New VORATHERM™ PIR Products from Dow Can Help Keep Buildings More Fire-Safe and Comfortable
 |
|
 |
|
 |
A new product from The Dow Chemical Company helps create both a safer and more comfortable environment in buildings. By combining excellent insulation and fire performance in one product, Dow’s new VORATHERM™ polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam facilitates compliance with building codes for metal-faced sandwich panels.
Because of its excellent thermal insulation properties and the enhanced fire resistance, VORATHERM can help manufacturers meet a variety of fire safety requirements for both insurance and national regulations – normally achieving up to 60 minutes of fire resistance.
VORATHERM can also be customized to meet specific application requirements for commercial, industrial and residential building applications – including cold rooms, clean rooms, warehouses and office space.
“Changing market requirements and evolving legislation pose challenges for panel manufacturers,” said Brian Powers, global market manager for construction polyurethanes at Dow Polyurethane Systems. “They have to maintain the insulating effectiveness of their products, meet increasingly stringent fire safety codes and remain a preferred supplier to their customers.
“VORATHERM can help accomplish these goals. It offers a wide range of fire performance levels, can be tailored to fit specific needs and processing environments, and with Dow’s dedicated support, we have been able to successfully complete customer trials in as little as six weeks.”
Converting to VORATHERM™
Backed by the Company’s 60-year polyurethane chemistry know-how and extensive experience with the building and construction industry, Dow’s polyurethane experts will help customers determine the right product for every class of certification and will be available for on-site trials.
Dow’s designated technical service representatives will provide support throughout the entire PIR implementation and certification process – helping customers get their panels certified and out to the market fast.
Due to the ring structure of rigid polyisocyanurate foam, insulated panels containing VORATHERM have high thermal resistance that contributes to lower flammability. The panels have passed the standard flammability test for building components FM 4880, as well as Loss Prevention Standards tests 1181 and 1208.
VORATHERM delivers not only the superb insulation, lightweight, structural strength and adhesion properties of PUR but also improved performance in reaction and resistance to fire – helping to keep buildings around the world safer and more comfortable.