Making Materials Fireproof
Adding flame retardants to plastics and textiles makes them less flammable. Use of less flammable and generally more expensive plastics or inflammable materials could also be employed. It is not only sensible but essential where there is a high fire risk or devastating consequences could occur, due to difficult or impossible escape routes or where there are crowds to manage e.g. aeroplanes, ships, hospitals, theatres, hotels…

The Flame Retardants Diversity
Many "flame retardants" are chemical substances which differ greatly in their physical-chemical properties, their toxicology and environmental behaviour.

Flame Retardants - Built-in Safety
It is sometimes possible to fix the flame retardant into the plastic e.g. important for washable textiles.

How do Flame Retardants work?
Comparison: Plastic (Polypropylene) With and Without Flame Retardant. Even a cigarette lighter can't set the protected plastic on fire.

Comparison: PU Foam with and without Flame Retardants
Fire brigades in Germany have demanded improved fire protection in the home. The AGBF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Berufsfeuerwehren) - Working Committee of Professional Fire Brigades have demanded that measures for fire prevention in the home should be introduced as has already been done in several European countries. This includes obligatory installation of smoke alarms as well as a ban on highly flammable upholstery and inflammable casing on electrical appliances.

Source: Thesen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Berufsfeuerwehren (AGBF) 2004; Albrecht Broemme, AGBF-Vorsitzender; in BrandSchutz - Deutsche Feuerwehr-Zeitung 7/2004, S. 507