Do PUR and PIR panels produce toxic smoke in a fire?
A. Every type of panel system has an organic content that is affected by fire. In the case of PUR, PIR and mineral fibre panels the major products of combustion are carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide because all contain organic components. The most important point to recognise is that the in the case of fires in buildings clad in PUR, PIR and mineral fibre panels the vast majority of smoke and toxic gas is generated by the burning contents of the building. The panels are not significantly affected until the fire is fully developed and the mass of material present in the panels can be very small compared to the burning mass in the building. Concerns about toxic gas and smoke emissions from the panels must be put into context compared to toxic gas emissions from all other burning elements within the building.
