It is relatively easy to obtain an improved fire performance of wood products. Most existing fire retardants are effective in reducing different reaction-to-fire parameters of wood such as ignitability, heat release and flame spread. The highest European and national fire classifications for combustible products can be reached. However, high retention levels have to be used compared to ordinary preservation treatments used to protect wood against biological decay.
Flame retardant treatments for wood are numerous and can be classified into three general classes:
- those incorporated integrally into wood composite products during manufacture
- those pressure impregnated into solid wood, plywood, particleboard and hardboard industrially, but after manufacture
- those applied, as paints or surface coatings, in-situ after wood based products are installed
