What is "fire retardant"

fire retardant \fire retardant\ n. a substance applied or added to materials or objects, so as to reduce combustibility or slow the spread of fire. PJC]

n. Any of several substances used to delay or prevent combustion when used as a coating or component of a combustible material

A fire retardant is a substance that reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion. This includes chemical agents, but may also include substances that work by physical action, such as cooling the fuels, such as fire-fighting foams and fire-retardant gels. Fire retardants may also be coatings applied to an object, such as a spray retardant to prevent Christmas trees from burning. Fire retardants are commonly used in fire fighting.

Home fires damage about 400,000 homes, and cause approximately 7 billion US dollars in direct damage annually in the United States. Because of the importance of prevention, fire retardation has become a very notable industry.