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The coming months will see important discussions as to whether fire safety research will be an EU priority in the coming decade. The EU has begun the process of defining the 9th R&D Funding Programme (FP9, which will follow Horizon 2020) with probably around 100 billion Euros funding. Stakeholders can already input to the EU public consultation on F9 missions open to 3rd April. This consultation is open to the public, companies and other organisations at https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/482a79de-3fad-17e1-c60d-2e4418c1a95d pinfa will input underlining the need for research into fire safety, proposing a mission on "fire safety in a sustainable, inclusive society". In parallel to ongoing development of innovative fire safety solutions by companies, in particular PIN flame retardants, public research is also important to support innovation and to address key societal questions, in particular where fire safety intersects with social cohesion and sustainability. Fire safety is closely linked to sustainability, because it is critical in thermal insulation (including with bio-based or recycled materials), for urban densification, and in applications of performance polymers in electronic miniaturisation and transports (energy saving) and renewable energy...). This is confirmed in the report just published by the European Commission on smoke toxicity of construction materials (see below), which concludes the need for more data and research. Fire safety is important for social inclusion, because those most at risk from fire are the elderly and handicapped and populations in difficulty, as demonstrated by fires in temporary housing (Paris 'hotel' fires) or social housing (including the Grenfell Tower tragedy). pinfa proposes to researchers and stakeholders to take forward dialogue on research needs for fire safety and on how to possibly include fire safety in the EU's FP9 R&D programme. We propose a workshop at the Nordic Fire Safety Days Trondheim, 7th-8th June, or invite you directly contact pinfa.
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 North America workshops on polymers, transports
pinfa North America is organising three workshops and panels on PIN flame retardants in specific applications. 4th-5th April, a 2-day workshop on Changing Material Flammability Requirements for Ground Transportatio" is organised together with SAMPE, the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (details http://www.pinfa-na.org/).
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 How to promote fire safety R&D in EU policies?
pinfa proposes dialogue on promoting the inclusion of fire safety in FP9, the EU's R&D funding Framework Programme which will follow Horizon 2020 (see Editorial of this Newsletter).
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 EU Consultation on FP9: input to underline fire safety
The European Union has opened a public consultation on "missions" in FP9 (the European R&D Funding Programme which will follow Horizon 2020) open to 3rd April.
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 EU Construction Products Regulation
The European Commission has launched a public consultation (open to all citizens, companies and organisations, based on a short questionnaire) on options for updating the EU Construction Products Regulation (305/2011).
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 Study for EU on regulating smoke toxicity
The European Commission has published the study commissioned by DG GROW in 2016 to evaluate the need to regulate on toxicity of smoke generated by construction products in fires, within the framework of the EU Construction Products Directive (CPR).
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 Online training on low hazard, low smoke PIN FRs
A 90-minute specialist training session online on formulating halogen-free, low hazard, low smoke polymer compounds provides an overview of PIN FRs and fillers available today, including mode of action and safety profile, and design of non-halogenated FR compounds.
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 Media controversy over child car seat burn incident
A Texas mother posted online photos of a burnt car seat, claiming that she was taking her daughter out of the seat on parking when she saw smoke coming from it. She indicated that the incident, which left burn holes in the seat fabric, had been started by sun in a mirror placed on the rear seat to enable her to see the child whilst driving.
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 New PINFA member: TOLSA
TOLSA is a global leading supplier of flame retardant synergist additives for wire & cable, construction, transport and E/E applications; with over 60 years of experience in multiple industrial markets. TOLSA's technology retards fire development and propagation in polymer systems, reducing smoke emissions. TOLSA's products act in synergy with most PIN flame retardants improving the char formation during combustion, which protects the polymer from fire.
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 Compounding world: growth and sustainability
Compounding World' magazine's annual feature article on flame retardants in plastics concludes that the market is continuing to grow, driven particularly by increasing electronics and electronic drive systems in automobiles, and that there is a strong development of sustainable solutions.
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 PIN FR 3D-printing polymer
Shenzhen Esun Ind. Co. has launched a PIN flame retardant ABS-based 3D-printing filament, eSUN eABS "MAX halogen-free", offering a 3D print temperature of 220-260C and print feed rate of 30-90 mm/s.
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 Fire leads Beijing to oust migrants and demolish homes
Media are reporting that thousands of migrants have been forced out of slum housing areas in the Beijing suburbs, following a fire in Xinjiang Village, Daxing District. The fire concerned a two-storey apartment building housing 300 people and lead to 19 deaths.
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PIN FR cables for demanding applications
Italian specialist compounder Fainplast, Italy, is extending its range of high performance non halogenated flame retardant compounds, with crosslinkable HFX compounds, using the Sioplas (XLPOHFFR) method, adapted to demanding applications such as solar panels.
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 LSF is not LSHF
The UK specialist in lighting connection products, Flex Connectors, explains why LSF (Low Smoke and Fume) and LSHF (Low Smoke Halogen Free) are different, and offer different safety factors in case of fire. The company indicates that LSF is an imprecise label, and that cables can contain materials which emit dense smoke in case of fire as well as acidic gases.
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 PIN FR micro-ducts for cable protection
Hexatronic, Swedish specialist in optical fibre communication systems, offers a range of 'halogen-free flame retardant' microducts for cable installation in buildings.
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 Scott Bader PIN FR coatings achieve rail standards
The global chemical company Scott Bader is owned by its own employees, under a unique charity trustee status. The company's range includes innovative Phosphorous, Inorganic, Nitrogen flame retardant solutions. Crystic® Fireguard 70PA is a spray gelcoat for applications demanding low flame spread fire safety and low smoke emissions, as well as UV weathering.
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 Textile brands action on hazardous chemicals
Further companies have joined the apparel brands coalition to avoid emissions of hazardous chemicals in textile and synthetic leather processing: ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals).
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 Innovations in non halogen flame retardants at FRPM
The FRPM (Flame Retardant Polymeric Materials), every two years, brings together four days of front-edge research into flame retardants, fire behaviour of polymers and fire testing. FRPM 2017, 2-6 July, Manchester UK, showed 110 presentations and posters, many of which addressed innovation in PIN FRs, and only three of which addressed halogenated flame retardants, giving a strong indication of the direction future flame retardant technologies are headed.
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 Hewlett Packard: substitution of halogenated FRs
At FRPM 2017, Hewlett Packard (HP) summarised the IT industry view on flame retardants, noting that most major IT brands have now largely eliminated PVC and halogenated flame retardants from their products, including progressively printed circuit boards.
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 Other News
California priority chemicals in products: the California the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has published its (draft) three-year work plan on "Priority Products". This identifies chemicals (identified per product group) posing questions of potential harm and requiring manufacturers to assess safer alternatives.
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pinfa is the Phosphorus, Inorganic and Nitrogen Flame Retardants Association and is a Sector Group within Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council. pinfa represents the manufacturers and users of non-halogenated phosphorus, inorganic and nitrogen flame retardants (PIN FRs). Members of Pinfa share the common vision of continuously improving the environmental and health profile of their flame retardant products. This vision is coupled with a commitment to maintain high fire safety standards across the world, standards which minimize the risk of fire to the general public.
Publisher information
This Newsletter is published for the interest of user industries, stakeholders and the public by pinfa (Phosphorus Inorganic and Nitrogen Flame Retardants Association), a sector group of Cefic (European Chemical Industry federation). The content is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is provided for information only and constitutes neither a technical recommendation nor an official position of pinfa, Cefic or pinfa member companies.
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