Advanced Evaluation of Fire Resistance in Spruce Wood (Picea abies spp.) Treated with Innovative Surface Coatings

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. The author has included an excess of detail regarding the testing methods employed. It should be noted that many of these methods adhere to international standards, and as such, the inclusion of instruments and equipment is redundant. It is therefore recommended that the author undertake a further revision of the paper's format.

2. The study involves a large number of samples and treatments,but the description of experimental procedures is somewhat brief.More details should be provided regarding the application methods of different coatings,especially for commercial products,to ensure reproducibility.

3. The small flame test is a crucial part of the evaluation.However,the criteria for defining flame occurrence and measuring flame height need to be more precisely defined,as these subjective assessments could introduce variability. 4. Some tables and figures could be better organized for clarity.For example,Table 3 could be enhanced by including additional columns that provide more context about the coatings'properties.

5. The labeling of figures and tables should be consistent throughout the manuscript.Some figures have detailed captions,while others are more succinct;a uniform approach would improve readability.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are instances where terminology could be more precise.For example,the term"thermal stability"is used in various contexts;specifying whether it refers to dimensional stability,chemical stability,or another aspect would prevent ambiguity. The manuscript should be proofread for grammatical errors and typos to ensure professional presentation.

Author Response

1. The author has included an excess of detail regarding the testing methods employed. It should be noted that many of these methods adhere to international standards, and as such, the inclusion of instruments and equipment is redundant. It is therefore recommended that the author undertake a further revision of the paper's format.

Answer: The methodology section has been revised to streamline the description of the testing methods, ensuring alignment with international standards. Redundant details regarding instruments and equipment have been reduced, enhancing clarity and conciseness while maintaining the necessary scientific rigor.

2. The study involves a large number of samples and treatments,but the description of experimental procedures is somewhat brief. More details should be provided regarding the application methods of different coatings,especially for commercial products,to ensure reproducibility.

Answer: It was update.

3. The small flame test is a crucial part of the evaluation.However,the criteria for defining flame occurrence and measuring flame height need to be more precisely defined,as these subjective assessments could introduce variability.

4. Some tables and figures could be better organized for clarity.For example,Table 3 could be enhanced by including additional columns that provide more context about the coatings'properties.

Answer: The small flame test results are summarized in Table 3, providing insights into the flame occurrence, duration, and height across various treated spruce wood samples. The analysis highlights the influence of different coatings and treatments on the flame behavior, with notable variations in average flame height and standard deviation across samples.

Additionally, the material descriptions and detailed composition of the applied coatings are presented in Tables 1 and 2, ensuring comprehensive documentation of the treatments used. This inclusion allows for a clearer understanding of the correlation between specific coatings and their impact on flame propagation. The data further emphasize the role of surface treatments in modifying the combustibility of spruce wood, contrib.

5. The labeling of figures and tables should be consistent throughout the manuscript.Some figures have detailed captions,while others are more succinct;a uniform approach would improve readability.

Answer: The labeling of figures and tables has been updated throughout the manuscript to ensure consistency.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript titled "Advanced Evaluation of Fire Resistance in Spruce Wood Treated with Innovative Surface Coatings" presents an investigation into surface treatments to enhance the fire resistance of spruce wood. However, it has several technical shortcomings that could be addressed in a major revision:

1. The study focuses on conventional fire retardant treatments but could benefit from including nano-material based coatings, which might offer superior properties. There are many nano-coatings already reported in literature.

2. The manuscript lacks advanced thermal and chemical characterization, such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of fire resistance at a molecular level.

3. The paper does not discuss the environmental impact of the treatments used. 

4. There is no data on the long-term durability of the treatments under environmental conditions. Accelerated weathering tests would be beneficial to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire retardant treatments over time.

5. Use photographs of testing setups only if they are unique and adding some insights to the work.
6. Comprehensive comparison with literature will increase credibility of work.

Addressing these issues through advanced characterization and expanded testing would significantly enhance the manuscript's value, providing a deeper understanding of the treatments' effectiveness and sustainability.

