Take the Heat out of TV & Film Prop/Set Design with Flame Retardant Polyurethanes!
Regulations are set to change for the use of flexible foams in various applications including set design and props. BJB, as always, are making sure to stay ahead of the curve by developing a larger range of fire retardant polyurethane elastomers and flexible foams ensuring finished products will pass the test for fire safety. Ripples from these forthcoming health and safety regulations can be felt through an increasing demand for fire retardant foams from the entertainment industries, specifically film & TV special effects, theme parks and theatrical performance set and prop builders. These new FR products from BJB are all RoHS certified and comply with various flame and fire retardancy specifications including Bulletin 117 (Upholstered Furniture) and FMVSS302 (D.O.T Flammability of Interior Materials). Why choose flame retardant grades? A polyurethane foam or elastomer with flame retardancy is the safest option regardless of what you are building. Some industries choose fire resistant grades for every element of their build to firstly reduce the risk of a fire starting, but also to contain a fire and stop any spread if one broke out nearby. So what products are on offer? TC-267 FR and TC-278 FR are the most popular new arrivals, one with a 3lb density and the other with a 4lb density. These soft water blown flexible foams can be hand mixed, machine dispensed or mixed with a Jiffy Mixer. The firmness of the foams can be controlled by mould temperature and the amount loaded in the mould. If you are looking for a more rigid castable grade there is a range of products on offer with varying work times and shore hardness (between 70 and 80 shore D). These grades offer high impact resistance and are commonly used to make models of all kinds and artwork. They can also be used for electronic component enclosures and the TC-885 (78 Shore D) is proving a popular choice to make computer housings. Even flexible solutions are covered with the tried and tested F/M Range fire retardant options. These are currently available in either a 60 (F-164 FR) or 80 Shore A (M-3184 FR) hardness (watch this space as it may expand). These castable polyurethanes are useful in a whole range of applications where a tough, yet flexible rubber is required with self-extinguishing properties. These grades are most popular within the Special Effects & Prop building industries, along with prototyping and over moulding applications.