Product Safety Assessment

Firemaster® 550

Firemaster 550 flame retardant is made from a mixture of brominated and phosphorus-based substances that
significantly reduce the combustibility of flexible polyurethane (PU) foam. Firemaster 550 flame retardant is
added to the foam formulation as a raw material during the foam manufacturing process. It contains the
chemicals tetrabromobenzoate, tetrabromophthalate, isopropylated triphenylphosphate and triphenyl
phosphate. The resulting flame retardant mixture provides performance characteristics superior to those that
the individual flame retardant substances would provide for PU foam on their own. The chemicals that go into
the production of Firemaster 550 flame retardant have been registered with appropriate regulatory agencies
who have approved them for their intended use in flexible PU foam for furniture and other similar products.

Identification

Firemaster 550 flame retardant is a mixture of substances. The primary constituents are:
• isopropylated triphenol phosphate (CAS 68937-41-7), ipTPP
• triphenyl phosphate (CAS 115-86-6), TPP
• 1,3-Isobenofurandione, 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-, reaction products with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (CAS 219632-
53-8)
The reaction product mixture listed above (CAS 219632-53-8) is referenced as two components in certain
jurisdictions, 1) tetrabromobenzoate (CAS 183658-27-7), TBB and 2) tetrabromophthalate (CAS 26040-51-
7), TBPH.

Description
Production:
The reaction product mixtures and substances used to make Firemaster 550 flame retardant are produced in
dedicated manufacturing units. During production, the raw materials are combined in separate chemical
production units designed for the manufacture of chemicals. The respective resulting reaction mixtures and
individual substances are combined to formulate Firemaster 550 flame retardant. Firemaster 550 is then
packaged in bulk, semi-bulk and smaller packages for distribution to manufacturers that use it in their foam
products.

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 1 of 6

Product Safety Assessment: Firemaster® 550

Uses:
Firemaster 550 flame retardant is designed for use in flexible PU foam for upholstered furniture. PU foam is
highly flammable, unless a flame retardant is incorporated into the product during manufacturing. When
evaluated using standard test protocols, foam containing Firemaster 550 flame retardant takes longer to ignite
and, if ignited, longer to become fully engulfed by flames versus untreated PU foam. Unlike many other
potential flame-retarding chemicals, Firemaster 550 flame retardant effectively retards flames while minimally
impacting foam color, cell structure, firmness, comfort and other qualities that are important to furniture
manufacturers and consumers.

Properties: Appearance: Clear amber liquid

Viscosity (20 °C): 177 cps
Water Solubility: <0.1 g/ 100 g

Potential Human Health Effects

Health Effects:
Firemaster 550 flame retardant is safe to use in industrial settings equipped with suitable engineering controls
when appropriate personal protective equipment is worn and proper hygiene measures are applied.
Consumers are not at risk of harm to exposure from Firemaster 550 in end-use consumer products.

Excessive exposure to the substances used to make Firemaster 550 flame retardant is unlikely to occur under
normal working conditions. In the unlikely event that a worker is subjected to excessive dermal or vapor
exposures of the substances used to make Firemaster 550 flame retardant for a substantial length of time,
adverse effects could result.

When mixed into polyurethane, which is then reacted to produce comfort foam, Firemaster 550 flame
retardant becomes part of the polymer matrix of the foam, making direct exposure much less likely. Further, in
most furniture applications, foam is also covered by fabric and additional barriers that make intimate contact
with the foam unlikely. In any event, mere contact with the foam is not sufficient to produce adverse health
effects.

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 2 of 6

Product Safety Assessment: Firemaster® 550

Industrial Use:
Firemaster 550 flame retardant is used primarily to make flexible PU foam products that are used in the
manufacture of furniture. It is only sold for use in highly controlled manufacturing facilities employing people
trained in the handling of chemicals. Firemaster 550 flame retardant used in a manufacturing setting should
be handled using best practice techniques developed to minimize any potential risk of exposure to liquids and
vapors. Typically, sites utilize highly-engineered systems to minimize the potential for exposure to all the
chemicals used in the process. Unplanned releases or spills of Firemaster 550 flame retardant are not likely
to represent a life-threatening situation. In any spill or release incident, all non-essential personnel should be
immediately evacuated upwind of the spilled material. All personnel involved with correcting a spill situation
are trained and properly equipped with the required personal protective equipment.

Consumer Use:
It is very unlikely that consumers would be exposed to Firemaster 550 flame retardant in its concentrated form
because it is only sold for industrial use to make foam products and is not a consumer product.

Environmental Release:
When used for foam production, Firemaster 550 flame retardant is handled using highly engineered systems
designed to minimize any release into the environment. Firemaster 550 flame retardant is distributed to
industrial locations using protocols designed to minimize the risk of emissions into the environment.

