EXTON, PA, December 22, 2008 /-Principia Partners, globally recognized for strategy consulting and industrial market research for the building products and construction materials industry, will be hosting Fire 2009: Flammability and Combustibility in Building Materials at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL on April 6 and 7, 2009.

Major building materials companies such as 3M, Armstrong World Industries, Dow Building Solutions, Draka Cableteq, J.M. Huber, Lubrizol, Trex, Tyco Fire Suppression and Building Products, Universal Forest Products and more will be presenting the latest information on material performance in the fire environment and how current and future trends in fire codes, building design, raw material technologies, and building materials will affect their business.

Principia is also pleased to announce that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the major sponsor for Fire 2009. In addition to their full event sponsorship, UL will host a tour of their fire testing facilities in suburban Chicago as well as an opportunity to witness a live fire test of specific building materials. Tour space will be limited and offered to delegates on a first come, first served basis.

Fire, insurance and government officials are pushing for sweeping code changes due to the increasing social costs, loss of life and loss of property caused by fires. Such issues as wildfires and the push for national codes regulating the wildland urban interface, momentum for residential fire sprinkler systems, the growing life-property concern about lightweight construction, how LEED and sustainable building practices mesh with fire codes, and how plastic-based building materials are performing in a fire environment. How will such changes affect the demand for and the performance of building materials?

Jim Morton, Senior Partner, says "We are very excited about this event and its ability to serve as a unique forum for learning and networking. The industry is looking to understand how building materials and construction practices for fire resistance and prevention will be affected in future residential and commercial building applications. Technology advances are poised to expand new products and solutions as a category requiring improved material properties, performance capabilities and user benefits to a new range of applications. This conference promises to be the year's most informative conference on the flammability and combustibility of building materials."

Fire 2009 will offer the industry an opportunity to collaborate, build and enhance strategic partnerships and alliances while broadening the traditional scope of this growing materials-based industry. A forum to discuss industry developments through the sharing of ideas and strategic networking, the following major sessions are planned:

• State of the Industry
• Issues affecting the building materials industry with regard to wildfires, flame spread and fire resistance in terms of changing code requirements on fire prevention
• Fire Prevention Solutions - Raw Materials/Additives
• Advances in fire-retardant products and materials
• Implications on polymer additives, specialty chemicals and other functional materials
• Fire Prevention Solutions - Systems/Products
• Industry dynamics in passive and active systems
• Changing design requirements in residential and commercial construction

Headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Principia Conferences is a part of Principia Partners, a leading boutique strategy consulting firm that serves the broad building products and construction materials industry as well as other materials-related industries. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.PrincipiaConsulting.com.

SOURCE: Principia Partners

Media contact:
Steve Van Kouteren
Conference Chair
US Only: 1-800-378-8330 ext. 242
Direct: US +1-505-466-3749
Fax: US +1-610-363-7817
E-mail: SteveVK@PrincipiaConsulting.com