Flame Security International

What Flame Security International does

Flame Security International (FSI) is a privately held Australian fire protection and energy solutions company headquartered at the University of New South Wales in Kensington, with a wholly owned European subsidiary (FSI Europe AB) in Mora, Sweden, and a US partnership footprint at UC Berkeley. The company was established in its current form in 2018 through a merger with a Swedish predecessor and is led by co-founders Tony Overstead (CEO) and Justin Rooney (Managing Director). FSI's core technology is a proprietary set of water-based intumescent polymer coatings developed in partnership with UNSW's School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, where the company has effectively seeded the largest dedicated fire protection R&D team in Australia under a multi-year, 12+ product commercialization program.

The product portfolio centers on the FIRECOAT consumer brand — FIRECOAT Exterior achieving a world-first BAL-40 rating and FIRECOAT Interior rated BAL-29 — alongside FIRECOAT Defend powder concentrate for wildland fire containment lines, FSI-Render for combustible cladding remediation, FSI-Membrane for power pole and window protection, FSI-Spray & Go temporary bushfire spray, FSI-EmberGuard foam, FSI-EPS fire-retarded insulation panels, and FSI-Textile fabric treatment. Adjacent product lines include the Cladding Monitoring System (optical, infrared and flame detection sensors with cloud infrastructure and a first-responder mobile app) and a perovskite-based Building Applied Photovoltaics product (Solar Skin) in pipeline development. Formulations are deliberately non-toxic, free from PFAS, PFOS, halogens, and VOCs.

FSI operates a hybrid go-to-market: consumer retail through Bunnings Warehouse in Australia and ACE Hardware's 5,800+ US franchise stores, direct-to-consumer e-commerce via firecoat.au and firecoat.us, and enterprise sales to textile and furniture manufacturers (including a long-standing IKEA of Almhult relationship), government fire agencies (USDA/US Forest Service, Swedish MSB), and energy network operators. Certifications across USDA QPL, FM Global Class 4975, ASTM E84, BAL-40, and AS 1530.8 series underpin procurement eligibility. The company is privately owned by its founders and strategic investors, with a $10M AUD cornerstone investment from Steadfast Risk Group in June 2022 and cumulative Australian government CRC-P grants exceeding $6M AUD funding the R&D pipeline.

Name

Flame Security International

Legal name

Flame Security International Pty Limited

Website

https://flamesecurityinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Flame Security International (FSI) develops non-toxic, water-based fire-retardant coatings, renders, textiles, and sensor-based monitoring systems for buildings, infrastructure, and wildland firefighting, serving residential homeowners, textile and furniture manufacturers, government agencies, and retailers across Australia, the US, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Coatings

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Fireproofing & Intumescent Coatings (IMAIAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flame-Retardant & Smoke-Suppressant Compounds (IMANABAG), Firestopping & Fire-Resistant Sealants (IMADAOAI), Fire & Smoke Dampers / Firestopping / Passive Fire Protection Services (BPABAHAE)

Keywords

• Fire-retardant coatings
• Bushfire protection products
• Intumescent paint technology
• Combustible cladding monitoring
• Fire protection textiles

Headquarters

HQ city

Kensington

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Fire Protection Coatings Sales: Sale of FIRECOAT branded fire-retardant paints (Interior and Exterior) through retail channels (Bunnings, ACE Hardware) and direct e-commerce. One-time product purchase for consumers with 10-year product lifespan.
2. Industrial Textile Treatment: FSI-Textile fire retardant products sold to textile and furniture manufacturers for treatment of commercial fabrics. Ongoing B2B sales relationship with major European companies.
3. Cladding Monitoring System: Monitoring system deployment and ongoing monitoring services for buildings with combustible cladding issues. Includes installation and subscription-style monitoring fees.
4. Solar Products (Pipeline): Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) products using perovskite technology for vertical building surfaces. Product development stage with commercialization planned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Flame Security International develops and manufactures a portfolio of fire-retardant coatings, paints, textiles, membranes, and rendering systems under the FIRECOAT and FSI brands. The company also offers a real-time Cladding Monitoring System for buildings with combustible facades and is developing perovskite-based Building Applied Photovoltaics (Solar Skin). Products are formulated to be non-toxic, free from PFAS, halogens, and VOCs, and are sold to consumers via retail hardware chains and to enterprise customers including textile manufacturers, government agencies, and building owners.