Author Response

The manuscript titled "Advanced Evaluation of Fire Resistance in Spruce Wood Treated with Innovative Surface Coatings" presents an investigation into surface treatments to enhance the fire resistance of spruce wood. However, it has several technical shortcomings that could be addressed in a major revision:

1. The study focuses on conventional fire retardant treatments but could benefit from including nano-material based coatings, which might offer superior properties. There are many nano-coatings already reported in literature.

Answer: Thank you for this valuable suggestion. The potential of nano-material-based coatings is indeed recognized, and their application in enhancing fire resistance will be a focus of our future research. Incorporating such advanced treatments could provide deeper insights into improving the fire performance of wood, aligning with recent developments in the field.

2. The manuscript lacks advanced thermal and chemical characterization, such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of fire resistance at a molecular level.

Answer: Thank you for highlighting this important aspect. We acknowledge the significance of advanced thermal and chemical characterization techniques such as TGA and FTIR in providing deeper insights into the mechanisms of fire resistance. While these analyses were not conducted in the current study, they are planned for future research to further investigate the thermal stability and chemical transformations of treated wood samples.

3. The paper does not discuss the environmental impact of the treatments used.

Answer: Thank you for your insightful comment. This study primarily focused on evaluating the effectiveness of various surface treatments in enhancing the fire resistance of spruce wood, with an emphasis on mechanical and thermal performance. While the environmental impact of the treatments was not analyzed in this research, we recognize its importance and consider it a crucial aspect for future investigations. Assessing the ecological footprint of these coatings would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their sustainability and potential applications in eco-friendly construction practices.

4. There is no data on the long-term durability of the treatments under environmental conditions. Accelerated weathering tests would be beneficial to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire retardant treatments over time.

Answer: Thank you for raising this important point. The primary focus of this study was to evaluate the immediate fire resistance of treated spruce wood. However, we acknowledge that long-term durability under environmental conditions is crucial for understanding the sustained performance of these treatments. Future research will incorporate accelerated weathering tests to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire-retardant coatings over time, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of their real-world applicability.

5. Use photographs of testing setups only if they are unique and adding some insights to the work.

Answer: Thank you for the suggestion. The photographs included in the manuscript were selected to provide insight into the specific testing setups and procedures used in this study. However, we will carefully review them to ensure only the most relevant images are retained, focusing on those that offer unique details or enhance the understanding of the experimental process.

6. Comprehensive comparison with literature will increase credibility of work.

Answer: We will include a more comprehensive comparison with the existing literature to enhance the credibility of the paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The introduction presented in the paper is not systematic, does not fully reflect the problem of increasing the fire resistance of wood, and the terminology used “flame retardants, fire protection, fire resistance” is not clearly defined (lines 40-44).

Reference [13] Troitzsch, J.; Antonatus, E. Chapter 3. Flame retardants and flame-retarded plastics. In Plastics Flammability Handbook, 4th ed.; 601, for example, has nothing to do with the use of appropriate surface treatment of wooden elements.

And references [33-38], which are positioned by the authors as articles about coating materials that demonstrate significant potential for improving the fire resistance of wood materials, do not correspond to both the relevance and the problem of fire protection of wood. The same remark applies to references [39-44], which do not deal with innovative materials in the field of fire protection.

In general, the introduction does not cover the issue of fire resistance of wood and the ways, methods or materials used for such a broad area of fire safety as fire protection of wooden structures or products. This approach does not allow the authors to correctly formulate the purpose of the study (lines 69-73). And the phrase “adequate fire protection” is a somewhat loose interpretation of fire protection of wood, which is regulated by national standards.

The experimental part in terms of sample production is very superficial. Table 1 gives the common names of the coatings or materials used to treat the wood, without specifying the manufacturer or any other identifiers (e.g., Caparol Coating, Belinka Oil, etc.). Table 2 also does not specify the origin and specific name of the coating material.

The description also does not indicate the amount by weight of the coating materials that were applied.

In addition, when evaluating and comparing the fire resistance of wood, the weight of the sample is always taken into account to compare samples of similar density. The density of the wood determines both the penetration depth of the coating material and the fire resistance of the wood itself.

