Why Fire Retardant Foam is Important

With the ever-growing number of jobs foam materials are used for, it only makes sense that some applications need to hold the foam used to a higher standard. For applications that use foam in a way that may be exposed to a potential ignition source, fire retardant polyurethane foam is the smart and safe material to get the job done safely.

While most projects use foam internally under other materials, when foam is placed in an open environment where it can come into contact with the other contents in the room, fire retardant foam is a good idea. One such example is acoustical treatment foam. Acoustic foam products are excellent at damping vibrations, minimizing echoes and standing waves, and clarifying sound. When mounted in areas like home studios or home theaters, ignition sources abound, from cigarettes and candles, to wiring and electronics. True acoustic foam products are made to be fire retardant, so in the case of an accident, the material will slowly smolder, giving the owner an opportunity to extinguish the fire. This, as opposed to untreated foam which can quickly burst into fast-moving, uncontrollable flames. This difference in ignition can make the difference between needing to replace a few pieces of foam and airing out the room, or a tragedy where the things lost can’t be replaced.

Extreme sports like motocross also provide a good example for the need for fire retardant foam. The motor vehicle version of a gymnastics pit, these provide athletes with a safe landing area for practicing moves and are typically filled with foam blocks. Having motors, these vehicles can generate extreme heat, feature an internal combustion engine, and are full of flammable fuel; all things that can lead to disaster in foam pits not using fire-resistant materials. There should be no other reasons needed as to why motocross practice pits should be exclusively filled with fire retardant foam, no exceptions.

Specialty products that serve specialty purposes exist for good reasons. Fire retardant foam’s purpose is to increase safety, which is a benefit that should be utilized in every situation where it can practically apply.