One of the negative properties of wood as a material - its ability to fire. This is due to organic matter content, comprising the cell walls of wood. When exposed to fire sources are heating wood, accompanied by thermal decomposition. At 100-120 C Moisture evaporates from the wood, located in the cavities and cell walls of wood. With a further increase in temperature comes the initial stage pyrolysis of wood - from her distinguished those gaseous easily flammable compounds such as methane, ethane, carbon monoxide. When heated above 300 C from it abundantly distinguishes the main pyrolysis products - wood alcohol, acetic acid, acetone, tar and charcoal. With free access of oxygen thermal decomposition products are burned, emitting large amounts of heat and flame appearance. Experiments have shown that ignition of wood at 175-200 C occurs after 15-40 minutes, and at temperatures above 400 C - for a few seconds.

Without access to oxygen timber does not ignite and when it is heated, it is dry distillation release of a number of valuable products. Chemical wood protection from fire is applied to its surface, or the introduction of the chemical flame retardant. Chemicals, used to protect wood from fire retardants have been called, and the protection process - antipirirovanie wood. Antipirirovanie wood in two ways: surface-coated with flame retardants compounds and impregnation of wood with solutions of fire retardants. Surface coating with flame retardants attached wooden structures partial resistance to fire, because it protects the wood from direct contact with the fire and prevent the free access of atmospheric oxygen that supports combustion.