Ahlstrom launches flame-resistant facer to enhance fire protection in building and construction
AHLSTROM OYJ, PRESS RELEASE, AUGUST 14, 2025 at 10:00 EEST
Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, introduces a facer with enhanced Flame-Gard™ technology, designed to improve fire resistance in the building and construction industry, along with other key performance attributes. When exposed to fire, the facer paper will char but not support combustion and will self-extinguish once the flame source is removed.
In addition to its flame-retardant properties, the facer with Flame-Gard™ enhances the mechanical strength of insulation boards, helping them remain flat throughout the manufacturing process and during end-use. The material also achieves a balance between high flame resistance and low water absorption—two properties that are often difficult to combine.
The Flame-Gard™ technology responds to market demand for more flame-retardant materials. Increased awareness and regulation have led to stricter building codes to safeguard public health and safety.
The facer with Flame-Gard™ can be surface-sized to reduce water absorption and prevent delamination if the insulation board is exposed to moisture during its lifetime. The facer can be laminated with aluminum foil or insulation foam and is free from halogens, bromine, and chlorine-based compounds. Moreover, its well-balanced in-plane structure minimizes the risk of cracks and creases during lamination. The facer is available in a natural, unbleached version, which may support customers’ sustainability goals.
“With Ahlstrom’s Flame-Gard™ technology, customers can enhance the fire performance of their final products and meet the required regulatory standards. The technology can be applied to various substrates making it a flexible solution”, says Eva Thunholm, Vice President, Technical Materials.
The facer is produced in an integrated mill, where both pulp and paper are manufactured on site, which ensures a controlled and efficient production process.
For more information on Ahlstrom’s Flame-Gard™ technology, please visit: https://www.ahlstrom.com/products/technologies/flame-gard/
Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 7,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom.com.