PLEXIGLAS® Fire aspects

The smoke development of various materials employed in indoor and exterior applications is shown. The tests are performed according to DIN 4102 by the materials testing agency (Materialprüfungsamt) of North Rhine-Westphalia in Dortmund.The low level of light absorption or light attenuation exhibited by PLEXIGLAS^® shows that virtually no obstacle to visibility is to be expected.Similar investigations in Austria and Switzerland confirm the low smoke levels it generates. In both countries, PLEXIGLAS^® is classified as a material with low smoke formation. Tests performed according to DIN EN 11925 for rating in Euroclass E confirm the low smoke formation. Tradeshow companies, among others, demand materials that generate no smoke in the event of fire.

This is a particularly important criterion for all applications in rooms frequented by the public.The certificates of inoffensiveness confirm that PLEXIGLAS^® does not release any acutely toxic gases. The certificates were issued by EPA GmbH, an institute that analyzes the smoke gases of combustible materials and draws up expert reports and certificates on their classification.Apart from low smoke development, this property is a central requirement of almost all directives on tradeshow booth construction.

Fires are dangerous. The corrosive gas mixtures that may form just during a fire, but also during fire-fighting and for a long period afterwards, may be harmful to persons and damage buildings and equipment. Critical substances usually settle on surfaces and adhere to them or are constantly released into the air.The damage caused by these deposits and environmental hazards may be much more significant than the damage caused directly by fire, owing to the required renovation work. Tests performed according to DIN VDE 0482-267 and our own investigations clearly show that: The smoke gas and basic constituents of PLEXIGLAS^® are neither corrosive, nor do they adhere permanently to surfaces.

Materials burn in different ways, depending on their chemical composition or state. Materials are divided into four fire classes, ABCD, to assess the extinguishing requirements. Depending on the fire rating, only certain extinguishing agents may be used, e.g. water, foam, powder, CO2 etc..

PLEXIGLAS^® is rated in fire class A, as a solid combustible material. However, PLEXIGLAS^® forms no embers, which distinguishes it clearly from ember-forming materials like wood, for example. PLEXIGLAS^® is therefore considered especially easy to extinguish.

All it normally takes to extinguish PLEXIGLAS^® is a small quantity of water. However, all other extinguishing agents are equally suitable. That greatly facilitates fire-fighting.

When materials start to burn, they may ignite neighboring objects. The speed with which fire spreads depends on a number of different factors. The flame spread of materials is determined by various test methods, depending on application.

The ignition behavior of a material is one criterion for its building materials rating. PLEXIGLAS^® is rated B2, normally flammable, to DIN 4102, and is thus approved for a multitude of indoor and outdoor applications.In addition, PLEXIGLAS^® is rated in Euroclass E according to DIN EN 13501.Apart from the ignition test in compliance with the given standards, tests performed under fire department supervision show that PLEXIGLAS^® is not normally ignited by sources such as weld spatter or flying sparks from grinding operations, sparklers, fireworks or glowing charcoal.

The dripping behavior of burning or melting materials depends not merely on their properties, but also on the progression of a fire. The assessment of dripping behavior is one of the investigations used to determine the building materials rating. PLEXIGLAS^® is rated in building materials class B2, without burning droplets, according to DIN 4102. This fire behavior is confirmed by Euroclass E to DIN EN 13501.