Novel Fire Retardant Treatments for Wood and Cellulosic Materials in Construction and Furniture: A review

Abstract

Other cellulosic substances like wood are highly appreciated in the construction and furniture manufacturing businesses because of their beauty, durability and being a friendly environment. Nonetheless, they are very flammable and their use raises serious issues of fire safety, both at residential and commercial places. This review takes a critical look on the developments of fire retardant treatment in raising the fire resistance of wood and cellulosic materials. The study investigates extensive variety of treatments by formulation, such as well-established chemical retardants and the newer and greener products, whose mechanisms action and levels of flame reduction, thermal decomposition and smoke generation are discussed. The study integrates the results of experimental studies published in the last two years, traces of industry studies, and studies presented in scientific literature to compare the effect of these treatments on their comparative performance, on environmental impact, and implications on structural integrity. Use of sustainable and low toxic solutions is especially focused on ensuring that they meet the requirements of green buildings. This study summarized the existing knowledge in order to find the most promising method to increase the fire safety of wood-based products that favor the environmental and structural performance. The results can be useful to material scientists, engineers, and policy makers who occupy themselves with developing safer and more sustainable construction materials and fire resistant furniture applications.