Fire-retardant coatings for
honeycomb cardboard
Passive fire protection for panels, displays, stands, display units, backdrops and fittings made from honeycomb board.
Recently, a market has been emerging for cardboard displays and furnishings – a material that is simple, lightweight, economical and malleable. Many shops, trade fair stands, exhibitions and museums are increasingly adopting this material; however, as it is also highly flammable, Renner has developed a water-based coating system that has achieved European Class B certification.
Furthermore, they are often used as non-load-bearing partition panels in spaces such as offices within large open-plan areas or exhibition stands at trade fairs, and can be quite thick.
Do you need to protect panels, displays or exhibits made from honeycomb cardboard?
Request a technical consultation on firewalls to check compatibility, fire resistance rating, the required class and the documentation available.
Why do you need fire-retardant coatings for honeycomb cardboard?
Honeycomb board is chosen for its lightness, speed of production and perceived sustainability. In settings such as trade fairs, exhibitions, museums, retail outlets and pop-up shops, however, the displays must comply with fire safety regulations.
Flammable materials
cellulose-based substrate requiring careful assessment
Large areas
walls, backdrops and panels can cover large areas
Temporary use
quick assembly, transport and dismantling after the event
Public spaces
fairs, exhibitions, showrooms, shops and museums
Lightweight design
exhibition stands, display units, totems and displays
Documentation
systems, certifications and venue requirements
Typical usage
walls, backdrops, screens, counters, totems
Design considerations
exhibition centre regulations
Typical usage
display panels, graphic displays, set designs
Design considerations
visitor numbers and tour routes
Typical usage
displays, corner units, promotional islands, lightweight fittings
Design considerations
brand identity and spatial safety
Typical usage
backdrops, desks, sets, suspended elements
Design considerations
quick assembly and temporary use
Typical usage
lightweight partitions, display units, cladding, furnishings
Design considerations
limited duration and technical documentation
Typical usage
catalogues, display stands, promotional materials
Design considerations
verification of intended use
Honeycomb cardboard
What to check before applying the system
Fire-retardant performance does not depend solely on the product, but on the test system: substrate, primer, topcoat, grammage, thickness, material absorption and application methods. In the case of honeycomb board, preliminary testing is particularly important because the structure, density, surface coating and adhesives can all affect the final result.
Common substrates and variables
- raw honeycomb cardboard
- laminated panels
- printed surfaces
- coated substratesù
- curved or moulded components
- glued structures
Required certifications
- required grade
- certified cycle
- substrate absorption
- grammages and thicknesses
- application method
- intended use
Certified production cycle and wooden supports
A fire-retardant coating does not make honeycomb board non-combustible, nor does it automatically ensure that a display structure complies with regulations. Its role is to improve the fire performance of the treated substrate, provided that the process is certified, compatible and applied correctly.
Why choose a certified system?
In the fire protection sector, it is not just the paint that matters, but the certified process: the products, the quantities applied, the preparation of the substrate, the drying methods and the technical documentation. On honeycomb board, this step is crucial because the substrate is lightweight, absorbent and often used for temporary installations.
1
Substrates
analysis
2
Requested
classification
3
Firewall
system
4
Compliant
application
Firewall technical support
Renner Italia supports designers, display manufacturers, paper product manufacturers, event agencies, contractors and technical managers in selecting the fire-retardant treatment best suited to the honeycomb board used, the required fire resistance class and the documentation to be submitted.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating honeycomb board as if it were timber, MDF or plywood.
- Using products that are not certified or unsuitable for the substrate.
- Neglecting factors such as absorbency, flatness, surface finish and adhesives.
- Reducing grammage, thickness or the number of coats to speed up delivery.
- Altering the painting cycle without technical verification.
- Neglecting the documentation required by the organiser, venue or designer.