Fire-retardant impregnations for wood, antiseptics, tinting.

At one of the stages of finishing a newly built wooden house, I treated the structures with special means of protection against fire, as well as the effects of insects and microorganisms. In this review, I explained what fire bioprotection for wood is, how it works and what it is needed for, what types it is divided into, what criteria should be used to choose it for specific conditions of use, and also which products are included in the rating of the best today.

Source color-kostroma.ru

How does fire bioprotection for wood work?

What is wood fire protection and how does it work? Fire and bioprotection is a general name for wood processing products of various compositions and principles of action, which can protect it from rapid fire, as well as damage from rot, fungi and insects.

Science today can do a lot, but, unfortunately, not everything. A means that completely protects wood from fire has not yet been invented. Treatment with fire-bioprotection only makes it more difficult to ignite and prevents harmful microorganisms from actively developing. Such products contain two main components - a fire retardant and an antiseptic.

Fire is the main enemy of wooden buildings, so fire bioprotection manufacturers focus their main efforts on the effectiveness of fire retardants - substances that impede the combustion process. In addition to fire retardants, the protective composition usually includes an antiseptic that protects wooden structures from rot, mold, and insects. Today, there are formulations on sale that contain only fire retardants or only antiseptics, and there is a combined fire-bioprotection that includes both components.

There are several types of fire protection in Moscow; they may differ:

based on the principle of fire protection;
by method of application;
by breeding method;
according to the degree of effectiveness of fire protection;
by consumption per sq.m.;
by penetration depth;
by coloring ability.

Next, we will consider in detail all the above characteristics, see the next section

Why fire protection of wooden structures is important

The importance of fire protection of wooden structures Fire protection of wood is now no less relevant than ever. Indeed, despite the emergence of a large number of new fire-resistant building materials, buildings made of wood are widely popular. People prefer environmentally friendly housing that is easy to breathe, warm and comfortable.

The number of wooden houses increases every year, and where there is wood, there is a danger of fire. In dry summer weather, an ordinary tree can catch fire with just one match. Therefore, fire protection of wooden structures is a necessary condition for wooden construction, ensuring the safety of people’s lives and their property.

Today, fire-retardant wood treatment can be carried out in several ways. It is immediately worth noting that none of them is capable of making wood non-flammable. All these methods are aimed only at maximizing the time of ignition of wood, as well as preventing further spread of fire.

Fire retardant treatment of wood can be carried out by coating or plastering it. These methods have been used for a long time and consist of increasing the ignition time of wood by covering it with a protective layer of considerable thickness. In the case of coating, high-quality fire protection of wood is ensured with a layer thickness of at least 3 mm; when plastering, the thickness of the protective layer should be at least 20-30 mm. Coating is especially often used for fire protection of wooden roof structures.

Modern methods of fire protection for wood include painting and impregnation. Special fire-retardant paints for wood swell when exposed to flame and block fire from reaching the wood. An example of such paint is “Krauz-D”. Fire retardant impregnation of wooden structures is carried out with special compounds that penetrate deep into solid wood, increasing its fire resistance. Additional advantages of impregnations are the provision of not only high fire protection for wood, but also bioprotection from pests and rotting through special additives in impregnations.

Wood treated with special compounds.

Classification of fire-bioprotective compounds

Types based on the principle of fire protection

The action of a fire-bioprotective composition can be based on any of three fundamental physical processes:

melting of substances included in fire retardants, such as silicon salt, phosphoric or boric acid, to form a non-flammable protective substance;
decomposition of substances, accompanied by the release of gas (ammonia, sulfur dioxide), which displaces oxygen, which, in turn, complicates combustion;
swelling of the protective shell, leading to the fact that the contact of fire with the wooden surface becomes minimal (organophosphorus compounds).

Types of fire protection by method of application

Depending on how fire protection is applied to wood, there are:

impregnating compositions - act from the inside;
coating compositions - form a protective layer on the surface (pastes, varnishes, enamels, putties).

The main difference between them lies in the aesthetic qualities of the processed structures. After application, impregnating compounds do not change the smell and wood grain (sometimes even emphasize it), that is, the wood retains its natural appearance. Coatings, on the contrary, greatly deteriorate the appearance of the wood and have an unpleasant odor, so they are used to treat wooden load-bearing structures, which will then be hidden under the finish.

Classification of fire protection according to dilution method

Fire-retardant compounds are divided into: water-soluble and organic-soluble. Water-soluble protection - compositions for which a water solution is used to dissolve. They, in turn, are divided into two categories:

saline;
non-salt.

Salt fire protection is low in cost. And this is perhaps its only advantage. But there are enough disadvantages:

increased consumption and low degree of protection;
after applying the salt composition to the wood, it will no longer be possible to cover the structure with paint and varnish;
such fire-bioprotection is valid for no more than five years;
in case of overdose and non-compliance with recommendations, whitish stains appear on wooden surfaces.

