The purpose of flame protection is to prevent the ignition of a fire or at least to delay it to such an extent that a small ignition source cannot develop into a self-sustaining fire. Flame-protection measures focus exclusively on the very earliest stage of a fire, known as the incipient fire stage.

For this reason, normally flammable or easily ignitable materials are not permitted in public, commercial, or officially regulated environments. Materials must either inherently exhibit suitable fire behavior or be treated with appropriate measures so that they are flame-retardant or difficult to ignite. Only in this way can it be ensured that a minor ignition source—such as an open flame, heat exposure, or a technical defect—does not quickly develop into a fire.

Effect and Limitations of Flame Protection

Flame protection does not work in a fully developed fire. Once a fire reaches a certain intensity and a so-called flashover occurs, nearly all organic materials in the room ignite simultaneously. From that point on, it no longer matters whether materials are flame-retardant or which fire classification they meet. Even materials classified as B, C, C1, C2, or B1 can no longer provide any fire-retarding effect.

The purpose of flame protection is therefore not to control or contain a developed fire, but to prevent it from occurring in the first place by stopping or significantly delaying ignition at an early stage. Flame protection is thus a measure of preventive fire safety, not fire suppression.

Which Fire Scenarios Is Flame Protection Intended to Prevent?

Flame-protection measures—particularly flame-retardant textiles and the use of low-flammability films and materials—are designed to prevent typical everyday accidents caused by common, unintended ignition sources.

These include in particular:

  • burning or overheated waste bins

  • candles and other open flames

  • lighters and matches

  • electrical faults such as smoldering or overloaded cables

  • excessively hot luminaires, spotlights, or electrical equipment

In such cases, flame protection can prevent ignition, delay flame formation, or stop a fire from spreading. This is how many fire incidents are prevented already at the incipient stage.

What Flame Protection Cannot Do

Flame protection is not designed to prevent deliberate arson. If accelerants such as gasoline, alcohol, or other highly flammable liquids are intentionally used, even flame-retardant materials cannot prevent a fire from developing.

Such scenarios fall outside the scope of flame-protection measures. Likewise, flame protection cannot stop or control a fully developed fire.

Summary

  • Flame protection serves to prevent incipient fires.

  • It is effective against common, unintentional ignition sources

  • It is not effective in a fully developed fire and cannot prevent deliberate arson.

  • Its purpose is preventive, not reactive.