Composites having improved fire resistance

For the use of fibre-reinforced polymeric composites as structural materials for different applications, the associated fire risks and their assessment are crucial. For critical applications especially, most products have to conform to certain specified fire performance requirements and regulations. Another important issue is the mechanical performance of these composites during heathire exposure and the residual strength. This chapter reviews the key issues and performance requirements for load-bearing fibrereinforced polymer composites for various sectors of the industry. Several ways of improving their fire resistance are discussed and their effectiveness assessed by post-fire mechanical property evaluation.