In addition, the salt composition is easily washed out with water, and with high humidity its effectiveness decreases significantly, so such materials are used exclusively for interior work.

Non-salt fire protection is made on the basis of compounds of boric, carbonic or phosphoric acids and has the following advantages:

long period of validity, which according to the “bio” parameter is 20 years, and according to the “fire” parameter - 15 years;
versatility of use - can be used both indoors and to protect outdoor wooden structures
structures treated with such compounds can be coated with varnish or paint;
non-toxic, safe for humans and animals.

The main disadvantage is the higher price of this type of fire protection. Although quality, practicality and long-lasting effect in this case completely compensate for the extra costs.

Organosoluble compositions are produced on the basis of solvents. After applying the composition, a durable, thin film is formed on wooden surfaces, which perfectly repels liquids and also effectively increases the thermal stability of lumber. The main disadvantage of such compositions is the toxicity of some of the components included in their composition, therefore their use inside buildings is strictly not recommended. In addition, some organosoluble remedies are “narrow profile”.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a means of fire or biological protection, you must first of all pay attention to the following criteria:

Type and location of the structure being processed. If a house element is exposed to heavy precipitation, it is better to use a solution-resistant option. Also, if after processing it is planned to apply varnish, then a colorless composition is suitable, and if it is followed by cladding or painting, it is allowed with a dye.
Physico-chemical operating parameters - temperature, air humidity, direct contact with water, aggressiveness of finishing.
Area to be processed. It is not recommended to take such a quantity of the product that after use it remains as a reserve, since due to long-term storage its properties are quickly lost.
Life time. Even the best fire bioprotection for wood is not able to retain its original properties for more than 5 years from the date of application. However, in the annotations for the products of some lines, advertising is used, which implausibly increases this period by 3 times.

Source elka-palka.ru

Protection class. As a rule, it is not recommended to treat wooden structures with products lower than class 2, ideally – class 1.
Price. The indicator is determined by the type of packaging, container, method of application, consumption, absorbency, as well as brand.
Manufacturer. In order not to purchase an obvious fake, and to avoid the construction being only under imaginary protection, it is better to buy products of well-known brands from sellers who can provide a factory certificate.

Recommendation! For internal treatment of a bathhouse, it is necessary to select a product that is not only resistant to high temperatures, steam and hot water, but also harmless. Since impregnation under the influence of all these factors can begin to release substances harmful to humans into the atmosphere.

Source wbstatic.net

Efficiency of fire and bioprotection

Fire protection is also divided into several types according to the degree of effectiveness. When purchasing fire-bioprotective compounds, you should pay attention to the protective effectiveness group indicated on the product label. There are two of them - 1 and 2. Index 2 indicates that after treatment with this composition, wooden structures become difficult to ignite. If the task is to give wood the properties of fire resistance (the maximum possible resistance to open flame), then fire bioprotection from the warehouse should be purchased with the marking “1”.

It should be noted that the number of layers can change the degree of protection. For example, by applying 6 layers of a weaker composition of group 2, you can obtain a level of resistance of group 1. And vice versa, after applying just one layer of protection of the 1st group, you will get a 2nd level of fire resistance.

What factors reduce the service life of wood?

Rot. Occurs if the tree is used in damp areas. Caused by microorganisms that feed on organic matter. In this case, the wood becomes brittle and the damage occurs to its entire depth. It can be prevented by using surface impregnations - rot begins on the outside and gradually penetrates deeper.
Fungus. There is a whole group of mushrooms that live well in trees. The fungus develops in damp, poorly ventilated areas when condensation occurs. The fungus eats lignin, the main “framework-forming” substance. Wood loses strength over time and crumbles under stress. To prevent and remove fungus, a deep impregnation is required - the threads of the mycelium penetrate the entire thickness of the product. In case of extensive damage, the optimal solution to the problem is to replace the part.
Wood-boring insects. They live under the bark and actively reproduce. The damage is caused by larvae that gnaw tunnels under the bark and in the thickness of the tree. The appetite of woodworms is enormous; one egg-laying can turn a large beam into dust in a couple of years. It is extremely difficult to remove insects from residential buildings; often the most effective way is to replace the element. Woodworm infestation can be more easily prevented by using compounds that make the product unattractive to insects.
High temperatures. Wood has long been used as a source of heat - it burns well. Dry, untreated rafters and beams quickly ignite from sparks or hot chimney walls. Fire resistance can be increased in various ways - by clogging the pores of wood with molten salts, covering it with a non-flammable film, heating it with a gas jacket that “repels” oxygen, or swelling the coating.

