Implementation of higher fire safety requirements for European televisions: Fid-Bau Portal

Implementation of higher fire safety requirements for European televisions

Borms, R. / Blundell, Cefn / Desikan, Anatha / Georlette, P. / Yaakov, Y.Bar

Since the early nineties, televisions sold in Europe became one of the major fire hazards in private dwellings killing thousands and injuring tens of thousands during the last decade. An in-depth investigation revealed that the plastic housing of televisions (TV) can be easily ignited by external sources and, once ignited, can cause a flash-over of a furnished room in approximately seven minutes. To cope with this situation, the European Commission and EU member states have urged CENELEC to speed up to process to implement a higher fire safety requirement requiring TV producers to use plastic housings meeting the UL 94 V-l criteria or better. Several flame retardants systems exist to reach this new standard with the two main types of plastics used to produce housings of TVs, HIPS (high impact polystyrene) and styrenic copolymers alloys with polycarbonate (PC) or polyphenylene oxide (PPO). For HIPS, the melt blend able tris(tribromophenoxy) triazine (tradename FR-245; ICL-IP) has become a major flame retardant partner, specially for large flat-screen TVs, contributing to excellent melt flow, impact and UV stability properties. Oligomeric phosphate esters such as resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) and bis-phenol A-bis(diphenyl phosphate) (Fyroflex RDP and BDP respectively; ICL-IP) are the well established non-halogen flame retardant used in styrenic copolymers alloys with polycarbonate or polyphenylene oxide. SaFRon-5531 series, newly developed polymeric flame retardant system with built-in anti-dripping properties, can be used in styrenic copolymers and alloys by themselves or as a synergist enabling reduction of the loading of flame retardant and antimony trioxide. Development of cost-effective solid organophosphorus based flame retardants is conducted to address the needs of middle size compounders who are not equipped with liquid handling systems. It is also important to mention the Voluntary Emission Control Action Program (VECAP) initiated recently by the major producers of flame retardants in cooperation with their downstream users to decrease and to avoid emissions of brominated flame retardants (Br FRs) in the environment. ICL-IP as part of its product stewardship program is applying VECAP on FR-245 as well as for all other Br FRs.