Therefore, the description of the experiment as presented raises many questions. And this calls into question the correctness of the results.

The results presented in Table 3, as well as the conclusions drawn from these results, are contradictory. Thus, if we analyze the worst fire resistance for SPBK (12.18±3.70) cm, the lower value of the flame height is 8.48 cm. This value of flame height, taking into account the error of the experiment, is demonstrated by almost all samples in Table 3, with the exception of SPBB, SPPCS, and SPPC.

Therefore, in my view, the conclusions from Table 3 are very conditional.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

NO

Author Response

1. The introduction presented in the paper is not systematic, does not fully reflect the problem of increasing the fire resistance of wood, and the terminology used “flame retardants, fire protection, fire resistance” is not clearly defined (lines 40-44).

Answer: additional explanation was provided in the introduction section, as suggested.

2. Reference [13] Troitzsch, J.; Antonatus, E. Chapter 3. Flame retardants and flame-retarded plastics. In Plastics Flammability Handbook, 4th ed.; 601, for example, has nothing to do with the use of appropriate surface treatment of wooden elements.

Answer: Fire performance measures, are applied on various materials. Technology can be transferred from one material to another. Thus, we kept the respective reference. We leave it up to the editor to decide if the respective reference is inappropriate.

3. And references [33-38], which are positioned by the authors as articles about coating materials that demonstrate significant potential for improving the fire resistance of wood materials, do not correspond to both the relevance and the problem of fire protection of wood. The same remark applies to references [39-44], which do not deal with innovative materials in the field of fire protection.

Answer: Thank you for your comment and suggestions. The references have been reorganized to be more relevant to the topic of our research, which focuses on innovative materials for fire protection of wood.

4. In general, the introduction does not cover the issue of fire resistance of wood and the ways, methods or materials used for such a broad area of fire safety as fire protection of wooden structures or products. This approach does not allow the authors to correctly formulate the purpose of the study (lines 69-73). And the phrase “adequate fire protection” is a somewhat loose interpretation of fire protection of wood, which is regulated by national standards.

Answer: the introduction is limited. Part of the introduction was improved. However, there is no need to describe the problem of the fire performance in too much detail, as there are review articles and books available on respective topic. Additional information in the introduction was provided.

5. The experimental part in terms of sample production is very superficial. Table 1 gives the common names of the coatings or materials used to treat the wood, without specifying the manufacturer or any other identifiers (e.g., Caparol Coating, Belinka Oil, etc.). Table 2 also does not specify the origin and specific name of the coating material.

Answer: The basic properties of the coatings have been updated in Table 1.

6. The description also does not indicate the amount by weight of the coating materials that were applied.

Answer: It ws update. (The amount of coating applied per square meter to the wood samples varies, with the SPBB sample showing 239.72 g/m², the SPBK sample 256.42 g/m², the SPPCS sample 264.53 g/m², the SPUB sample 295.39 g/m², the SPV sample 303.66 g/m², the SPPC sam-ple 255.79 g/m², the SPUW sample 261.47 g/m², the SPVS sample 1,041.13 g/m², the SPUE sample 278.14 g/m², and the SPPD sample 236.57 g/m².)

7. In addition, when evaluating and comparing the fire resistance of wood, the weight of the sample is always taken into account to compare samples of similar density. The density of the wood determines both the penetration depth of the coating material and the fire resistance of the wood itself.

Answer: We did not consider the moisture content (MOUDA) in this evaluation because the study focused on a single wood species. The inherent homogeneity of a single wood species allows for more consistent and controlled testing conditions, as variations in moisture content across different species are typically a significant factor influencing fire resistance. Since the samples used in this study belong to the same species, the variation in moisture content would be minimal, and any potential impact on fire resistance would be relatively uniform across all samples. Thus, for this particular analysis, the moisture content was considered less critical in influencing the results.

8. Therefore, the description of the experiment as presented raises many questions. And this calls into question the correctness of the results.