Penetration depth, flow rate

Composition consumption per sq.m is an important economic indicator that you should pay special attention to when purchasing. You should look not only at the cost for a specific packaging, but also estimate the required amount in terms of per square meter of processed area. For example, inexpensive salt formulations have a consumption 2-3 times higher than relatively expensive non-salt products - as a result, the apparent savings are reduced to zero.

Based on the depth of absorption, there are two categories of fire protection:

capillary (surface) compositions - penetrate into the fibers no deeper than 6 mm;
deep penetration compounds are capable of saturating wood to 12 mm or more.

It is more profitable to use surface fire-bioprotection, since it can be easily applied to structures with any available painting tool (brush, roller, spray gun). Such compositions do not create internal stresses in wood, which means the strength of the material does not decrease. Protection against deep penetration (in most cases, salt type) requires the use of special equipment for application, so this type of fire-bioprotection is rarely purchased wholesale or retail.

Rating of the best

The following products are included in the rating of currently available wood bioprotection products:

"Senezh". The products of the “bio” and “bio-prof” series are characterized by similar performance qualities, except that the second one costs 2 times more and contains a dye, and the first one is colorless - it can be used under varnish.
Tikkurila Tex Universal Fire and bioprotection. The 2nd class product is colorless and odorless, does not contain harmful components.

Video testing of popular biosecurity products:

Neomid (“EXPERTECOLOGY-NEOCHIM”). On a water-soluble basis - for both interior and exterior use. Available in the form of impregnation and paint of 1st and 2nd classes.
"Pirilax." Available in 6 types of impregnations. Suitable for outdoor and indoor work. It features 1.5 times lower consumption compared to Senezh brand products.
Woodmaster, Pyrex (“Rogneda”). Water-based compositions without color, mainly for interior work.
Phenylax. Water-based product for deep impregnation. Can be used for any type of structure.
OGNEBIO (PROSEPT). Universal protection. Upon contact with a flame, the treated surface produces a non-flammable gas that prevents the spread of fire.

Important! When choosing a fire-bioprotective agent, the recommended operating flow rate is not least important, only at which it exhibits its protective qualities. For example, “Neomida” requires only 250 g/m², “Senezha” about 650 g/m². The final cost of the work will depend on this. If you try to save money, the coating will not exhibit optimal qualities, and the wooden structure will be left without proper protection.

Video tips for choosing fire protection for wood:

Some features of using fire bioprotection

In order for the composition to be able to protect the wood to the maximum after application, the surfaces before treatment should be thoroughly cleaned of dust, dirt, various stains of paint or oil.

Fire protection should be applied to structures only after they have been finished by planing or sanding; the moisture content of the wood should not exceed 30 percent.

It is necessary to coat surfaces with the composition at a positive temperature, since in frosty weather water freezes in the capillaries of wood, which prevents the penetration of fire and bioprotection.

Also, work should not be carried out in high humidity or in the rain.

Myths about fire retardant impregnations

Let's look at the myths that relate to fire protection. Often it is acquired precisely because of belief in these myths, oddly enough. Many people are looking for reviews about protection using impregnations, but instead you need to first understand what they are for. So:

Fire protection makes your home completely non-flammable. Of course, this is not true - primarily because impregnation does not make wood non-flammable, it only becomes less flammable. On the other hand, you have a much better chance of extinguishing the fire (a wooden house without impregnation burns down within 10 - 20 minutes in good hot weather), or saving yourself, taking with you the rest of the family members (wife, cat, daughter, mother-in-law), if you cope Without the help of the fire brigade, fighting a fire is no longer possible.
Naturally, because you have coated the boards with fire and bioprotection, you should not neglect safety precautions. Some people remember about it only when they have already dialed “01”, but in vain. If you have applied fire retardant to all elements of your home, then your home is protected. And this is not true: over time, fire resistance decreases, as the compositions are displaced (weathered, washed out). Treatment with salt mixtures loses its relevance after three years, and sometimes after one. In this case, efflorescence may appear on the wood.
Organic fire protection lasts noticeably longer - up to five years, sometimes even more. In addition, any damage (wood chips, cracks, etc.) worsens its quality. As you can see, applying the composition does not yet ensure complete fire safety.
You can make a fire right on the floor and the house won't catch fire. Under certain conditions, the fire resistance limit ends and the wood begins to burn, even if it is impregnated with ten layers of fire protection.

Wood processing in production.

Main tasks and scope of application

Before carrying out fire protection treatment, it is necessary to decide where it will be used and what functions it will perform. The main objectives of this event include: protection from ignition of objects made of wood, stopping the spread of flame and its passive localization at the initial stage of development. Fireproof impregnation for wood is carried out on the following elements: floors, walls, roof rafter systems, lumber in storage. Also on private and low-rise buildings.

Comparative analysis before and after treatment with a fire retardant