DUSCAFF FIRE SAFE
THE WORLD'S ONLY CLASS A FIRE RETARDANT SCAFFOLD BOARDS
CLASS A SCAFFOLD BOARDS FOR THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
NON-COMBUSTIBLE | IGNITION-RESISTANT | FIRE-RETARDANT
Duscaff Fire Safe
Steel Plank (2mm)
Duscaff Fire Safe is the world’s only timber scaffold boards that offer Class A fire protection.
Duscaff Fire Safe Class A scaffold boards are as noncombustible as carbon steel when subject to an open flame source of up to 750° C. The boards do not self-ignite, nor can they be set to fire by atmospheric heat radiation. The boards are ideal for use in Oil, Gas and Energy projects where the temperature of the work environment is relatively high and there are risks of the wooden boards self-igniting into flames. The ignition-resistant nature of Class A rated boards prevent them from automatically burning at high temperatures; hence maintaining their structural integrity up until temperatures at which carbon steel would melt.
In the unfortunate event of a fire, the boards will not fail (before the metalwork would fail) as the fire-retardant properties of the boards will repel the flames until above 1,000° C. When the temperature crosses over 1,000 °C, the boards start reacting to the fire by producing char that acts to insulate underlying wood and slows the rate at which the cross-sectional area is reduced in size. The carbon dioxide and water vapor dilute the combustible gases to help reduce flame spread. The flame spread index (FSI) of a Class A boards is below 15, and the smoke developed index (SDI) is below 15. In comparison, the FSI of a Class B board is 50 and the SDI is 250. The differences are huge, as are the health and safety regulations at energy projects with extreme working conditions.
There are two types of The Class A boards. The LVL Range is manufactured using 14-ply DUPLANK Premium European Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and the SW Range is manufactured using European Softwoods visually graded to BS2482:2009 Standards.
8 YEAR GUARANTEE AGAINST DELAMINATION (LVL RANGE)
30 YEAR GUARANTEE ON FIRE PROTECTION
TREATMENT PROCESS
Our fire retardant treatment processes are carried out under controlled conditions in modern industrial treatment plants within our treatment center. Each treatment process involves a high-pressure impregnation of the fire retardant solution followed by drying to specific moisture content. Duscaff is an ISO 9001 registered company and our continual assessment against this quality standard includes it’s treatment centers. This treatment facility is also now accredited to BS EN ISO 14001 in terms of environmental aspects of our business.
All our center staff is fully trained and updated on all aspects of timber treatment technology and treatment plant operation. Installation of the very latest technology treatment plant control software helps ensure accurate and cost-effective treatments for our customers. Each pack of timber is labeled to confirm the treatment applied and customer details and confirmation treatment certificates are available on request.
HOW IT WORKS
An important feature of Duscaff Fire Safe boards are that they react automatically when exposed to fire. The chemicals react with combustible gases and tars normally generated by untreated wood and convert them to carbon char and harmless carbon dioxide and water. Wood loses strength in a fire only as it’s cross section is reduced. The surface char acts to insulate underlying wood and slows the rate at which the cross sectional area is reduced in size. The carbon dioxide and water vapor dilute the combustible gases to help reduce flame spread.
Preservative protection comes from the ingredients of the fire retardant solution. It renders the wood useless as a food source for termites and fungal decay, thereby avoiding damage caused by these organisms.
THE PROJECTED FIRE RETARDANT LIFE SPAN
15 years to in excess of 60 years.
The service life of Duscaff Fire Safe depends upon the end use and application rates. In general, it can be expected that the fire retardance in scaffold boards used in Use Class* 1 or 2 will last in excess of 60 years. Those boards exposed to weathering but installed above ground contact will achieve fire retardant life span of between 15-30 years. Boards serving in-ground contact with constant wetting (which would generally never be the case with scaffold boards) can achieve a fire retardant life of around 15 years.
* Refer to page 3 of the Duscaff Fire Safe Brochure for the Use Class Table. Email us for the latest copy of the brochure.
PROVEN PERFORMANCE WHEN TESTED TO ASTM E84
DUSCAFF FIRE SAFE
CLASS A
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the fire-end)
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the exhaust end)
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CLASS B
FIRE RETARDANT SCAFFOLD BOARDS
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the fire-end)
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the exhaust end)
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CLASS C
FIRE RETARDANT SCAFFOLD BOARDS
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the fire-end)
Specimen after the test.
(As seen from the exhaust end)
CONCLUSION:
The Class A boards:
•The boards developed minimal smoke when the specimen was exposed to a flame source.
•The flame did not reach the other end of the tunnel and achieved an FSI result of below 25; hence non-combustible.
•The timber at the exhaust end of the tunnel did not ignite at 292° C (the auto-ignition temperatures of Picea Abies (Norway Spruce), Abies Alba (Douglas Fir) and Pinus Sylvestris (Pine) are 250° C); hence ignition-resistant.
•When the 1076° C flames to the surface of the boards were turned off, The Class A-boards were the only specimen that lost only 2mm of its thickness and also auto-extinguished the flame while the other specimen was already burned out; truly fire-retardant.
•The temperature recorded at the exhaust end of the tunnel was not more than that of the flame; hence low thermal conductivity.
•There was no delamination recorded at 1076° C.
WHY CHOOSE
DUSCAFF FIRE SAFE
OVER STEEL PLANKS?
Fire & Explosion Hazard
Electric Shock Risk
High Temperature Risk
Sharp Objects Risk
Forklift Trucks Operation
Risk from Cranes
Environmental Hazard
SW Range in the impregnation plant
SW Range marked with the class of treatment and the production batch code
LVL Range range after treatment
INSIST ON HIGH PRESSURE TREATED FIRE RETARDANT SCAFFOLD BOARDS ONLY!
As specified by NASC (TG10:14 Fire Retardant Treatment for Timber Scaffold Boards and Battens) brush, spray or dip applied products offer only superficial protection which is quickly worn away under foot and should NOT be used. Since scaffold boards are always subject to surface wear, ONLY flame retardants (FR) applied using a high-pressure impregnation process should be considered suitable. Duscaff Fire Safe FR Scaffold Board are impregnated under controlled conditions within a sealed autoclave using a pre-determined vacuum and pressure cycle to force the chemicals into the cells of the wood. The FR properties outlive the timber, therefore, there is no concern of the fire retardance deteriorating.
All products available under the category 'Fire Retardant Scaffold Boards':
