BioMatNet Item: BRRT-98-5026 - HIFI: High fire performance wood products

[BioMatNet Database - European Commission]

BRRT-98-5026
HIFI: High fire performance wood products

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BRITE-EURAM III : Chemical Conversion : Solid Wood Products : Wood (Lignocellulose)

Contract No:	BRRT-98-5026
Project Type:	THN (Thematic network contracts)
Start Date:	01-09-1998
Duration:	48 months
Total Cost:	EUR
EC Contribution:	EUR
Scientific Officer:

Abstract

The necessity to provide safety against fires in design of buildings and constructions has resulted in numerous regulations limiting the materials used. Wood as a combustible material needs special attention, and an essential prerequisite for increasing the use of wood products in buildings is development of wood based products with better fire performance. Improving the fire behaviour of wood products calls for systematic knowledge of fire retardant (FR) technology of wood which presently is, however, deficient in many aspects.

The HIFI Network aims to solve current gaps in knowledge and thus help the European industry to improve the fire performance of wood products as well as their usability in terms of durability and environmental performance. This will amount to added value through enlarged markets and increased sales of wood products and FR chemicals as well as through positive impact to fire safety and environmental protection. The objective of the HIFI Network is co-ordination of R&TD activities and exchange of personnel as well as transfer of information and technology between:

research institutes and industry including FR chemicals manufacturers
FR wood product producers, and
end-users of FR wood products.

The scope of the Network operation will be restricted to the exchange of non-confidential and pre-competitive information, which the participants wish to bring to a wider audience to promote enhanced utilisation of wood products. The work of the Network is intended to be continued as a European Society of High Fire Performance Wood Products. The work to be performed within the HIFI Network consists of three tasks:

Co-ordination of RTD activities
Establishing a data base for State-of-the-art and market information
Exchange of personnel and transfer of technologies to industry.

The deliverables of the Network and benefits to the partners are summarised as follows:

the research co-ordination offers the partners the possibility of multidisciplinary information access and facilitates finding associates for new RTD projects and business activities

promotion of new wood product markets, and spin-off endeavours

a comprehensive up-to-date information data base on FR chemicals, end use products, environmental aspects, durability, regulations, market reviews

promotion of international and multidisciplinary co-operation through support provided to the exchange of personnel and knowledge

contribution to improvements in fire safety and environmental protection in Europe.

The HIFI Network will provde a forum for co-ordinated research and exchange of information and personnel between companies and institutes devoted to research, education and information transfer. This will give a strong positive impact to the European RTD work in the field of high fire performance wood products, and will amount to added value through enlarged markets and increased sales.

Wood is an ecological and environmentally friendly material the benefits of which should be maintained through the whole lifecycle of FR wood. The HIFI Network advances the development towards this goal by promoting research efforts culminating in subsequent introduction of new products with improved environmental properties. Improvements in fire safety is an important objective, which is worth continuing efforts. The work of the HIFI Network will result in better fire performance of wood products and thus, promote fire safety in Europe.

The partners of the Network come from several countries indifferent parts of Europe, and they represent many branches of business related to fire retarded wood products. Thus, in its operation field, the Network provides an effective means to promote international and multidisciplinary co-operation in Europe.

Potential Applications

The current status of the markets is divided according to the three classes of fire retardant wood products:

FR impregnated wood
Panels treated by integral incorporation of FR chemicals
FR coated and painted products.

Fire retardant wood and wood based panels are being used in a wide variety of market areas; in construction timbers, wall and ceiling linings, transportation, scaffolding, pallets, exhibition stands, shop fittings and in the oil and chemical industries. Added value products and active promotion are essential to the future well being of the timber trade. FR treated wood offers a secure future in terms of a critical quality, a competitive edge, and safety to life and property. The performance based regulations will probably promote the use of FR wood as they will make it easier for designers to commission use of FR wood products. An effective way to utilise the market potential related to the performance based regulations is to provide examples of the use of FR wood products in combination with other materials, and show how the material combinations satisfy the demands and regulations. This should also lead to an enhanced demand for fire retardants in Europe.

Contacts

Coordinator

Esko MIKKOLA / Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT Building Technology Fire Technology / FINLAND

Participant