Before calling, please read this site first.
It will be a little complicated, but I will write it as clearly as possible, so please take a look to the end by all means.
We will explain while mixing our experience.
We hope you find it useful for visitors to the site.

Before we get into the main topic, let me explain the definition of words.
There are actually various words for things that are difficult to burn. According to the Building Standards Act, the terms non-combustible, semi-combustible, and flame-retardant are common. In the Fire Protection Association, it is called fire prevention. However, in fact, the above term is rather special, and in general (other industries in general), it is called “flame retardant”. Please understand that it is graded for flame retardant.
What is confusing here is that the “flame retardant” grade in the Building Standards Act is the lowest level of performance. Therefore, if you say “flame retardant” in general conversation, you will be mistaken for a low level, but the word “flame retardant” that we tell you means “performance that makes it difficult to burn”. Please understand that it is not related to the Building Standards Law.
We use the term “flame retardant” as a lingua franca, as over 90% of our customers who contact us are outside the construction industry.

In the following text, the word “flame retardant treatment” appears. Please note that this means “processing to make it less flammable” and not the same as making “flame retardant material” for building materials.

By the way, the performance level that makes it difficult to burn is as follows.

Non-combustible, non-combustible, flame-retardant, flameproof

• There are various standards for flame retardant expressed by chemistry (JIS etc.), some of which are stronger than non-flammable and some of which are flameproof. Therefore, it is difficult to compare using the same scale.
• Strictly speaking, noncombustibility is also a JIS standard, so comparisons are possible.

Let’s consider the following case as an example.

Design office or construction company or landscaping company, etc.
(1) The Fire Department instructed the fire department to perform any kind of flame retardant treatment for places not covered by the Building Standards Law (artifacts, etc.).
②Because of the Building Standards Law, the interior must be finished with semi-combustible materials. However, the material has been decided, and I want to get the certification after the construction.
Artist or exhibition or design office
(3) The fire department requested a fire-retardant treatment when displaying artworks (one item) at public facilities.

Most inquiries are any of the above three.
First of all, from the answer, I think that it is better to consider replacing non-combustible building materials or non-flammable materials as soon as possible.

I will explain in order from ①. Take a look at your case.

(1) The Fire Department instructed the fire department to perform any kind of flame retardant treatment for places not covered by the Building Standards Law (artifacts, etc.).
In this case, there is no legal problem. However, if a fire occurs in the building, the fire department will respond. Therefore, if the fire department considers it “flammable,” it has the authority to guide it. This is described in the Building Standards Law.
So, if you get guidance, you have to obey. However, there is no clear definition of flame retardant treatment in the Fire Service Act column. If the building code is clear in the first place, there is no rule to use non-combustible materials etc. in other places. However, the Fire Service Law states that flame retardant treatment can be requested if necessary.
The trouble here is that there is no standard for fire retardant treatment and the fire department has no clear standard. Therefore, instructions differ depending on the person in charge. “Flameproof certification” is often used as a base in this case. In some cases, you may be instructed to use flame-retardant certified products, in other cases you may be told not to use non-combustible materials, and in other cases you may be told to simply perform flame retardant treatment.
Flameproof certified products and non-combustible materials are, as a general rule, certified as mass-produced products, and cannot be processed locally. Therefore, the above instructions are not practical. In addition, even in the case of flame retardant treatment, clear test data is required in many cases. However, in the case of single-point processing on site, such data does not exist, and even if it exists, it cannot be proven whether or not the same thing was constructed, so it will not theoretically hold.

There are two loopholes in this case. The first is to obtain the permission of the building director directly. In the case of buildings that become landmarks, it seems that permission may be exceptionally obtained. However, it is not very realistic.
The second is to consult and convince the firefighters. Our flame retardant SOUFA is an agent for making wood incombustible. In addition, we obtain “flameproof certification” by applying to cedar boards. It is possible that you will be able to obtain permission from the fire department in advance by presenting these data and test videos.

Data can be provided for consultation.
The data is summarized on the following page, so please refer to it.
Use SOUFA to discuss with fire department

Or please send your inquiry email after filling in your company information, situation, etc. below.
Contact SOUFA

It seems that there are many cases where the designer has little knowledge about the above, and instructions such as “non-combustible treatment” are written on the drawings at the local processing. In that case, it will not be possible to respond, so consider changing the specifications. Specifically, I think that we will use “non-combustible certified products” or reconsider using non-combustible decorative panels. However, in that case, the cost may increase, or the delivery date may not be in time. Early judgment is required.

Next is the case of ①.
②Because of the Building Standards Law, the interior must be finished with semi-combustible materials. However, the material has been decided, and I want to get the certification after the construction.
This is impossible. One way is to have the exception of building secretary permission on political routes. Materials that become certified as noncombustible by post-installation do not exist in the construction of noncombustible certified standards. There seems to be some paints on the net that can be certified by post-construction, but it is difficult to imagine in terms of the structure, so if you use them, it is recommended that you check the certification and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport beforehand. You.