Answer: Thank you for your comment. The experimental description has been carefully prepared to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness. Additional details regarding the preparation of wood samples, application of coatings, and testing procedures have been included to provide a more precise understanding of the methodology. Furthermore, strict adherence to the EN ISO 11925-2 standard has been emphasized to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of the results.

9. The results presented in Table 3, as well as the conclusions drawn from these results, are contradictory. Thus, if we analyze the worst fire resistance for SPBK (12.18±3.70) cm, the lower value of the flame height is 8.48 cm. This value of flame height, taking into account the error of the experiment, is demonstrated by almost all samples in Table 3, with the exception of SPBB, SPPCS, and SPPC.

Answer: Thank you for pointing out the potential contradictions in the interpretation of Table 3. The high standard deviation observed for SPBK (12.18 ± 3.70 cm) reflects considerable variability in flame propagation across samples treated with boric acid. This variability can be attributed to the inconsistent formation of a protective layer, possibly due to boric acid’s water solubility, which affects its retention on the wood surface. While some samples exhibited lower flame heights, the overall trend still indicates that SPBK-treated samples demonstrated the least effective fire resistance among the treatments tested. The broader range of results highlights the need for further investigation into the uniformity of boric acid’s protective effect.

10. Therefore, in my view, the conclusions from Table 3 are very conditional.

Answer: We acknowledge the reviewer’s concern regarding the conditional nature of the conclusions drawn from Table 3. Given the overlap of flame heights when accounting for standard deviation, the observed differences between some treatments may not be statistically significant. To address this, additional statistical analyses, such as ANOVA, will be conducted to determine the significance of the observed variations. The conclusions will be refined accordingly to ensure they accurately reflect the reliability of each treatment's performance. Future studies will also focus on increasing the sample size and applying more rigorous statistical methods to improve result interpretation.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript "Advanced Evaluation of Fire Resistance in Spruce Wood (Picea abies spp.) Treated with Innovative Surface Coatings" by Redžo Hasanagić, Selma Mujanić, Eli Keržič, Leila Fathi, Mohsen Bahmani, Mohammad Dahmardeh Ghalehno, Boštjan Lesar, and Miha Humar acceptable. There are a few issues that need to be amended, revised, and fixed. The comments and suggestions are as stated below:

 

Comments:

1. Please add the quantitative results to the abstract.
2. The author should provide a critical discussion of the main focus of the study by incorporating previous research and identifying the gap that the authors aim to address.
3. In line 115, please capitalize the "T" in Table 2.
4. Section 3 should be titled "Results and Discussion" instead of just "Results."
5. An intensive discussion in Section 3.1 should be added to clarify the role of different coating agents. The authors are only stating the results without discussing why the results are as they are. The authors can cite any relevant previous studies to support the results obtained.
6. Please include the main quantitative results in the conclusion section.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English could be improved to more clearly express the research.

Author Response

1. Please add the quantitative results to the abstract.

Answer. It was update.

- Analysis revealed that Burn Block spray reduced average flame height to 6.57 cm, while Caparol coating achieved a similar effect with an average flame height of 6.95 cm. In contrast, untreated samples exhibited a flame height of 9.34 cm, with boric acid-treated samples reaching up to 12.18 cm.

2. The author should provide a critical discussion of the main focus of the study by incorporating previous research and identifying the gap that the authors aim to address.

Answer: It was update.

3. In line 115, please capitalize the "T" in Table 2.

Answer: It was update.

4. Section 3 should be titled "Results and Discussion" instead of just "Results."

Answer: It was update.

5. An intensive discussion in Section 3.1 should be added to clarify the role of different coating agents. The authors are only stating the results without discussing why the results are as they are. The authors can cite any relevant previous studies to support the results obtained.

Answer: It was update.

- Ekotep oil increased the average flame height to 11.44 cm, likely due to its composition, which may contribute to increased flammability by forming a combustible layer on the wood surface. Conversely, Wepos oil had a protective effect with a lower average flame height of 8.88 cm, possibly attributed to its synthetic components that enhance the formation of a protective barrier.

- Boric acid's limited impact could be due to its water-soluble nature, leading to insuffi-cient retention on the wood surface.

