Deerfield, Ill., February 28, 2011— Pregis Hexacomb recently received certification from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the fire-retardant (FR) version of its Falconboard™ Build display board.
According to the California State Fire Marshall, Falconboard™ Build FR meets the minimum requirements of flame resistance established by the state’s Health and Safety Code. Falconboard™ Build FR had previously passed the National Fire Protection Agency’s 701 flame propagation test, as well as the ASTM-E84 surface burning protocol.
“Certification by the State of California for Falconboard™ Build FR is significant. The product is one of the first paper-based substrates to have achieved the rating. Now retailers, consumer product companies and trade show exhibitors can meet fire marshal requirements, have a great printable media solution and be fully recyclable at end-of-life,” said Jeff Kellar, president Hexacomb.
The FR option has been engineered to provide a higher level of performance for those applications requiring a fire-rated material. The new grade is ideally suited as a display material for use at trade shows, theaters, amusement parks, retail shopping areas and other environments which have to comply with stringent fire codes.
Additionally, the FR grade has met the fiber-sourcing certification standards set by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.
“Samples are currently in test in Europe to validate Falconboard Build FR against similar European fire retardant requirements. Our goal is to achieve pan-European and country-specific fire rating compliance to support our launch into the marketplace,” said Kellar.
“We also believe that this is the first 100% paper graphic display board with a standard clay-coated surface that is also fire rated. Other paper products typically achieve fire-retardant properties by adding a layer of aluminum foil or by having an inferior non clay-coated printing surface. The FR grade maintains the printing benefits of clay coating coupled with the environmental attributes of an all-paper structure,” explained Scott Daniel, vice president of operations, Hexacomb.
Falconboard Build has been structurally engineered for demanding three-dimensional, point-of-purchase applications. The FR grade provides a superior paper-based rigid structure for wide-web flexographic and rotogravure printing.
The Falconboard line features an engineered paper core and water-based adhesives. The outer surface is clay-coated board to facilitate printing. Produced chlorofluorocarbon-free, zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted during manufacturing. The 100% paper-based product is made from renewable resources (up to 40% recycled fiber content) and is recyclable to provide the perfect blend of structural performance and environmental stewardship.
“We’ve developed a patent-pending process to produce the new structure. In simple terms, we impregnate the engineered paper core with a flame retardant and leave the clay coated print surface untouched for optimum printing quality. When Falconboard is exposed to fire, it does not ignite,” Daniel said.
At the end of its lifecycle, POP displays made from fire-retardant Falconboard products can simply be included in the facilities’ paper waste stream. Most have paper compactors on site which bale paper-based products for sale to a recycler.
Additionally, Falconboard™ resists bending or warping, is heat-resistant to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and is lightweight. The display board accommodates most inks and adhesives, as well as commercial connective systems such as edge tape and plastic or metal edging/channels. Printing capabilities include a variety of wide formats and digital processes.
Source: Pregis Corp.
