Solutions
Fire Mesh™
Product Overview
Fire Mesh™ stands as the leading fire barrier in the utility sector today. This cutting-edge, patented solution enables utilities to safeguard both new and existing wooden structures against fire damage, eliminating the need for alternative materials in high-risk areas. With a proven track record of durability for over 25 years worldwide, Fire Mesh™ can be applied to poles under any conditions, whether weather, equipment, pole setting, wood species, or treatment.
Poles shielded with Fire Mesh™ seamlessly integrate with traditional maintenance and operational practices, without affecting climbability, hardware installation, or pole inspections. It’s crucial for wooden poles to maintain equilibrium and adapt to environmental conditions. The ¼ open grid design ensures that the timber remains visible and prevents moisture from being trapped inside the wood. By integrating advanced polymers with cutting-edge fire-resistant materials, Genics™ has developed the most robust and high-performing exterior fire protection solution available. Fire Mesh™ boasts a positive environmental and safety profile, posing no risks to utilities, installers, communities, wildlife, or the environment. Its design promotes air circulation, allowing the pole to breathe naturally.
For more information, including Performance Tests and the results, please visit: https://genicsinc.com/fire-mesh/
Performance Against Fire
Western Fire Center
- ASTM WK 63252 – Simulated wildfire test.
- They have a draft ASTM standardized test that is developed to simulate wildfire conditions and it is one of the toughest fire tests for materials to pass. A 2.1m pole sample is exposed to a radiant heat panel (see Figure 1 below) set at 980°C (Heat flux of 50 kW/ m2) for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, a ring burner set at the base of the pole is ignited for an additional 5 minutes along with the heat panel. The test is concluded either when the temperature of the test specimen drops below 50°C or if the specimen goes to failure and burns.
Results:
- Fire Mesh™ performed as intended across all scenarios. Poles sustained between 0.79%-2.82% strength loss post-fire. Strength loss is calculated based on concentric and unicentric calculation and char depth analysis.
- The temperature of a pole wrapped in Fire Mesh™ fell below 50℃/122˚F only 8 minutes after the removal from the flame and 980°C/1800˚F panel. The control sample in this same test was deemed to have undergone catastrophic failure, and it remained above 50℃/122˚F for over 4 hours. After several tests using different species, age of poles, initial treatment of poles, it was found that poles wrapped with Fire Mesh™ indicated that no flame was sustained beyond the removal of the ring burner. Results were consistent even when gaffed extensively pre-fire.
Southwest Research Institute:
- Full-scale wildfire simulation test
- Full-length pole placed in a metal culvert with propane burners at ground level, exposing the pole to 2100˚F for a 2-minute and 3-minute duration. Full-pole break test to evaluate strength loss due to fire and heat degradation.
Results:
- Full-scale wildfire simulation test
- Full-length pole placed in a metal culvert with propane burners at ground level, exposing the pole to 2100˚F for a 2-minute and 3-minute duration. Full-pole break test to evaluate strength loss due to fire and heat degradation.
Australian Fire Test:
- A simulated bush fire test with extreme loading of wheatstraw around the Fire Mesh™ wrapped pole and the pole is ignited. It is a 4 to 5-minute test.
Results:
Poles wrapped with Fire Mesh™ demonstrated no strength loss.
Oregon State University:
- Small Scale Fire Test.
Results:
Poles wrapped with Fire Mesh™ demonstrated no strength loss.
ASTM E84:
- Standard Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.
Results:
Fire Mesh™ achieved a flame spread rating of less than 5and a smoke developed rating of less than 45. Class A/Class 1. This makes Fire Mesh™ the top performing product in its class.
Weathering Data
ASTM G154:
- Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent UV Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Materials: Accelerated weathering test used to determine a service life for test materials. After hours of constant UV, high temperatures, humidity and condensation, Fire Mesh™ had no performance loss.
Results:
Accelerated weathering testing demonstrates Fire Mesh’s™performance is unhindered by 25 years of real-world weathering.
Environmental and Disposal
The key components in Fire Mesh™ include the acrylic co-polymer, expandable graphite, and ammonium polyphosphate. There are no toxicological concerns with the chemical composition of Fire Mesh™.
U.S. Federal Regulations: Fire Mesh™ is not known to be a “Hazardous Chemical” as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Landfill disposal decisions are guided by regulatory groups such as the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Under RCRA guidelines, no ingredients in Fire Mesh™ are considered hazardous. Fire Mesh™ can be disposed of as construction waste and can be discarded in any municipal construction waste landfill. Fire Mesh™ is not considered to be a hazardous waste and is categorized under the acceptable waste criteria of landfills in California as per Waste Management Authorities.
Manufacturing and Quality Control
Each roll of Fire Mesh™ is manufactured under a stringent quality control program based on the following parameters:
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- Finished product weight
- Density, viscosity, and solids content
- Expansion rate
Intertek Third-Party Quality Control Certification: Fire Mesh™ is a UL listed product (SPEC ID: 39080) and carries the Warnock Hersey logo. Intertek is a third-party quality control certifying body that ensures all testing equipment calibration is up to date and that each individual roll meets the minimum approved requirements.
Ensure the use of proper PPE as per the label, SDS sheet, State guidelines.
This product is manufactured in an ISO 14001 facility.
