Technical Library

Sources – Fire Retardant Treated Wood

Directory of Western fire retardant treated wood products manufacturers, with sales contact information and fire retardant treatments offered.
1 page, 07/25

Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood: what it is and what it isn’t

Building and fire safety code language is deliberately specific when it comes to defining the requirements that make fire-retardant-treated wood compliant with Section 2303.2 of the International Building Code. It has to be. If these structural elements were to fail prematurely during a fire the building could collapse, potentially trapping occupants and first responders inside. This FireSpec one sheet spells out the differences.
2 pages, 12/25

Fire Retardant Wood Products ASTM E2768 Test Results Summary

“There are clear differences…” begins the Conclusion section of this report from independent consultant Kelley Spence. The report summarizes WWPI’s fire testing program to determine if wood products treated with non-pressure applied fire retardants are able to achieve the ASTM E2768 test results required for FRTW used in structural applications under 2303.2 of the International Building Code.
12 pages, 12/25

FireSpec – Code Compliant Fire Retardant-Treated Wood Labels

Details on code-required labels or stamps on interior use and exterior use fire retardant-treated lumber and plywood products.
1 page, 07/25

FireSpec – Fire Retardant Treating vs. Coatings

Details on the advantages of pressure treated fire retardants compared to surface coatings, code requirements regarding coatings and what to look for to ensure you have the proper fire retardant wood.
1 page, 07/25

Flame Spread Performance of Wood Products

Guide from the American Wood Council detailing the flame spread testing methods and ratings for sawn wood and panel products used in construction in the U.S.
7 pages, 05/19

Life Cycle Assessment of Fire Retardant-Treated (FRT) Plywood

Report detailing a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, of fire retardant-treated plywood that is consistent with ISO standards and product category rules (PCRs) associated with building-related products.
50 pages, 10/23

Fire-Resistance Rated Assemblies

Review the tested wood assemblies using D-Blaze, Dricon FS, FlamePro and PyroGuard on the Assemblies page, complete with links to the respective fire retardant manufacturer.
Web section

DCA 4 – CAM for Calculating and Demonstrating Assembly Fire Resistance

Guide from the American Wood Council reviewing the Component Additive Method (CAM) for calculating the fire resistance detailing the flame spread testing methods and ratings for sawn wood and panel products used in construction in the U.S.
7 pages, 01/19

FireSpec – Fire Retardant Wood and the 2021 International Building Code

Code references recognizing the use of fire retardant treated wood in construction in the 2021 International Building Code.
2 pages, 07/25

FPL – Effects of Fire Retardants on Bending Properties of Wood

Research by the U.S. Forest Product Laboratory on the impacts of fire retardant chemicals on the bending properties of wood at elevated temperatures.
24 pages, 09/99

FPL – Effects of Fire Retardants on Mechanical Properties of Wood

Research by the U.S. Forest Product Laboratory on the impacts of fire retardant treatment on the mechanical properties of Douglas fir and Aspen plywood.
22 pages, 02/88

FPL – Test Protocol: Thermal Degradation of Fire Retardant-Treated Plywood

Research by the U.S. Forest Product Laboratory on a test protocol to assess the thermal degradation of fire-retardant treated plywood.
21 pages, 06/91

In -Place Evaluation of Fire Retardant-Treated Plywood

Research by the U.S. Forest Product Laboratory on non-destructive testing for in-place assessment of fire-retardant treated plywood.
6 pages, 09/92