Abodo Vaaro® Fire – Frequently Asked Questions

Abodo Vaaro Fire is an ultra durable feature timber, engineered with fire retardant properties locked into the wood’s cellular structure and tested to major international fire standards. It is supplied as a complete, tested product range from a single manufacturer.

Vaaro is the only ultra-durable, fire compliant* timber available as a complete coated, tested product range – all from one trusted manufacturer.

Vaaro Fire has been independently tested, including before and after weathering, to major international standards, including:

• AS/NZS 3837:1998 Type A and ISO 9705:2003 Group 1‑S (New Zealand)
• AS 3959:2018 BAL‑29 and AS 5637.1:2015 Group 1 (Australia)
• EN 13501‑1 Class B‑s1, d0 and B‑s2, d0, EN 16755 DRF EXT INT1 INT2 (UK / EU)
• ASTM E84 Class A (USA)

No. Vaaro Fire is not a surface coating – it is a timber with fire retardant properties, achieved by pressure impregnating a resin‑based fire retardant treatment into the timber, which is then thermoset cured. This locks the fire retardant into the wood cells rather than relying on a sacrificial surface layer.

Yes. Vaaro Fire is designed for exterior façade and cladding applications and has been tested in both coated and uncoated forms, including after weathering, to give confidence in long‑term performance. See Question 2 for the international compliance standards that Vaaro has met.

Yes. Vaaro Fire is designed for interior wall and ceiling lining/panelling applications and meets emissions requirements of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Japan Super E0/F**** (JIS A1460) and European E1 (EN717-1) standards. See Question 2 for the international compliance standards that Vaaro has met.

Yes. Vaaro Fire is supplied as a complete, tested product range – the timber, fire retardant treatment and approved coatings – from a single manufacturer. This removes uncertainty associated with multi‑supplier or site‑applied treatments.

No. Vaaro Fire is sold as a tested cladding material that forms one component of a wall or ceiling system. Wall build-ups are designed specific to each project, of which Vaaro may then contribute to meet specific performance requirements such as an FRR (Fire Resistance Rating). For example in New Zealand, if you're needing a GIB Weatherline external FRR30 minute boundary wall, Abodo Vaaro can be the Type A cladding the system calls for.

Vaaro Fire is fully tested with the Abodo Protector™ semi‑transparent coating range. Using tested coating systems is critical to maintaining validated fire performance.

Unlike surface‑applied coatings that can burn off, peel, or degrade over time, Vaaro Fire’s fire protection is integral to the timber. The resin‑based system is highly leach resistant and remains effective after weathering, making it suitable for long term exterior applications. Vaaro can be cut on site without the need to re-treat cut ends of timber (in order to maintain fire compliance).

Vaaro Fire demonstrates very high leach resistance, with no change in classification when subjected to internationally recognised pre-weathering standards such as ASTM 2898. The thermosetting resin system is specifically designed to restrict the fire retardant treatment from leaching out due to weathering, which is a known issue with many conventional fire retardant timber products.

Vaaro Fire achieves durability class 1, which is the highest durability class for natural timber. Vaaro provides excellent long‑term resistance to fungal decay and is backed by a 40 year durability warranty, subject to warranty conditions. The durability of Vaaro timber is enhanced through Abodo’s proprietary thermal modification and resin impregnation process.

Yes. Vaaro Fire can be re‑machined after treatment by up to 4mm combined, subject to specific conditions. Any re‑machining must comply with Abodo’s technical guidance to maintain performance.

Vaaro Fire has been developed specifically for applications where elevated fire performance is required, including bushfire‑prone and high risk façade applications, subject to project‑specific fire engineering and local code compliance.

No. Vaaro Fire provides a tested, compliant* material option, but it should not be used as a substitute for professional fire engineering advice. Final compliance must always be confirmed by a qualified fire engineer in accordance with local regulations.

All technical data, fire compliance test results and installation guidance are in the Abodo Vaaro Fire Product Guide, which should be used as the initial reference during specification. Further information including test certificates can be supplied by Abodo on request.

Vaaro Fire is manufactured from high grade FSC®‑certified, rapidly renewable New Zealand plantation timber. Sustainability and responsible sourcing are core to the product’s design and performance.

An EPD for Vaaro is currently in progress. In the meantime, initial calculations indicate that the product will still store carbon after processing.

See the Vaaro Product Guide for more information on Abodo forestry sources and Vaaro environmental compliance.

The finished wood product is non-hazardous. However it is not suitable for composting as the in-ground durability is too high (similar to heartwood of high durability tropical hardwoods). It can be re-machined and repurposed into another product, disposed of in landfill or burnt in approved furnace.

There are no hazardous chemicals present in the finished product and the treated timber is non-toxic. There are no heavy metals, boron, halogens, phosphates or sulphates that can be of concern with fire retardant treated products. The treatment is made from two components: a thermosetting polymer resin and an organic nitrogen-based fire retardant. The fire retardant treatment is a low toxicity organic molecule. Once cured these components are locked into the cells of the timber and become inert.