As mitigation measures, you may be able to get through the following methods.
Relaxation measures for interior restrictions

Next is the case of ③.
(3) The fire department requested a fire-retardant treatment when displaying artworks (one item) at public facilities.
Please discuss this with the fire department as in ①. In the case of one point, there is no non-combustible material or flame retardant material. In some cases, such as curtains, flameproofing can be granted by post-processing, but in most cases this cannot be applied to art works, etc. due to severe limitations.

Please present the SOUFA test data and video, etc., and specify in advance with the fire department.
Data can be provided for consultation.

The data is summarized in this article so please refer to it.
Use SOUFA to discuss with fire department

Or please send your inquiry email after filling in your company information, situation, etc. below.
Contact SOUFA

Did you find the above helpful?
Our company’s main business is material supply, and we have no application examples after that.
However, there are many cases where SOUFA is shipped after consultation on these cases, so I suppose that it has been adopted for consultation at the site level.

The post Can I clear the fire inspection by applying SOUFA? first appeared on SOUFA INC.Boric acid flameretardant& Termiticide.

Meanwhile, a product called boric acid termiticide has appeared.
Boric acid is a highly safe drug that has a very low effect on the human body. In addition, the effect lasts semipermanently because it is an inorganic substance that does not evaporate unlike existing pesticides.
Boric acid originally has a long history overseas.

new Zealand
It is the same island nation as Japan, and a country full of seasonal changes. It is plagued by termites, leaf beetles and beetles. Pine is used as a structural material for two-by-four construction, using a lot of pine wood, and is not strong against embalming and termites. To that end, we became the first in the world to require boric acid treatment for wood pest control. In 1950, the results of boric acid treatment were verified 40 years later, in 1992. It has been hired and has maintained a 100% market share since it was proven that no damage has occurred.

Hawaii
Termite damage seven times that of Japan. In 1985, termite control was required on structural components (bases, beams, joists, floorboards, columns).
Arsenic pesticides called CCA are predominant and are banned worldwide because they contain carcinogenic hexavalent chromium and arsenic. In 1992, boric acid treatment was introduced, with a 90% share in just two years. Currently, boric acid treatment is adopted for all structural materials.

Mainland usa
Boric acid treatment was selected from CCA treatment since 1990 and introduced as a pest prevention. Also, boric acid has been found to be the most effective means of preserving wood, and is used in the mainstream.

EC countries such as the UK
Termites are rarely affected in Europe, but the use of boric acid for preservatives has been the mainstream since the late 1980s. Due to the ban on chemical preservatives in Europe, only the natural mineral boric acid is used as a preservative in caviar.

The termiticide used above is a type of boric acid called disodium 8-borate tetrahydrate.

SOUFA is made from a specially synthesized component called sodium polyborate. It is also a safety test and can be licked.
So what are the benefits of using boric acid termites for housing manufacturers? I want to think about that.

The bottom line is that we can differentiate.
Currently, the only major manufacturer that uses boric acid in its entire home is the Swedish House. (As of March 2020)

To be a bit provocative, as long as you are using existing termiticides, the pesticides are scattered beneath the floor, and after five years of ineffectiveness, the wooden house becomes a termite dining area.
Many construction companies are aware of the above, but have taken little action.
There are a lot of things that can’t be helped with the above, and termite countermeasures are hardly a selling point from the viewpoint of the housing manufacturer.
As a result, major manufacturers have to spend more money on more visible locations.
To put it simply, it’s easier to sell UP grade kitchens than UP grades.

To be honest, now every housing company has a great product and there is not much difference.
Even if there is a difference, if the reputation is good, it will be imitated by other companies and leveled, so the planning department may be tired of it.
In that sense, you may be worried that boric acid termites will soon be leveled as well.
But our image is a little different.

In fact, boric acid termites are hated by termite installers.
This is because “reconstruction”, which is a source of income for termite contractors, is no longer necessary.
In addition, many companies that are on the board of industry associations are pesticide-related companies, which is troublesome considering various power balances.

In short, you will need to insert a scalpel into the “heavy” part.
That’s why major housing manufacturers will be hiring after observing other companies’ trends.

For those who are dealing with boric acid termites and are actually talking to housing companies, I think this is a real opportunity now.
Boric acid termiticides have sufficient evidence, are strong, are safe, are long-lasting, and do not differ significantly in price.
There are environments where it is easy to differentiate from other companies simply by adopting it, and not immediately imitated.

In the case of SOUFA, “flame retardancy” and “burn resistance” can be given at the same time.
The following video can be reproduced in front of the customer, and the impact is enormous.

The post Benefits of using boric acid termites for housing manufacturers first appeared on SOUFA INC.Boric acid flameretardant& Termiticide.

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