Recently, fire retardant plastics are gaining popularity due to increasing concerns around safety, regulatory standards, and environmental considerations. We have seen an increase in requests for FR (fire retardant) materials in plastic pallets, bulk containers, RPCs, distribution totes and more. There are many reasons why a warehouse or manufacturing plant may be considering FR material for their facility. Among them are stricter safety regulations, the preponderance of high risk applications, increased urbanization and development, and overall awareness of the threat posed by building fires. This F.A.Q. may help answer some of your questions regarding fire retardant plastics, and our team is more than happy to assist you with any questions you may have.

Fire Retardant Plastic FAQ

Q. Who sets the standards for fire retardant plastics?

A. In North America, FM (Factory Mutual) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) provide standards, testing and certification in the United States while CSA (the Canadian Standard Association) does the same for Canada.

 

Q. What are the differences in the testing/certification laboratories?

 A. FM Global is an international property insurance and loss prevention engineering company. With a vested interest in product safety, FM is considered to have the highest testing standards among American product testing institutes. UL, or Underwriter Laboratories, is the most widely known and authoritative organization providing product safety testing in the global market. In comparison, their backgrounds are what makes them so different. FM provides insurances while UL is focusing mainly on product testing and certification. FM excels in the firefighting field; UL is firmly established in consumer electronics and firefighting equipment. It’s not a matter which is better, but what’s demanded by the target market or buyer.

 

Q. How are fire retardant characteristics applied to plastic pallets and containers?

 A. Fire retardant additives are incorporated into the raw materials prior to when the plastic pallet or container is actually formed. Most are made with a non-halogenated fire retardants, and are therefore devoid of chemicals such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine, or iodine.

 

Q. What types of fire retardant chemicals are normally used?

A. Phosphoropus based compounds are commonly used, as they form a protective char layer that serves as a barrier to heat and oxygen to prevent the spread of fire. Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are also common, as they release water vapor when heated, which cools the material and dilutes the concentration of combustible gases.

 

Q. Do fire retardant chemicals change the material characteristics or physical properties of the plastic?

A. Yes. This varies according to the amount of fire retardant additives used, but these chemicals have the side effects of diminishing the strength of the material, and increasing its pliability. These factors must be taken into consideration to determine suitability for each specific application.

 

Q. What is FM 4996?

A. Factory Mutual Standard 4996 (FM 4996) is a rigorous certification that sets the benchmark for the performance and safety of plastic pallets used in industrial and commercial environments. This standard focuses on minimizing fire risks associated with plastic pallets. To meet FM 4996, pallets must demonstrate superior fire resistance, typically requiring the use of fire-retardant materials, and pass extensive testing under severe conditions. Pallets certified under FM 4996 are designed to reduce the potential for fire spread and lower insurance costs, providing companies with a safer, more reliable solution for their storage and transportation needs.

 

Q. What is UL 2335?

A. The primary focus of UL 2335 is to evaluate the fire performance of plastic pallets in comparison to wood pallets, particularly in terms of fire growth, heat release, and smoke production. The UL 2335 standard involves testing where plastic pallets are subjected to controlled fire scenarios to assess their ability to resist ignition, limit the spread of fire, and minimize heat and smoke. Pallets that meet UL 2335 requirements are considered to have demonstrated equivalent or superior fire safety characteristics to traditional wood pallets.

 

Q. What is NFPA 13?

A. This standard comes from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and sets the requirements for the installation of automatic sprinkler systems. Under this standard, plastic pallets increase the commodity class by either one class (unreinforced pallets) or two classes (reinforced pallets), unless the pallets are determined to be equivalent to, or better than, wood pallets per FM 4996 or UL 2335. Manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centers that must comply with NFPA 13 can decrease their risk of fire by using FM4996 or UL 2335 pallets.  If they elect to use plastic pallets without either of these certifications, they must comply with more stringent storage and transportation requirements of NFPA 13.

 

Have Questions Or Need Further Assistance?

Call Us At (727) 319-2300.

Our team has over 40 years of experience in reusable plastic pallets, bulk containers, handheld crates, and more. With a focus on excellent customer service. we’re more than happy to assist with any information that you may need. You can also send us an email at sales@reusabletranspack.com and we’ll get back to you at our earliest opportunity.