LANXESS, CABEE and FUDATEC Hold Joint Fire Safety Symposium in Shanghai
Click:412    DateTime:Nov.07,2019


On October 24, China Association of Building Energy Efficiency (CABEE), LANXESS and FUDATEC hosted the second Fire Safety Symposium in Shanghai.

   Building insulation is an efficient and simple way to save energy and thus contribute to climate protection. Polystyrene (PS) foams are among the most effective insulation materials. Due to their flammability, they must be equipped with flame retardants. The polymeric flame retardant Emerald InnovationTM 3000 is a highly efficient, sustainable flame retardant solution for extruded (XPS) polystyrene insulating materials used in the construction industry.

   The traditionally used flame retardant HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane) is listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and may no longer be used in China from December 25, 2021.

   “Together with our partners, we want to support the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on HBCD restriction in China,” says Karsten Job, head of the LANXESS Polymer Additives business unit, adding, “We have the know-how and it is important for us to familiarize the Chinese construction industry with high-performance, sustainable flame retardant alternatives, because this is the best way to ensure a smooth transition to HBCD-free materials. This is a win-win situation for all parties, because polymeric thermal insulation material offers enormous potential for energy saving due to its excellent insulation performance.”

   The substitution of the monomeric, questionable flame retardant HBCD by the polymeric LANXESS alternative Emerald InnovationTM 3000 requires an adjustment of the processing conditions. Beijing Technology and Business University, FUDATEC and LANXESS generate knowledge across the entire XPS manufacturing chain, from flame retardant masterbatch production to the processing of insulation foams. Based on the technical application knowledge gained, the sustainable additive Emerald InnovationTM 3000 was successfully used in high-quality XPS building insulation foams.

   Tests have confirmed that the insulation material equipped with Emerald InnovationTM 3000 meets the required Chinese fire- protection standards. The corresponding insulation material has already been successfully used in several Chinese construction projects. In addition, it can also be successfully used for applications in cold chain logistics.