Zotefoams plc (LON:ZTF), a world leader in cellular materials technology, has announced an agreement with Kennon Products (Wyoming, USA) to supply ZOTEK® F high-performance foam for use in Kennon’s newest ligature-resistant patient safety door, broadening the scope of application for this material. So-called breakaway doors are used in medical facilities to protect vulnerable patients from self-harm while affording privacy.
Produced exclusively by Zotefoams and manufactured from PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), ZOTEK F is best-known as a disruptive material that has enabled airframe manufacturers and airlines to reduce carbon consumption by shedding significant weight from aircraft interiors. Equally important are the safety credentials of the material: PVDF is inherently inert, and Zotefoams’ proprietary method of foam manufacture does not affect that essential purity. Accordingly, ZOTEK F achieves the highest ratings for its Fire, Smoke and Toxicity (FST) properties and also exhibits excellent resistance to mould and bacteria growth.
Safety is the foremost consideration in the design of the Kennon Door 2.0. The softness of ZOTEK F and its light weight combine with breakaway magnetic hinges to save lives, as do its resistance to flame and – in the event of ignition – low smoke output. The durable design of the door also enhances the look of any facility.
Kennon achieved its primary objective, that of developing a door that achieves the USA’s new National Fire Protection Association NFPA-286 certification, which is required for facility operators wishing to meet certain fire prevention guidelines.
“The unique properties of ZOTEK F foam are a key reason for our anti-ligature doors meeting the NFPA-286 standard,” said Kennon CEO, Joe Wright. “Our partnership with Zotefoams has been a mutual success and together we’re helping to save lives in behavioural health hospitals.”
David Stirling, Zotefoams Group CEO, commented, “We were pleased to work closely with Kennon on this project, selecting and testing various ZOTEK F materials, while providing support and insight based on our previous experience of aviation applications and flame testing.
“This application has produced another ‘first’ for ZOTEK F and demonstrates the potential of the material to deliver benefits well beyond its current core markets of aviation and aerospace.”