- The superior performance of these coatings can be attributed to the formation of a protective film on the wood surface, preventing direct contact with flames and reduc-ing heat transfer.

- Thermal treatment reduces moisture content and degrades hemicellulose, increasing combustibility.

- Burn Block's superior performance is likely due to its ability to form a stable char layer that insulates the wood and prevents further combustion, a mechanism.

6. Please include the main quantitative results in the conclusion section.

Answer. It was update: Analysis showed that Burn Block spray and Caparol coating were the most effective treatments, reducing average flame height to 6.57 cm and 6.95 cm, respectively, compared to 9.34 cm for untreated samples and 12.18 cm for boric acid-treated samples.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

no

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you for your thorough and insightful comments. Your feedback, presented at a high scientific level, has significantly improved the quality of our manuscript. We appreciate the time and effort you dedicated to reviewing our work.

Sincerely,

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The revised version has some minor improvements, however, critical technical aspects remain unaddressed. The responses from the authors indicate a lack of substantial revision to improve the scientific rigor of the work. The responses appear to be generic and largely deflect the concerns rather than addressing them with actual modifications to the study. for example:

6. Comprehensive comparison with literature will increase credibility of work.

Answer: We will include a more comprehensive comparison with the existing literature to enhance the credibility of the paper. !!!!!!

5. Use photographs of testing setups only if they are unique and adding some insights to the work.

Answer: Thank you for the suggestion. The photographs included in the manuscript were selected to provide insight into the specific testing setups and procedures used in this study. However, we will carefully review them to ensure only the most relevant images are retained, focusing on those that offer unique details or enhance the understanding of the experimental process. !!!!!!!!!!!

Responses are supposed to be given alongside while revisions are introduced in manuscript !!

The authors acknowledge the suggestions but defer most of them to future research without any significant effort to incorporate relevant improvements in the current version or including them as limitations (in case they can not be addressed or beyond scope).

One major limitation of the study is the exclusion of nano-material-based coatings, despite their well-documented advantages in fire resistance applications. Nano-coatings offer superior performance due to their high surface area, improved thermal stability, and potential for reduced material consumption. While the authors recognize their importance, they have not provided a justification for their absence in this research. As such, the study's findings are restricted to conventional coatings, and its applicability to advanced fire-retardant technologies remains limited. This should be clearly acknowledged as a constraint, emphasizing that future work should explore the effectiveness of nano-material-based solutions.

Moreover, the study lacks advanced thermal and chemical characterization techniques, such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which are crucial for understanding the degradation mechanisms and thermal stability of the coatings under fire exposure. These analyses would provide deeper insights into the molecular-level interactions between coatings and wood, as well as their impact on combustion resistance. While access to specialized equipment may be a challenge, this omission significantly weakens the study’s mechanistic understanding of fire resistance, and it must be explicitly stated as a limitation.

Another critical shortcoming is the absence of environmental impact analysis. Given the growing emphasis on sustainability in the construction industry, assessing the ecological footprint of fire-retardant coatings is essential. Many commercial fire-retardant coatings contain chemical additives that may raise concerns regarding toxicity, leaching, and long-term environmental consequences. Without a life-cycle assessment or an eco-toxicity study, the manuscript fails to provide a complete evaluation of the sustainability of the coatings used. The authors should acknowledge this gap and recommend further research to explore the environmental implications of these treatments.

Additionally, the study does not account for the long-term durability of the coatings under environmental conditions. Fire resistance is not solely a function of initial performance; coatings must withstand humidity, UV exposure, and mechanical wear over time. The absence of accelerated weathering tests makes it impossible to determine whether these coatings maintain their effectiveness after prolonged exposure to real-world conditions. While the study provides valuable short-term fire performance data, its findings cannot be extrapolated to long-term applications, which should be explicitly stated as a limitation.

