Fire retardancy and fire barriers for thatched roofs

In the British Isles and Ireland each year many thatched roofs are lost owing to fire. This not only has implications for the safety of the occupants of the dwelling, but also in many cases hundreds of years of history disappear in smoke. This inherent risk with thatch leads to higher insurance premiums. Two new fire retardants designed and tested for use on thatched buildings have recently been introduced. One is a water repellent external retardant which can be sprayed directly on to the surface of the roof, the other is designed for internal use and can be sprayed on to the internal surface of the thatch and the supporting timbers.