Product overview

Flame Security International (FSI) develops sustainable fire protection and energy solutions. The product portfolio centers around the FIRECOAT consumer brand (Exterior and Interior coatings achieving BAL-40 and BAL-29 ratings respectively) and FIRECOAT Defend (powder concentrate), all developed in partnership with UNSW. Supporting the consumer range are FSI-branded professional/add-on products including FSI-Render (3-part cladding system), FSI-Spray & Go (temporary bushfire protection), FSI-Membrane (power pole/window protection), FSI-EmberGuard (ember barrier foam), FSI-EPS Panel (fire-retarded insulation), and FSI-Textile (fabric treatment). The company also offers the Cladding Monitoring System for real-time building facade surveillance and is developing Solar Skin (perovskite-based building-integrated photovoltaics). Products are manufactured in Australia and Sweden with a focus on non-toxic, environmentally responsible formulations free from PFAS, halogens, and VOCs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIRECOAT Exterior: Water-based fire-resistant exterior coating rated to Bushfire Attack Level 40 (BAL-40) for protection against bushfires, structural fires, and urban conflagration.
• FIRECOAT Interior
• FSI-Render
• FSI-Membrane
• FSI-Spray&Go
• FSI-Defend
• FSI Cladding Monitoring System
• FSI-Textile (Durable)
• FSI-EmberGuard
• FSI-EPS Panel
• Solar Skin

Products and services

• FIRECOAT Exterior Water-based fire-resistant exterior coating rated to Bushfire Attack Level 40 (BAL-40), the highest rating ever achieved by a fire-retardant paint. Forms an outer char layer when exposed to flame or radiant heat, protecting underlying surfaces from ignition and stopping flame spread. Sold to homeowners, builders, and commercial property owners for bushfire and structural fire protection.
• FIRECOAT Interior Water-based fire-resistant interior coating independently rated to Bushfire Attack Level 29 (BAL-29). Used as undercoat or top coat for indoor fire protection in homes and commercial spaces, forming a char layer to prevent ignition and slow flame spread.
• FIRECOAT Defend Fire-retardant powder concentrate mixed with water and sprayed on combustible vegetation to create containment lines around properties. USDA QPL certified, free from PFAS, PFOS and halogenated flame retardants. Used by government fire agencies and property owners for perimeter protection during bushfire threats.
• FSI-Render Three-part polymer-based external and internal render system for combustible cladding and structures. Includes Base Coat (2mm), Mid Coat (5mm fire resistance), and Top Coat (1.5mm). Lasts at least 10 years. Sold to building owners and remediation contractors for combustible cladding remediation.
• FSI-Spray & Go Ready-to-use bushfire protection spray product with BAL-29 equivalent protection that can be washed off after fire threat passes. Lasts approximately 2 weeks if not rained on. Sold to homeowners and property managers for temporary bushfire preparation.
• FSI-Membrane Tough, durable polymer-based external membrane for wrapping power pole bases and protecting glass windows/doors from bushfire conditions. Water-based, halogen-free, and VOC-free. Standard thickness 1.5mm, width 1200mm. Sold to energy network operators, builders, and homeowners for infrastructure and window protection.
• FSI-EmberGuard Self-expanding foam barrier that fills gutters, cracks, and holes to prevent ember ingress during bushfires. Plant-derived, contains no PFAS or fluorinated chemicals. Stays in place for up to 7 days. Sold to homeowners in bushfire-prone areas.
• FSI-EPS Panel Flame-retarded Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) insulation panel alternative to standard EPS used for insulation in factories and industrial buildings. Sold to construction and industrial insulation customers.
• FSI-Textile (Durable) Water-based fire retardant spray for home furnishings, commercial textiles, and clothing. Washable up to 50 times, non-toxic, free from halogens and VOCs. Sold to textile and furniture manufacturers including IKEA, as well as event and entertainment companies.
• Cladding Monitoring System (CMS) Real-time fire monitoring system for external surfaces of buildings with combustible cladding. Uses optical cameras, infrared cameras, wired and wireless flame detection sensors, and cloud infrastructure with a mobile app for first responders. Sold to building owners and property managers.
• Solar Skin

