Seals used in construction, industry and other applications must fulfil the criteria in conjunction with all components of the fire safety standard.

Fire protection requirements for windows, doors and façades are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke in the event of a fire and to secure escape routes. Safety requirements in the construction, commercial and industrial sectors have increased massively in recent years. Protecting human life is always the top priority. That is why compliance with fire resistance is the measure of all things.

Seals are an important component of doors, windows and façades and are part of the legal fire protection requirements. The poesia group has an almost infinite number of seals to choose from. Some of them fulfil the fire protection standard. All other components, such as the fire protection strip fitted to the frame, must also fulfil the requirements. Fire-resistant glazing and special frame constructions must also be standardised.

Standards
UL94VO is the highest fire protection standard, followed by UL94V1 and UL94HB. Depending on the mixture (compounds), both VMQ (silicone) and TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) can fulfil these requirements.

Areas of application
The fire protection standards are used in office buildings, in industry and commerce as well as in private and public buildings. Another area of application is railway vehicles with their windows and doors. The EN45545 standard applies to this special application. Customers can also find the right gaskets for these applications at poesia gruppe.

Materials
Seals that fulfil the fire protection requirements are made of silicone or TPE (thermoplastic elastomers). Silicone seals are very flexible and their temperature resistance covers everything from low to high temperatures. This makes them ideal for fire and heat protection. In the event of fire, white ash is produced which is non-conductive. TPE gaskets are characterised by their high elastic and thermal resistance up to approx. 110°C. They are not quite as heat-resistant as silicone seals. However, in combination with all other components, they still fulfil the standards. 

Important: A gasket alone cannot fulfil a fire protection class. It is always part of a complete construction element, which must fulfil the relevant standards as a whole.

The poesia group employs around 70 people, including five apprentices. It operates at the main site in Unterkulm as well as at the external sites in Hochdorf and Urdorf. It produces and processes seals made of TPE, silicone and LSR as well as EPDM, NBR, CR, FKM and sponge rubber for applications in the construction, technology, transport and food industries.