BISCO® FPC
BISCO® FPC (Fire Protective Covering) is a flame-retardant silicone foam with silicone elastomer directly cast onto a reinforcing fiberglass layer, available in three thicknesses — 1.59 mm (0.063″), 3.18 mm (0.125″), and 6.35 mm (0.250″) — with a density of 513 kg/m³ (32 lb/ft³) per ASTM F 1315. The material resists burn-through from flames up to 1038°C (1900°F) and achieves a flame spread index of <5 per ASTM E 162, with a continuous service temperature range of -55° to 200°C (-67° to 392°F) per SAE J 2236. It is available with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Key Properties
- Flame Spread (Is): <5 (ASTM E 162)
- Smoke Density-Flaming (Ds-4 min / Ds-1.5 min): <75 / <25 (ASTM E 662)
- Density: 513 kg/m³ (32 lb/ft³) (ASTM F 1315)
- Temperature, Continuous: -55° to 200°C (-67° to 392°F) (SAE J 2236)
- Dielectric Breakdown: 1100 volts (ASTM D 149-90)
- Arc Resistance: +1800 seconds (ASTM D 495-89)
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- Specifications
- Applications
- General Info
- FAQs
Physical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Thickness, mm (inches) | 1.59 (0.063), 3.18 (0.125), 6.35 (0.250) | — |
| Density, kg/m³ (lb./ft³) | 513 (32) | ASTM F 1315 |
| Temperature, Continuous | -55° to 200°C (-67° to 392°F) | SAE J 2236 |
Standard Thickness Tolerances
| Nominal Thickness mm (inches) | Tolerance mm (inches) | Test Method |
| 1.59 (0.063) | ±0.508 (±0.020) | — |
| 3.18 (0.125) | ±0.762 (±0.030) | — |
| 6.35 (0.250) | ±1.016 (±0.040) | — |
Slit Material & Tape (PSA) Width Tolerances
| Nominal Width mm (inches) | Tolerance mm (inches) | Test Method |
| >0–76 (>0–3) | ±1.60 (±0.063) | — |
| >76–203 (>3–8) | ±2.39 (±0.094) | — |
| >203–305 (>8–12) | ±3.18 (±0.125) | — |
| >305–457 (>12–18) | ±4.78 (±0.188) | — |
| >457–660 (>18–26) | ±5.56 (±0.219) | — |
| >660–914 (>26–36) | +25.4/−0 (+1/−0) | — |
Electrical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Dielectric Breakdown | 1100 volts | ASTM D 149-90 |
| Dielectric Strength | 9 volts/mil | ASTM D 149-90 |
| Arc Resistance | +1800 seconds | ASTM D 495-89 |
Flame & Fire Performance
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Flame Spread (Is) | <5 | ASTM E 162 |
| Smoke Density-Flaming (Ds-4 minutes) | <75 | ASTM E 662 |
| Smoke Density-Flaming (Ds-1.5 minutes) | <25 | ASTM E 662 |
- Electrical cable wraps and power line protection requiring flame burn-through resistance and high arc resistance
- Cargo covers in aerospace applications requiring fire-blocking material with low smoke density
- Protective coverings for rail-car brake lines in fire exposure scenarios
- Fire barriers and smoke seals between rail-car passenger compartments requiring flame spread index <5 and low smoke density under flaming conditions
- Fire-protective wraps for sensitive components in industrial and transportation assemblies requiring a flexible, field-convertible fire-blocking material
Common industries: Rail, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, electrical and power distribution, transportation.
BISCO® FPC is a fire protective covering material in which a silicone elastomer is directly cast onto a reinforcing fiberglass layer, forming a flexible, fire-blocking composite available in roll form. It is specifically engineered to protect sensitive components that may be damaged during fires by resisting burn-through from flames as high as 1038°C (1900°F) while simultaneously reducing the spread of flames to adjacent areas.
The combination of extremely low flame spread (<5 per ASTM E 162), low smoke density under flaming conditions, and high arc resistance (+1800 seconds per ASTM D 495-89) makes FPC suitable for life-safety applications in industrial and transportation markets where both fire blocking and smoke/toxicity control are required.
The material is manufactured in roll form and available in three nominal thicknesses with defined tolerances: 1.59 mm (0.063″) ±0.508 mm (±0.020″), 3.18 mm (0.125″) ±0.762 mm (±0.030″), and 6.35 mm (0.250″) ±1.016 mm (±0.040″). Slit material and tape width tolerances are specified on the TDS for widths from >0 mm to 914 mm (36″).
The material is available with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive; when installed, the foam side should face toward the flame source. Dielectric breakdown is 1100 volts per ASTM D 149-90 and dielectric strength is 9 volts/mil per ASTM D 149-90, supporting use in electrical cable wrap and power line protection applications. All values are noted as Typical Values based on historical data per the TDS.
No compliance standards are specified on the manufacturer’s TDS for this material beyond the test methods listed.
What differentiates BISCO® FPC from other BISCO® specialty silicone foam composites?
FPC is the only product in the BISCO® specialty silicone foam series engineered specifically for fire blocking and life-safety protection. It resists burn-through from flames up to 1038°C (1900°F) — a performance level not present on any other BISCO® grade on this TDS series — while achieving a flame spread index of <5 per ASTM E 162 and smoke density values of <75 (Ds-4 min) and <25 (Ds-1.5 min) per ASTM E 662. Its arc resistance of +1800 seconds per ASTM D 495-89 also far exceeds the electrical resistance properties of the RF-120 and IF-200 composites.
Why is flame spread index critical for a fire protective covering material?
Flame spread index (Is) per ASTM E 162 measures how rapidly a flame propagates across a material's surface when exposed to a radiant heat source. In rail car, aerospace, and industrial applications, the primary risk after a fire ignites is the spread of flames from the source to adjacent compartments, cables, or components. FPC's flame spread index of <5 indicates that the material does not propagate flame along its surface — it acts as a barrier that contains the fire at the point of origin rather than serving as a path for spread. This is the defining performance attribute for fire barrier and protective covering applications in occupied transportation vehicles.
What is the continuous service temperature range for BISCO® FPC?
The continuous service temperature range is -55° to 200°C (-67° to 392°F) per SAE J 2236, as listed on the TDS.
Is BISCO® FPC suitable for regulated rail and aerospace environments?
No compliance standards are specified on the manufacturer's TDS for this material. However, the material is tested per ASTM E 162 (flame spread), ASTM E 662 (smoke density), SAE J 2236 (temperature), ASTM D 149-90 (dielectric), and ASTM D 495-89 (arc resistance). The TDS describes the material as designed for industrial and transportation markets including rail and aerospace. End-users should independently verify compliance with specific program or regulatory requirements.
How should BISCO® FPC be specified?
Specify grade (PFPCSIL), thickness (1.59 mm/0.063", 3.18 mm/0.125", or 6.35 mm/0.250"), with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive, dimensional tolerances per TDS tolerance tables, and finished format (roll, slit roll, or converted component). Note that the foam side should face toward the flame source in the installed configuration.
