PVC has distinct advantages over traditional building materials in the event of a fire:

PVC is far less likely to burn due to its resistence to ignition; the temperature required to ignite rigid PVC is more than 150 degrees celsius (higher than that required for wood).

Most PVC formulations are not just difficult to ignite - they will self-extinguish when the flame source is removed making PVC particularly suitable for rigid applications such as windows, doors and cladding.

All organic materials, natural or synthetic, give rise to certain gases upon combustion. The major gaseous products of the combustion of PVC are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride and water, most importantly, chlorine gas is never produced when PVC burns.

PVC is often used in fire safety critical applications, such as;
-    cable systems
-    conveyor belt in mines
-    sprinkler systems

Downloadable documents

PVC in Accidental Fires (PDF 400k)

Fire Performance of PVCu Window Frames (PDF 430k)