Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Three methods of reducing the fire hazard of thatched roofs have been examined. The first method was based on the use of a flexible incombustible and insulating layer between the thatch and the roof and may be applied to new roofs. The second consisted of the injection of an intumescent paint into the thatch and may be used for existing roofs. The third method consisted of covering the thatch with a thin layer of cement slurry and has potential application for use in certain tropical countries where the appearance of the thatch is not important. All these treatments improved the resistance of the thatched roof to ignitiong or penetration by fire.