Why is Firefree88 So Unique?

FF88's performance is truly unique because of its high level of performance both as a fire retardant and as a fire resistant coating.

FF88 has passed the fire industry’s most stringent tests for fire retardants.The first generation of fire coatings ("fire retardants") were based on the now obsolete concept that fires spread mainly horizontally. Thus, these coatings were designed to slow the horizontal progress of a fire (providing little fireproofing) and were required only to pass the simple ASTM E 84 test (UL 723, NFPA 255), which measures horizontal flame spread, mostly on low or non-combustible materials such as cement board.

As the industry's understanding of fire grew, it became apparent that the greatest spread from a fire comes from vertical flame spread. As the initial materials burn, the flames will travel vertically and gases will collect at the ceiling. These gases will soon ignite causing flashover, a fireball explosion that will burst into other parts of the structure. FF88 is the first coating to have passed the most stringent fire retardant tests for vertical flame spread/flashover (UBC 26-3 / UBC 8-2 / FM 4880 room corner tests) and the FM 4975 hydrocarbon ceiling tests on a wide variety of materials.

FF88 has passed the fire industry's most stringent tests for fire resistants. A key factor is fire penetration of the walls or ceilings. As the initial source materials burn, fires will begin to penetrate walls and ceilings, leading to their rapid deterioration and a resulting spread of the flames to adjoining rooms. Additionally, the penetration of the fire in the walls and ceilings will lead to their contributing to the fire by becoming additional fuel to the initial fire. FF88 is the first coating to have passed the most stringent fire tests for time rated fire resistance (ASTM E-119). ASTM E-119 measures a product’s ability to resist fire penetration for a wide variety of materials thru walls and ceilings.

Firefree88 Specifications

• applies like any paint
• use as an undercoat or finish paint
• water based, non-toxic
• can be tinted
• flat sheen
• environmentally friendly (VOC, 33 grams/liter)

FF88 can withstand extreme temperatures. In extensive third party testing at accredited third party IAS fire testing laboratories, including Western Fire Center, Omega, Southwest, U.L., Warnock Hersey and the University of California Forest Products Lab, FF88, an intumescent coating, has been shown to withstand temperatures of in excess of 2000° Fahrenheit for up to two hours. By comparison, an average fire will burn at about 1000° Fahrenheit to 1500° Fahrenheit (it is estimated that the World Trade Center burned at around 1700° Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes). FF88 has been approved by Factory Mutual (FM Global), classified by Underwriters Laboratories (U/L) and tested at accredited third party IAS fire testing laboratories.

FF88 contains fire to its room of origin. By protecting the walls and ceilings and preventing them from contributing to the fire, FF88 will limit the amount of combustible materials available for flashover. This will prevent the fire from spreading or, at a minimum, slow it down thus giving people time to escape and firemen time to arrive and safely save property. In some cases, fires can burn out after exhausting the initial combustible materials.

FF88 limits smoke propagation. The production of smoke in a fire is often more lethal than the fire itself. Simulations and tests have proven that using FF88 will limit the combustibility of the room and thus dramatically reduce the smoke generated, allowing extra minutes to escape.

FF88 preserves structural integrity. Since FF88 can contain the fire to the room of origin and prevent fire penetration of the walls and ceiling, the potential fire damage to the studs and ceiling joists in a structure is dramatically reduced, preventing structural collapse while allowing firefighters the extra safety to fight the fire from the inside.

FF88 application is easy and cost efficient. A brush, roller or sprayer can be used to apply Firefree88. Being a water-based latex, no special equipment is required, minimum time is needed for clean up (just use water) and FF88 can be tinted any color. FF88 can be applied over most existing paint; new paint or wallpaper can be applied over FF88.

FF88 is non-toxic and environmentally safe. Firefree88 has no toxic fumes, little or no odor and has passed the stringent requirements for solvents and emissions by the State of California for 2008.

What does Firefree88 do and how does it work?

What does FF88 do?

Over the past several years, Firefree88 has been widely demonstrated and tested. Based on prescribed testing, FF88 has clearly demonstrated that, depending on the dry mil thickness applied to walls, ceilings and other construction assemblies and materials, it can resist a fire in excess of 2000° Fahrenheit for up to two hours and can contribute to the containment of fire. Containment is recognized as an effective code mandated fire safety requirement for fire resistance and fire safety design and is expressed in the proper design of fire rated party walls, ceilings, shafts, access and egress corridors.

How does FF88 work?

When exposed to a heat source of approximately 350° Fahrenheit, FF88 will begin to intumesce, or expand, forming a protective barrier between the flame source and the substrate to which the coating was applied. This barrier will prevent the fire from penetrating the walls and ceilings made of such substrate. Without Firefree88, as the initial materials burn, fire will penetrate walls and ceilings, leading to their rapid deterioration and a resulting spread of the flames to adjoining rooms. Additionally, the penetration of the fire in the walls and ceilings will lead to their contributing to the fire itself, by becoming fuel to the initial flames. With Firefree88, walls and ceilings will resist fire penetration thereby helping to contain the initial fire to the room of origin.