How Fire Retardant Paint Works

In the case of a fire, immediately distancing yourself from the flame should be your main priority. Luckily for you, fire retardant paint is the perfect flame and heat assistant. Fire retardant paints work primarily to provide families, employees or anyone and anything within a building or industrial yard with additional security. They operate to ensure that your belongings are safe and equipment sustains minimal damage. Flame retardant paints not only protect your home and belongings but provide you with a surplus of time between the start of a fire and escaping – which includes efficiently holding off the spread of fire until emergency services arrive as well. Below is a step-by-step guide of how to appropriately utilize fire retardant paint in your home or business.

How Does Fire Proofing Work?

In order for a natural fire to occur, three elements must be present – oxygen, heat and fuel. These three elements are a deadly “fire triangle” working as a treacherous team to inflict the maximum amount of damage possible. By simply taking away one of these necessary components, destruction is greatly reduced. When fire retardant paint is applied to a surface, the coat protects the “fuel” aspect of the fire triangle. Upon contact with fire retardant paint, the heat emitted from the flames causes the paint to release a fire dampening gas, which in turn prevents the fire from fully developing.

How to Use Fire Retardant Paint?

Available in a variety of applications and varieties, determining whether a paint, varnish or spray is right for your belongings is the first step in properly using fire retardants. While paint works well for wooden furniture and walls, fabrics such as wall tapestries and flags may benefit more from a spray on application. Fire codes and regulations may vary depending on location and additional research may be necessary to make an accurate determination.

Difference Between Flame Retardant and Flame Resistant Paint

Similar to flame retardant, flame resistant paint also provides additional protection for your belongings from a fire. When applied properly, flame resistant paint releases the same fire dampening gas to create an insulating layer between the object and fire. This form of resistance works differently from flame-retardants in the sense that a physical coating develops on contact. Even though they’re the same in concept but differ in direct handling of fire, flame resistance and flame-retardants are terms often used interchangeably.

What Do I Use Flame Retardant Paint On?

The technology behind flame retardant paints work on a variety of home and business objects and works in a number of ways to protect your property from fires. This paint can be applied to structural support such as wood, sheetrock, plywood, decorative siding and various metals to daily use objects such furniture and doors. The flammability of the fabrics used in your home is often overlooked when fireproofing a house but can also be treated with a flame resistant spray.

Grab a Can of Fire Retardant Paint Near You

With over 2 million incidences reported annually in the US, fires are responsible for killing more Americans than floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes combined. Fire safety is essential for every building and should not be overlooked when protecting your home. Taking the time to inform yourself of potential fire hazards and solutions is the first step in safeguarding your personal items.

The listed methods are excellent additions to further protect your home or business from a fire, but choosing to use fire retardant paint does notinherently mean your home is completely free from the clutches of a fire. Checking to make sure you have working batteries in your smoke alarms, blowing out candles and remembering to turn off the stove are all fire safety tips to keep in mind as well. To learn about the available fire retardant products at Gleco Paint, stop by one of our stores in Easton, Scranton, and Mt. Pocono, PA or contact us for additional information. Come and try it for yourself, the proof is in the paint!