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Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Non-Combustible?

3/24/2020

2 Comments

 
Could Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer materials be considered non-combustible? For this project it's intended to be used as an interior building material.

NFPA 130 & NFPA 101 definition of non-combustible material:

4.7  Non-combustible material
A material that complies with any of the following shall be considered a noncombustible material [101:4.6.13.1].
  1. A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable vapors, when subjected to fire or heat. [101:4.6.13.1(1)]
  2. A material that is reported as passing ASTM E136. [101:4.6.13.1)2)]
  3. A material that is reported as complying with the pass/fail criteria of ASTM E136 when tested in accordance with the test method and procedure in ASTM E2652.  [101:4.6.13.1(3)]

Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials can meet the following minimum standards for flammability:
  • ASTM E84:  Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials:  Flame spread 25
  • ASTM D635:   Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position:  Self-extinguish
  • UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances:  V-0

Can this material be considered an equivalent to non-combustible material?

​While Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials have an excellent fire resistance rating under ASTM and UL tests, it is not specifically classified as non-combustible under ASTM E136.

​​​​​​​​​​​Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
2 Comments
Ryan Visser
3/25/2020 03:51:16 am

I have had limited experience with these materials, but one experience that is noteworthy is that they are not all made equal.

Some may indeed prove to be non-combustible, possibly just based on their individual component or ingredients, but not all. We had a few samples tested from a facade of a suspect building and found the panels to be rather combustible, with substantial smoke spread and burning droplets.

Reply
Paul
3/25/2020 10:30:40 am

When I was studying at a University, I took a composites material course and lab. Fiberglass reinforced polymer is a type of composite material, in which epoxy or a similar resin is used to merge the fiber glass layer with the polymer. Epoxy is certainly combustible (and flammable before curing) but once it's cured it no longer produces vapors that can ignite.

Remember that flammability and combustibility are not equivalent. Flammability (roughly) means that there is presence of ignitable vapors (under certain conditions), while combustibility (roughly) refers to physically being able to ignite (under certain conditions).

If it were me, (in general) I would not consider (by definition) that FRP is non-combustible (I would want more specific info). I would take the words as literal as possible - it is stated non-flammable for a reason and not "non-combustible".

Disclaimer: These are just my thoughts.

Reply



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