Fire Safety in Public Places Cannot be Ignored
Analysis of The Flame Retardant Properties of PVC Vinyl Flooring
In crowded places such as shopping malls, hospitals, and schools, the choice of building materials directly affects the probability of escape when a fire occurs. According to statistics, toxic gases and thick smoke produced by the burning of building decoration materials are the main causes of death in fires. As the core material for floor paving, flame-retardant floors can buy precious evacuation time at critical moments and avoid irreparable losses.
There are many types of PVC vinyl flooring on the market that claim to be "fireproof B1 grade", but consumers often face three major confusions when purchasing: Is the fireproof grade real? How to verify the flame retardant effect? Does it produce toxic smoke when burning? We combine national standards with actual application scenarios to provide you with an in-depth analysis.
1. Classification system of fire resistance of building materials
According to the national "Classification of Combustion Performance of Building Materials and Products" (GB8624-2012), the fire resistance of materials is divided into four levels from high to low:
Class A: Inorganic materials such as granite and concrete, which do not participate in combustion at all
Class B1: Flame retardant materials, which are difficult to ignite when exposed to open flames and will extinguish themselves when the fire source is evacuated
Class B2: Combustible materials such as ordinary wood, which are easy to continue burning when exposed to fire
Class B3: Combustible materials such as foam boards, with extremely high fire risks
2. The truth about the fireproof performance of PVC flooring
1. Standard threshold: Flame retardants are added to the base material of PVC flooring produced by regular manufacturers. Qualified products tested by the National Fireproof Building Materials Quality Supervision and Inspection Center can indeed meet the B1 standard
2. Performance verification:
① When ignited with an alcohol cotton ball, the diameter of the burning mark of the qualified product is <50mm
② The burning of cigarette butts only produces scorch marks and will not cause open flames
③ The light transmittance of smoke during combustion is >60%, and the emission of toxic gases is lower than the standard limit
Industry status: Some low-priced products reduce the use of flame retardants to save costs, and the actual fireproof level may be reduced to B2
3. Key points for purchase verification
1. Require to check the test report with CMA/CNAS logo, and confirm the following:
① Burning growth rate index (FIGRA) <120W/s
② Smoke generation rate (SPR) <0.25m²/s
2. Observe the implementation standards in the product information, and give priority to products marked with GB8624 B1 grade 3. Field test: Use a lighter to burn the edge of the sample, and qualified products will not produce spreading flames
Taking Borflor PVC vinyl floor as an example, our test report shows:
① The combustion performance has passed the GB8624 B1 certification
② The smoke toxicity has reached ZA1 level (quasi-safety level)
③ The smoke generation characteristics meet the s1 level (low smoke volume)
Special reminder:
In special places such as chemical workshops and laboratories, it is recommended to choose flame-retardant floors with additional anti-static functions. In daily use, you should pay attention to avoid contact with high-temperature heat sources such as welding sparks, and regularly check the integrity of floor joints to ensure that the fireproof performance is continuously effective. Only by choosing truly qualified fireproof floors can we build a solid safety line for public places.
