Last winter, Building Fire Safety Regulations (otherwise known as Document B) brought attention to the main danger people face from a fire in the 21st century: toxic gases along escape routes. It was discovered that the old Class 0 fire rating, which has been in place since the 1980s to protect people, needed a complete overhaul to address the paints used in escape routes since then.
Extensive BS EN real-world fire testing revealed that the heavy build-up of acrylic, vinyl, and other resin layers in paints used over the past 40 years can create risks similar to those posed by earlier, less safe paints when different paint types are applied and have aged between redecorations. The most extreme flame-spread risks are caused by anti-graffiti and/or oil-based paints, as well as acrylic or vinyl emulsion paints.
Furthermore, 21st-century BS EN tests have found that the accumulation of emulsion paints over the years releases toxic gas and flaming droplets, with the most commonly used Class 0 Flame Retardant paints being the worst offenders.
Fortunately, there is a solution to these dangers. By applying one coat of Wallcoat Insulating Basecoat and one coat of Smoke & Flame Retardant Wallguard, or one coat of Thermoguard Safeceilings Onecoat, the safety standard known as Class Bs1d0 can be achieved.
For more information, please visit thermoguard.co.uk, email technical@thermoguard.co.uk, or call 01142 768008.