Composites UK Launches Fire Performance Good Practice Guide

Composites UK, supported by the National Composites Centre (NCC), has launched a Good Practice Guide on the topic of fire performance for fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPs).

The guide was written by the Association’s Supply Chain and Environment Manager, Stella Job, along with Tom Royle of Wizz Consultancy and Nigel Keen of Creative Composite Connections and has had funding by NCC.

The fire performance of a composite component or structure is complex and accordingly, the knowledge base is constantly growing as new products arrive in the market place in response to growing demand.

The company believes despite the topic proving to be a “moving target”, there is a need to improve the understanding of how the fire performance of FRP components is specified by the engineer and buyer, and achieved by the manufacturer.

The 61-page document includes the key characteristics which define the fire performance of a composites, methods of improving properties and future trends.

Stella Job said; “It’s great to see increasing use of FRP in areas where fire performance is a challenge, such as aircraft and rail interiors, offshore applications and even commercial marine structures.”

“The fire chemistry, interactions between the materials that make up the composite system and the testing and standards involved make this a tricky area, so this guide will be a useful resource for many seeking to understand how fire properties of FRP composites can be enhanced for their application.”