Luvena FOBOS® waterproofings - fire and biological protection
The LUVENA Spółka Akcyjna company has been producing fireproofing products under the FOBOS® brand for several decades. All of the company's products are designed to ensure the resistance of construction wood to both fire and biocorrosion agents in situations of adverse conditions.
FOBOS® impregnates - certified quality for everyone
The effectiveness of protective impregnates under the FOBOS® brandis confirmed by certificates allowing them to be marketed as biocidal products and specifying the class of their reaction to fire. The production of impregnates at LUVENA S.A. is covered by a quality system in accordance with the PN-EN ISO 9001 standard and is entirely carried out in Poland. All our products have ITB documentation, as confirmation of approval for use in the comprehensive protection against fire of construction elements made of wood and wood-based materials.
The company's products are aimed at both professionals and individual investors who are serious about the safety of their homes. Thanks to their simple application, their use does not require special qualifications or additional training. The only prerequisite for obtaining the declared scope of wood protection is compliance with the application instructions especially with regard to the performance standard of the product.
FOBOS - protection of wood against fire
© LUVENA
Non-flammability or non-flammability of wood?
Advantages of using impregnates
Untreated wood, as a flammable material, in contact with fire, can contribute to the development of fire and flaming (rapid spread of fire). Using fire-retardant impregnants, we essentially limit the spread of fire - by giving wooden construction elements the NRO (nonproliferation of fire) class.
Any wood, including impregnated wood, will eventually burn, but giving the wood the characteristic of so-called "non-flammability" (reaction to fire class B) delays the moment of ignition and slows down the heating. The presence of the impregnant accelerates the charring of the wood surface, which essentially "dims the fire" and causes the flame on the wood to self-extinguish once the source of the fire is removed. In this way, fire-protected wood does not contribute to the development of fire and minimizes the damage caused.
Class of reaction to fire
By using fire retardants, we change the way fire affects the materials used and reduce their contribution to fire development. The reaction of impregnated wooden elements to fire is described by the EUROCLASS classification system. This system shows how a product behaves when exposed to fire - whether the impregnated element ignites easily and quickly, whether smoke is emitted during the process, or whether it resists flames.
Wood impregnated with FOBOS® products obtains the reaction class B-s1,d0, which corresponds to a product that is "non-flammable, does not drip or fall off under the influence of fire and does not spread fire".
FOBOS - wood protection against fire
© LUVENA
Natural fire resistance of wooden structures vs. the use of impregnates
Reaction to fire describes the behavior of wood under the influence of fire, while fire resistance defines how long a structure retains its load-bearing capacity under fire load. Wood, regardless of the level of ignitability class obtained, naturally allows to maintain high fire resistance. When exposed to high temperatures, the process of pyrolysis and charring of wood occurs, which has a protective effect on the core. As a result, the wooden structure is able to carry loads in contact with fire for some time.
However, the decisive factor in terms of ensuring adequate load-bearing capacity is the use of structural elements with appropriate minimum cross-sections, so that despite charring the core of the element retains the ability to carry loads during a fire.
However, regardless of the cross sections used, wood is still a flammable material and in contact with fire will affect the rapid spread of fire. To reduce the contribution of structural timber to the development of a fire, FOBOS® fireproofing should be used in addition.
Roof trusses in the non-combustibility class - salt impregnation FOBOS® M-4
The basic and most traditional fire retardant in the company's product range is FOBOS® M-4 salt impregnate, which not only allows wood to be effectively protected against fire, but also protects against the development of domestic fungi and insects.
FOBOS M-4 Color. Multifunctional impregnant for the protection of structural wood and construction lumber.
© LUVENA
This agent has been used for years to impregnate lumber intended for roof trusses, or to protect prefabricated trusses. FOBOS® M-4is intended for interior use only. It allows for the protection of structural timber up to the "non-flammability" and "NRO non-fire spreading" class (according to PN-EN 13501-1+A1:2010).
NRO-rated wood facade - water-based fire protection varnish FOBOS® Z-LAK
To meet the growing importance of wood as a facade cladding, LUVENA S.A. also offers FOBOS® Z-LAK water-based fire retardant varnish, which allows to obtain the NRO class for wooden construction elements outside buildings in accordance with the current Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure.
FOBOS® Z -LAK is an agent that effectively combines protection against fire with a decorative finish of the wood surface. It is also characterized by high resistance to environmental and UV factors.
FOBOS Z-LAK protective varnish for wood
© LUVENA
FOBOS® Z-LAK protects wooden facade claddings made of European wood species and Siberian larch to the NRO fire-retardant class with a 5-year durability of protection in outdoor conditions (according to PN-B-02867:1990 + Az1:2001). This product can be used in the protection of wooden roofing (shingles, aspen chips) to the non-flammability class Broof {t1}. It also allows to raise the class of reaction to fire of wood and wood-based products to the level of "non-flammability".
For more information, visit the company's LUVENA Spółka Akcyjna page on the A&B portal.
