Some of the main components of Phos-Chek retardants include ammonium polyphosphate, diammonium phosphate, diammonium sulfate, monoammonium phosphate, attapulgus clay, guar gum (or a derivative of guar gum), and trade secret performance additives.
What is in Phos-Chek fire retardant?
Phos-Chek D75-R and D75-F are mixtures of monoammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate as the active fire retardant salts. D75-R contains iron oxide coloring and D75-F contains a fugitive coloring agent. They also contain viscosity stabilizers and corrosion inhibitors.
What are the effects of Phos-Chek on the ecosystem?
Warnings about using Phos-Chek “They are supposed to make sure they don’t drop it in water and streams.” According to USFS regulations, the high concentration of ammonia and phosphate will cause the waterway to become toxic, killing fish and aquatic life. It can also create algae blooms.
Why is Phos-Chek red?
The type of fire retardant most commonly used in B.C. is a concentrated liquid called Phos-Chek LC95A-MV. It contains ammonium phosphate, corrosion inhibitors, thickening agents, and iron oxide, which gives it a bright red color and makes it visible when creating fire lines.
Is Phos-Chek toxic to humans?
PHOS-CHeK is generally not hazardous to humans or animals unless it’s consumed. So skin contact is easily solved, while you should throw out any contaminated food or drinking water.
How does a fire retardant work?
Fire retardant contains salts (typically fertilizers) that alter the way wildfires burn, decreasing fire intensity and slowing the advance of the fire, even after the water in the fire retardant has evaporated.
How long is Phos-Chek effective?
Now about three-quarters of the company’s business is Phos-Chek application, which costs about $500 per property and lasts six to eight months, he said.
Is Phos-Chek a liquid?
Phos-Chek LC95 fire retardant solutions are the only liquid concentrate (LC) ammonium polyphosphate retardants that offer both the ease of mixing and handling of a liquid and the aerial drop advantages of a gum-thickened retardant.
Why is fire retardant pink?
The reddish colour serves as a visual aid for pilots and firefighters alike. After a few days of exposure to direct sunlight, the “fugitive” color will fade to neutral earth tans.
How toxic is fire retardant?
There is growing evidence that many flame retardant chemicals can affect the endocrine, immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. Some animal studies have shown that long-term exposure to flame retardants can lead to cancer.
Is fire slurry toxic?
The hundreds of thousands of gallons of red slurry that air tankers are dropping on Colorado forests to shield mountain houses from wildfires has a downside: It is toxic. Laced with ammonia and nitrates, it has the potential to kill fish and taint water supplies.
How do you remove Phos-Chek?
Do: Rinse the Phos-Chek off of your home with water from your garden hose as there is no need for pressure higher than that. The Phos-Chek is 100 percent water soluble. Wet the red retardant down with the hose, wait 15-20 minutes and repeat, and the Phos-Chek will begin to come off.
What chemicals are used to put out wildfires?
Putting Out a Big Fire One of these is a pink fire-retardant chemical commonly called “sky Jello-O,” according to the ThinkQuest Library. Sky Jell-O is made up of 85 percent water, 10 percent fertilizers, specifically ammonia phosphate and sulfate ions, and 5 percent other materials, according to UCSB Science Line.
What is the fire retardant called?
While watching the news or online videos, you may have spotted a red substance being dropped on or near wildfires from aircraft like small planes and helicopters. This substance is a fire retardant called PHOS-CHEK®. PHOS-CHEK® is made up of ammonium polyphosphate, other performative additives and water.
Why do fire planes drop red water?
The red stuff dropped out of planes during fires? Here’s what to know: It’s fire retardant, used in preemptive strikes to keep flames from spreading. Phos-Chek is by far the dominant brand and is used around homes and under fireworks displays as well as in fighting wildfires.
What is the red stuff they put on forest fires?
Known as Phos-Chek, the fire retardant has been used to fight blazes since 1963 and has been the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection in recent years.
What is fire slurry made of?
Fire retardant used to smother fires — also called slurry — is a mixture of water, fertilizer and chemicals. It’s dropped from planes and is usually a bright red color, so air crews can track what they’ve used.
Why is bromine used in flame retardants?
A common use of bromine is in making flame retardants. Due to its unique chemical interaction with the combustion process, bromine is an extremely efficient element, meaning that a relatively small amount is needed to achieve fire resistance. Brominated flame retardants are used to protect a wide variety of products.
How is bromine used in fire retardants?
Bromine Flame Retardants (BFRs) are the most prolific flame retardant used for their vapor phase inhibition properties. Bromine in particular is used because as it is heated the compound releases active bromine atoms into the gas phase, before the material reaches its ignition temperature.
What is the difference between fire-resistant and fire retardant?
Resistant is defined as a material that is inherently resistant to catching fire (self-extinguishing) and does not melt or drip when exposed directly to extreme heat. Retardant is defined as a material that has been chemically treated to self-extinguish. There are many textiles that can be “treated”.
How long does fire retardant last?
Fabrics that have been treated with a fire retardant are usually certified for one year. If you wash them in your washing machine like any other article of clothing, which you certainly can, the chemicals dissipate over time.
How long does fire retardant spray last?
A household spray bottle can be used for smaller ones, and unopened containers of the retardant will last up to 10 years. Safe-T-Guard is intended for long-term indoor use, not for a last-minute outdoor application like Garrett’s.
What is the pink stuff dropped on fires?
Pink fire retardant known as Phos-Chek is routinely used by aircraft in fighting wildfires and is about 85 percent water.
How much is Phos-Chek?
Phos-Chek makes a colorless version of fire retardant for homes. One jug makes five gallons of retardant, and the cost just $59.
Do planes drop water on forest fires?
Water Scooper Water Scoopers are amphibious aircraft that skim the surface of a water body and scoop water into an onboard tank and then drop it on a fire. Aircraft types: Bombardier CL-415 and Air Tractor Fire Boss.