Adequate fire protection of the Fleet is a very difficult task, demanding numerous and diverse materials options, ranging from materials of limited flammability to the high temperature “noncombustible” types. To improve shipboard fire safety, certain categories of fire susceptible materials may be upgraded through the incorporation of fire retardants. In many cases, however, new and more fire resistant elastomers, plastics, fibers, resins, composites, and ablative materials, must be developed and adapted for marine applictions. New materials embodying innovating technologies are needed for more fire tolerant structures and machinery components, fire barriers, protective insulation, nonflaming and intumescent coatings, and fire safe materials for a wide variety of internal ship uses. To achieve these goals at affordable cost to the NAVY, the materials R&D community faces considerable challenges. In this paper, an overview is given of ongoing NAVY programs addressing shipboard fire protection. Existing fire resistant materials requirements and specifications are reviewed. Current usage of fire resistant materials on ships is high‐lighted, and new technological opportunities are discussed for future materials developments.
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