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Flame retardants allow inherently flammable materials to meet rigorous fire safety tests. From everyday electronics to airplane plastics and cinema seating, flame retardant materials are an essential part of safe modern living. But fire safety should not compromise safety for human health and the environment. SAFR® is a tool that measures the sustainability profile of individual flame retardants based on their use. \
The SAFR® framework provides an evaluation of flame retardants in their applications, thus enabling users to select the most sustainable product for the intended use. By using the latest available scientific data and building on accepted hazard criteria, SAFR® incorporates an estimated exposure component based on the level of contact to humans and/or the environment and measurable potential emissions of flame retardants during their use.
The assessment of a given flame retardant with SAFR® leads to the identification of:
1. uses that are either recommended, acceptable or not
recommended, or
2. unacceptable hazard in which case alternatives should
be identified.
How we assess exposure
Our exposure assessment has a two-tiered approach. We consider both:
1. The frequency of contact during the intended use (e.g. TV, computer, car seats, insulations boards);
2. The potential emissions of the flame retardant used due to either migration to the surface (blooming), leaching or volatilization.
SAFR® is a living and developing methodology. During 2016, the second version was finalized with an additional section addressing reactive flame retardant. The methodology behind the SAFR® is available for any interested party upon request to ICL-IP. For more information please see the SAFR® website.