Journal of the American Institute for Conservation

Fire-Retardants and Art

The aim of the special issue is to explore the use and impact of fire-retardants on art, whether they were incorporated during the original fabrication or as a later treatment. Drawing on perspectives from science and industry as well as conservation, this special issue of JAIC will consider the material effects of fire-retardants and their long-term implications for the preservation, analysis, and treatment of a wide range of art forms. We also welcome papers addressing the impact of fire-retardants on the health and safety of conservators.

Conservators working in all fields - including, but not limited to, built heritage, textiles, sculpture, and film - are encouraged to submit. The goal of this issue is to share strategies for identification, assessment, documentation, and treatment, and to foster collaboration across disciplines in addressing this surprisingly prevalent yet under-discussed issue within the conservation field.

We are open to all types of articles, including full-length articles, short experimental “technical” notes or rapid communications describing anecdotes with fire-retardants. We would also welcome literature reviews, or a discussion of ethical considerations.

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

• The rationale for applying fire-retardant coatings (e.g., compliance with building codes, exhibition requirements, or artist intent)
• Whether these coatings require different preventive conservation strategies
• Methods for identifying and analyzing fire-retardant materials in artworks
• Case studies involving testing, deterioration, conservation challenges, or unexpected material interactions
• Practical and ethical decision-making in applying or treating works with fire-retardants