Firemaster 550 flame retardant that is accidentally released into the environment will pool on hard surfaces
and soak into soil or other porous materials. Contained volumes of liquid Firemaster 550 flame retardant can
be collected in plastic or metal drums. Soils wetted with Firemaster 550 flame retardant should be collected
and treated or disposed of appropriately.

Physical Hazards
Firemaster 550 flame retardant is a clear, amber-colored viscous liquid. As a liquid, it is easily added and
blended into foam formulations. Firemaster 550 flame retardant is thermally stable, which allows it to
withstand the heat that is generated during the manufacture of foam and also ensures it will provide desired
fire protection during the life of the foam product.

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 3 of 6

Product Safety Assessment: Firemaster® 550

Potential Environmental Impact

Environmental Fate Information:

Some components of Firemaster 550 flame retardant are considered to be potentially persistent, bio-
accumulating and toxic; therefore, releases into the environment should be avoided.

Aquatic and/or Terrestrial Toxicity:

Releases of Firemaster 550 flame retardant into the aquatic or terrestrial environment should be avoided.
Large concentrations of Firemaster 550 flame retardant released in an aquatic environment could adversely
affect fish and other aquatic life. Soils contaminated by Firemaster 550 flame retardant spills should be
collected and treated or disposed of appropriately.

Product Stewardship

Manufacturing locations:
Facility management procedures, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), technical guidance documents and training are
available to communicate safe handling, risk mitigation measures and emergency response requirements to
employees at manufacturing locations.

Environment:
A special system for the distribution of Firemaster 550 flame retardant to major customers was designed to
specifically reduce the risk of environmental impact. The system includes the use of dedicated trucks and
specialized tank cleaning only when necessary to minimize the potential for release of the product to the
environment.

Consumers:
Prior to commercial production and use, the key component of Firemaster 550 flame retardant was assessed
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), because it had never been made or sold in the U.S. At
the conclusion of this thorough assessment process, the EPA approved the component for its intended
purpose (flame retarding PU foam for use in furniture products). Consumers do not handle Firemaster 550
flame retardant distributed by LANXESS Solutions US Inc. because it is an industrial product that is not sold
directly to consumers.

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 4 of 6

Product Safety Assessment: Firemaster® 550

LANXESS Solutions US Inc. conducts an ongoing analysis of its products to evaluate potential risk areas
throughout the product’s life cycle. Chemical risks are identified at the very early stage of new products. They
are evaluated by stage-gated reviews using environmental, health, and safety criteria. The analysis of existing
products evaluates raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, customer end-use, and disposal. Additionally,
before changes in existing product formulations are made, a detailed evaluation is made of the proposed
change. A critical component of all of these processes is theSDS, which lists detailed product hazard
information.

In the context of a continually-improving risk-reduction program, periodic reviews of current controls occur in
order to identify opportunities for improvements or enhancements. This includes modify existing procedures to
conform with changes in regulations (e.g., covering workplace and transportation).

Conclusion
Firemaster 550 flame retardant is a chemical mixture with a unique ability to reduce the flammability of flexible
PU foam in a manner that maintains important foam performance characteristics. Though there are potential
hazards associated with the material, it is only handled by highly-trained people in manufacturing
environments utilizing specialty equipment, safety controls and personal protective equipment. The product
has been assessed by LANXESS Solutions US Inc. and the Environmental Protection Agency, who approved it
for use in its intended application.

Contact Information
LANXESS Solutions US Inc.
www.LANXESS.com

Notices
Use and Application Information
The manner in which you use and the purpose to which you put and utilize our products, technical assistance
and information (whether verbal, written or by way of production evaluations), including any suggested
formulations and recommendations are beyond our control. Therefore, it is imperative that you test our
products, technical assistance and information to determine to your own satisfaction whether they are suitable
for your intended uses and applications. This application-specific analysis must at least include testing to
determine suitability from a technical as well as health, safety, and environmental standpoint. Such testing has
not necessarily been done by us. Unless we otherwise agree in writing, all products are sold strictly pursuant to

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 5 of 6

Product Safety Assessment: Firemaster® 550

the terms of our standard conditions of sale. All information and technical assistance is given without warranty
or guarantee and is subject to change without notice. It is expressly understood and agreed that you assume
and hereby expressly release us from all liability, in tort, contract or otherwise, incurred in connection with the
use of our products, technical assistance, and information. Any statement or recommendation not contained
herein is unauthorized and shall not bind us. Nothing herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use
any product in conflict with patents covering any material or its use. No license is implied or in fact granted
under the claims of any patent.

Last Revised: March 2017 Page 6 of 6