Fire safety class of linoleum

Selecting quality finishing materials that meet fire safety regulations can significantly reduce the risk of fire. And if such a situation occurs, then extinguishing and rescuing people will be much easier. Since linoleum is one of the most common floor coverings, its choice must be approached responsibly, especially paying attention to such a characteristic as the fire hazard class.

What does the concept of fire hazard class include?

Fire safety class is a set of characteristics that determine the important properties of resistance to open flame in finishing materials, buildings and structures.

REFERENCE! All standards are specified in SNiP documents and are regulated by law.

For building and finishing materials, 4 types of flammability are established:

• KM1 - do not pose a danger;
• KM2 - fire danger is insignificant;
• KM3 - average software;
• KM4 - high fire danger.

Flammability is the most important characteristic when choosing fireproof linoleum. Floor coverings marked K4 are contraindicated for use in rooms visited by a large number of people.

In addition to the main characteristics, there are also additional ones for finishing materials. These include:

1. Flammability. Shows how quickly the material will ignite; the lower the value, the longer it will take to ignite.
2. Toxicity.Characterizes the amount of harmful substances released during fire.
3. Smoke formation. Shows the amount and density of smoke produced during a fire.
4. Fire propagation time. A characteristic indicating how quickly an open fire spreads on a coating surface.

ATTENTION! All indicators have a numerical designation from 1 to 3. The lower this value, the more resistant building and finishing materials are to open flame.

High-quality building materials indicate these characteristics in quality certificates.

Which linoleum is fireproof?

In addition to such qualities as wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage, when choosing linoleum it is necessary to take into account all the main fire safety indicators. Fireproof linoleum is most often used when decorating places visited by a large number of people. This:

• clinics, hospitals and other medical institutions;
• public catering places;
• hotel complexes;
• general educational institutions;
• office buildings;
• entertainment and sports centers.

Since there are usually a large number of people in such places, the selected linoleum must meet all fire safety requirements:

• should not release various toxic and caustic substances in the event of fire;
• should not create smoke;
• the speed of flame spread over the surface of the linoleum should be minimal.

REFERENCE! All linoleum, which is classified as fireproof, has a special protective layer.

The main components of linoleum are polymers, so polyvinyl chloride floor coverings occupy the largest niche in the finishing materials market.However, when burned, they release a huge amount of caustic and toxic substances, and also cause heavy smoke. Such coatings are not suitable for places with large crowds of people. Therefore, in the manufacture of fireproof linoleum, special non-toxic additives are used. They help the coating fight high temperatures and prevent the release of caustic substances into the atmosphere.

IMPORTANT! Even the most fireproof linoleum cannot withstand high temperatures of an open fire for a long time, but no caustic substances will be released during combustion.

How to test linoleum for fire resistance

All the most important characteristics of the floor covering must be confirmed by the necessary package of documents. It includes:

1. SanPiN conclusion confirming the fire safety of the coating.
2. Fire safety certificate. It indicates the flammability class of linoleum. For fireproof this value should be K1.
3. Declaration of compliance of the coating with laws and regulations.

IMPORTANT! The seller must have the entire set of documents. If there is no such set, then we can talk about the product being counterfeit.

It is worth considering that fire-resistant linoleum is available in two types:

1. Homogeneous. Made from one dense layer and has a foam base. The drawing goes right through. Typically used for industrial premises, as it has a limited number of patterns and colors.
2. Heterogeneous. The structure is heterogeneous. However, it has several protective layers. Suitable for placement in kindergartens and clinics.

All modern and high-quality floor coverings are made in accordance with established fire safety standards.