General experience shows that WPCs have a fire behaviour very similar to, or better than that of comparable timber products.
Fire tests relate to either flammability or ignitability which considers the ease with which a material will catch fire and sustain burning and “spread of flame” which considers the propagation of fire by the material being tested.
Most of the fire testing of WPCs has been carried out ASTM standards in USA and EN standards in European. Their test methods are similar.
As a general rule, the presence of the plastic matrix appears to improve the fire performance of the wood component in WPCs. Many plastics, e.g. PVC-U, HDPE etcs have good ignitability and spread of flame performance and this appears to be transferred to the WPC when they are used as the plastic component.
WPCs show good results in ignitability tests and these are similar to the results for wood with similar density.
WPCs show good results in spread of flame testing and the results can actually be better that those of wood with a similar density.
The fire performance of WPCs can be modified and improved by the addition of flame and smoke retardants to the raw material before processing. The fire-retardant properties of WPC planks have been enhanced by adding halogen-free fire retardants to the wood-polymer mixture during the melt phase.
Zhongshan Sundi also provides special fire-proof formula WPC products, the test result can get Class A under ASTM E84018 standard. (ASTM E84-18 Standard Test method is for surface burning characteristics of building materials ). If any inerest, please feel free to contact us, we will be happy to provide details.
Sundi Wood Plastic Composite
Zhongshan Sundi New Building Materials Co.,Ltd. is a professional manufacturer specializing in the R&D, production and sales of WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) materials, our products include: composite decking, co-extrusion decking(also called capped composite decking), WPC Pergola & Gazebo, WPC Railing & Fencing, WPC Wall Cladding, WPC Chairs & Bench, WPC Flower Planter Pots etc.