Quantifiable outcome

• FIRECOAT Exterior achieves BAL-40 rating - highest ever for fire-retardant paint
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• University of New South Wales (UNSW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Flagship research partnership with UNSW Sydney's School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Established largest fire protection R&D team in Australia with 5+ year program developing 12+ products. Led by Professor Guan Yeoh. Includes ARC Training Centre for Fire Retardant Materials and Safety Technologies.
• IKEAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term customer relationship with IKEA of Almhult for textile fire protection products. Relationship continued through FSI merger with Swedish predecessor company in 2018.
• Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Swedish government agency for civil contingencies and emergency management. MSB collaborates on fire prevention activities and product testing.
• Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean certification partner for FSI products. RISE collaborates on multiple projects including European certification of FSI products and EU grant programs for wildfire research.
• Vasco (Swedish Manufacturer)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChemical manufacturing partner located in Fjallbacka, Sweden. Eco-friendly century-old family business providing manufacturing capabilities for FSI products in Europe.
• NowChem (Australian Manufacturer)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAustralian manufacturer certified as Responsible Care Manufacturer using ISO 9001. Signatory to Responsible Care global environmental initiative, providing sustainable manufacturing for FSI products.
• University of California, BerkeleymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UC Berkeley Disaster Lab for product testing. FSI becoming tenant at Berkeley Space Centre at NASA for environmental testing capabilities including fire resistance testing.
• California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment emergency management agency collaborating on wildfire business roundtable and knowledge sharing between Australian and California fire agencies.
• RMIT UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerARC Early Career Industry Fellowship grant awarded to Dr Tariq Nazir at RMIT working with FSI on flame-resistant power pole coating research ($425,691).
• University of MelbournesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CBRN sensor research under Defence Science Institute (DSI) Hazardous Agent Challenge (HAC) program for gram-scale infra-red spectrometer concept development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nullifire: Nullifire is a global specialist in intumescent fire-protective coatings (now part of PPG). It is the closest direct peer to FSI's FIRECOAT intumescent paint technology, serving commercial and residential fire protection with accredited coatings systems.
• International (International Paint / AkzoNobel): International Paint (part of AkzoNobel) produces fire-retardant and intumescent coatings for structural steel, marine, and infrastructure. Comparable to FSI in serving building and asset-protection use cases with certified fire-retardant coating products.
• Carboline: Carboline (a brand of RPM International) is a leading global manufacturer of fireproofing and protective coatings for industrial and commercial assets. Directly comparable as a specialist in intumescent and fire-retardant coating systems for buildings and infrastructure.
• Isolatek International: Isolatek International manufactures spray-applied fire-resistive materials (SFRM) and intumescent fireproofing products for structural steel and construction. A direct B2B peer in the building fireproofing coatings category where FSI's FSI-Render competes.

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: PPG Industries is a Fortune 500 global coatings manufacturer with a broad portfolio including fire-protection coatings (via Nullifire) and architectural paints. Comparable as a broad incumbent spanning the same end markets as FSI but with vastly larger scale and distribution.
• AkzoNobel: AkzoNobel is a global paints and coatings major (parent of International Paint) serving decorative, industrial, and protective coatings markets including fire protection. A broad incumbent overlapping FSI's architectural and industrial fire-protective coatings.
• Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams is the world's largest paint and coatings company, selling architectural paints through a large retail and contractor network. Broadly comparable end markets (architectural paints) and channel (retail/diy) to FSI's FIRECOAT in Bunnings and ACE Hardware.
• Hempel A/S: Hempel is a global coatings supplier with a growing fire-protective coatings portfolio serving marine, infrastructure, and buildings. Comparable as a broad international coatings incumbent overlapping with FSI's protective and intumescent coating product lines.

Emerging players

• Rudolf Group: Rudolf Group is a specialty chemicals supplier offering halogen-free and sustainable flame retardant finishes for textiles. Directly comparable to FSI-Textile serving European textile and furniture customers with non-toxic fire retardant chemistry.
• Thor (specialty chemicals): Thor (part of the THOR Group, including IPL) supplies specialty flame retardant and performance chemicals for textiles, plastics, and coatings. Comparable as a specialty fire-retardant chemistry supplier serving the same textile and industrial end users as FSI's FSI-Textile and FSI-EPS Panel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/flamesecurity
• Facebookfacebook.com/flamesecurityinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flame-security-international

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flame Security International