There are many new materials on the market today and one of them is purenite. And the question of its flammability is one of the ones that people often ask. Does it burn? Is it safe? And why is it so widely used in modern construction?
Ivan Landa
When the word fire is mentioned in connection with building materials, most people become alarmed. It's logical, everyone wants to make sure that their house or building is strong and durable, but also safe in case of possible contact with flames. Nowadays, there are many new materials on the market and one of them is purenite. And the question of its flammability is one of those that people often ask. Does it burn? Is it safe? And why is it so widely used in modern construction?
These questions will be answered in this article, as in the following lines we will look at what purenite actually is, what its technical properties are, how it reacts to fire and how it compares to other materials. This will give you a clear picture and help you to see if purenite is also a suitable choice for your project
Purenite is a modern functional building material made from rigid polyurethane foam (PUR/PIR) and is manufactured from recycled polyurethane scraps and offcuts. It is lightweight but at the same time very strong - its bulk density is around 550 kg/m³ and its compressive strength is at least 7.1 MPa.
To this are added a number of other advantages: purenite is resistant to moisture, is not subject to rot or mould, is stable even under long-term loading and can easily withstand a wide range of chemicals, including mineral oils or solvents. Another great advantage is its low thermal conductivity, which makes it a good insulator.
It is because of its properties that purenite is used where other materials fail, such as in bathrooms, on facades, in structures exposed to moisture, as a door filler, in window sills or even as a substrate for window frames. Simply put, wherever there is a need to combine strength, durability and insulating properties.
A question that everyone is interested in: how does purenite behave in contact with fire?
Purenite is normally classified as Class E according to European standard EN 13501-1, which means it is normally flammable. This does not, however, mean that it is dangerous. In practice, it means that it can burn, but it will usually stop burning spontaneously once the direct flame is removed.
There is also a purenite C option for buildings where fire safety is even more important. This type contains added flame retardants and achieves a higher rating - Class C. This is already a level that corresponds to materials with significantly better flame resistance.
A big plus is that purenite does not smoulder, melt or drip when it burns. This minimises the risk of burning droplets igniting other materials in the vicinity. In fact, the burning droplets that drip from some plastics can be very dangerous, as they can cause the fire to spread to areas where there was no flame to begin with. Purenite does not suffer from this risk.
To assess what Class E or C means in practice, we looked at other commonly used building materials:
It is clear from comparison that purenite stands somewhere between traditionally non-flammable materials such as concrete or mineral insulation and conventional plastics or polystyrene. Due to its stability and safe behaviour in contact with fire, it provides greater security than many other commonly used materials.
You may be wondering what this means to me in practice. For example, if you use purenite as a substrate for windows or doors, you don't have to worry about it melting in a fire and causing other hazards. In bathrooms or kitchens you will appreciate its resistance to moisture and the fact that it will not contribute to the rapid spread of fire in the event of a fire.
Architects and builders alike have taken a liking to it precisely because it is a very reliable material that combines a number of benefits into one. And when you add the option to choose a variant with even higher fire resistance, purenite becomes a versatile helper you can trust.
If we were to sum up purenite in one word, it would be "reliability". This material maintains its stable properties even in harsh conditions. It is mechanically resistant, not subject to moisture or ageing and behaves safer in contact with fire than many other commonly used materials. It is therefore no wonder that it is finding more and more fans among designers, construction companies and end customers. It is the material of the future.
If you need any advice on purenite, contact us. We at ISOparts are happy to answer and help you with anything.
