Polyurethane foam is an effective insulation material for Australian commercial, agricultural, and industrial buildings. Its closed-cell structure provides strong thermal insulation and structural rigidity in a single layer. However, as an organic polymer material, polyurethane foam can be affected by high temperatures, making fire performance an important consideration when selecting and designing insulation systems.
Fire-retardant polyurethane foam is an insulation system formulated with additives that help improve its fire performance. These additives are incorporated into the foam formulation to modify how the material reacts when exposed to heat and flame. The result is a foam system designed to provide thermal insulation while offering enhanced fire-performance characteristics when tested under specified conditions.
Rigid polyurethane foam is used across building and industrial environments where thermal insulation, air sealing, or void filling is required:
Polyurethane spray foam is applied as a liquid that expands and cures to form a rigid insulation layer. Spray applications typically use specialised high-pressure plural-component dispensing equipment to deliver the two liquid components at controlled temperatures and ratios.
The components are mixed at the spray gun and applied directly to the prepared substrate. The foam then expands and cures within seconds, forming an insulating layer that can conform to the surface and help seal gaps and cavities.
Fire-retardant additives are incorporated into some polyurethane foam formulations to modify how the material reacts when exposed to heat or flame. It is important to distinguish between three different performance characteristics:
Fire-retardant additives can improve the fire-performance characteristics of polyurethane foam, but they do not make the material fireproof or eliminate the risk of fire. Actual performance should always be assessed against the relevant test standard and the specific foam system.
Fire performance of building materials can be assessed using standardised test methods. For polyurethane foam, documented test results help demonstrate how a specific formulation behaves when exposed to heat and flame under controlled conditions.
Liquimix PURL-SP32 is a rigid, closed-cell spray polyurethane foam used for thermal insulation and related building applications. According to its technical documentation, PURL-SP32 has been tested in accordance with AS/NZS 1530.3-1999, which evaluates ignitability, flame propagation, heat release, and smoke development.
The documented test results are:
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Ignitability Index | 16 |
| Spread of Flame Index | 0 |
| Heat Evolved Index | 2 |
| Smoke Developed Index | 5 |
These results apply specifically to the tested PURL-SP32 formulation and should not be assumed to represent every polyurethane foam product.
Liquimix PURL-GP42 is another rigid polyurethane foam system designed for applications including insulation and void filling. Its technical documentation should be referred to separately for product-specific fire-performance information.
Fire performance can vary between foam formulations, so the relevant technical datasheet and applicable test standard should always be checked when specifying a particular product.
Whether you are planning a building insulation project, specifying polyurethane foam, or managing an industrial application, the Liquimix technical team can help you select a suitable foam system for your requirements.
Contact Liquimix Technical Support to request technical information, application guidance, or pricing.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Choosing the right insulation has a major impact on the thermal performance, comfort and energy efficiency of a building. But with so many insulation options available in Australia, how do you know which one is right for your project? Closed-cell spray foam, open-cell spray foam and batt insulation all have
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
