covering. Foams and covers may receive flame-retardant treatments to meet furniture fire requirements.
Bioaccumulation : The buildup of a chemical in an organism when uptake exceeds elimination. Persistent flame retardants can accumulate in wildlife and people through repeated exposure.
Fireproofing : The application of materials or systems to improve a structure's resistance to fire and heat. Fireproofing usually protects structures or components; flame retardants are substances or treatments in materials.
Organophosphate flame retardants : Flame retardants containing phosphorus bonded to organic groups, used in various materials and products. Their expanding use raises questions about exposure and whether replacements are safer.
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