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Fire Foil Board

Fire foil board is used in many construction applications as an aid in containing potential fire hazards. By inserting fire foil board between walls and ceilings, any fires which might occur in one area would be effectively confined or the spread of the flames delayed by the insulative and flame retardant properties of the fire foil board. Fire foil board is especially prevalent in office buildings, schools, government buildings, and apartment and commercial buildings, as well as multi-use facilities. By containing fires or prohibiting their spread, the addition of fire foil boards to construction offers an important element of safety which may even be required by many government building codes.

Fire foil board and asbestos

When manufacturers consider the fabrication of any potential construction material, they first study the material’s intended application. In the case of fire foil board, the most important consideration is that the material itself is not only fire and flame resistant and able to withstand high heat and temperatures, but that it must be able to resist flames enough to keep them contained and compartmentalized. The material must also be able to be molded and formed into the shape required for strong, durable board. Prior to 1977, the one material that appeared to suit all of those criteria was asbestos. The silica-based mineral was renowned for its high resistance to heat, as well as its ability to insulate, and so smother or contain fire. Moreover, it was cheap and plentiful, and the fibers were easily incorporated into a wide variety of products and applications.

What was not known until the mid-1970s was the imposing list of substantial health risks posed by the manufacture and installation of asbestos-based construction materials, including fire foil board. Asbestos fibers are very lightweight and easily borne by even the slightest currents of air. When inhaled, these fibers irritate the lungs, stomach and heart, and often lead to deadly complications, including mesothelioma and other cancers. Although it is essentially safe when inert and undisturbed, any renovation or remodeling activity which involves the removal or disruption of fire foil board can cause asbestos fibers to break away and become airborne. In addition, asbestos becomes friable, or brittle with age, and the older asbestos becomes, thre greater the chance of the tiny fibers creating a dangerous health risk.

Last modified: December 09 2009.