The study also lacks a comprehensive comparative analysis with existing literature, limiting its ability to contextualize its findings within the broader scientific landscape. While some references are cited, there is no systematic discussion comparing the results of this study with those of previous investigations into fire-retardant wood coatings. A well-structured literature review would strengthen the manuscript by demonstrating where the study's contributions stand in relation to existing knowledge. The lack of this comparison reduces the impact and credibility of the work, which should be highlighted as a limitation.

while the manuscript includes photographs of experimental setups, their scientific value remains unclear. Images should only be retained if they provide unique insights into the testing process or offer substantial support to the study’s conclusions. Otherwise, their inclusion may not be justified, and their relevance should be acknowledged as a potential limitation.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Please find attached the responses to your comments. Thank you for your valuable feedback and suggestions, which will certainly help improve this paper.

Kind regards,

Comment 1: The study focuses on conventional fire retardant treatments but could benefit from including nano-material based coatings, which might offer superior properties. There are many nano-coatings already reported in literature.

Response: Thank you for this valuable suggestion. In this study, the focus was on evaluating the fire resistance of spruce wood treated with conventional coatings. The application of nano-material-based coatings requires specialized equipment and further research, which will be addressed in future studies. We have added an explanation regarding the absence of nano-materials and plans for their inclusion in future investigations:

"It is important to note that this study focused on conventional coatings, while advanced treatments such as nano-material-based coatings were not included. Given their potential to enhance fire resistance due to high surface area and thermal stability, future research will aim to explore the effects of nano-coatings on spruce wood."

Comment 2: The manuscript lacks advanced thermal and chemical characterization, such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of fire resistance at a molecular level.

Response: We acknowledge the importance of advanced thermal and chemical characterization techniques, such as TGA and FTIR, in providing deeper insights into the mechanisms of fire resistance. While these analyses were not conducted in the current study due to equipment limitations, they are planned for future research to further investigate the thermal stability and chemical transformations of treated wood samples. This limitation has now been addressed in the text:

"Due to equipment limitations, advanced thermal and chemical characterization techniques, such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), were not performed in this study. These analyses are planned for future investigations to provide deeper insights into the thermal degradation mechanisms and the chemical changes in treated wood. Additionally, the long-term durability of the treatments under environmental conditions was not assessed, which is crucial for understanding the sustained performance of these coatings. Future research will incorporate accelerated weathering tests to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire-retardant coatings over time, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of their real-world applicability."

Comment 3: There is no comparison with the literature dealing with advanced methods for improving fire resistance. Answer: We have expanded the "Discussion" section by adding a comparison with relevant studies that use advanced methods to improve the fire resistance of wood, including the application of nano-coatings. This comparison further contextualizes our results and emphasizes the need for further research in this direction:

"While this study demonstrated improvements in fire resistance with conventional coatings, literature indicates that nano-material-based treatments could offer superior protection due to enhanced thermal stability and the formation of protective barriers at the molecular level [61,62,63]. Incorporating these advanced coatings in future studies would provide a more comprehensive evaluation of fire-retardant performance."

• Mao, N.; Jiang, L.; Li, X.; Gao, Y.; Zang, Z.; Peng, S.; Ji, L.; Lv, C.; Guo, J.; Wang, H.; et al. Core-shell ammonium polyphosphate@nanoscopicaluminum hydroxide microcapsules: Preparation, characterisation, and its flame retardancy performance on woodpulp paper. Chem. Eng. J. Adv. 2021, 6, 100096.
• Zhang, M.F.; Wang, D.; Li, T.; Jiang, J.; Bai, H.Y.; Wang, S.B.; Wang, Y.; Dong, W.F. Multifunctional Flame-Retardant, Thermal Insulation, and Antimicrobial Wood-Based Composites. Biomacromolecules 2023, 24, 957–966.
• Lainioti, G.C.; Koukoumtzis, V.; Andrikopoulos, K.S.; Tsantaridis, L.; Ostman, B.; Voyiatzis, G.A.; Kallitsis, J.K. Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Organic-Inorgan

Comment 4: There is no data on the long-term durability of the treatments under environmental conditions. Accelerated weathering tests would be beneficial to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire retardant treatments over time.

Response: We appreciate your insightful comment. The primary focus of this study was to evaluate the immediate fire resistance of treated spruce wood. However, we acknowledge that long-term durability under environmental conditions is crucial for understanding the sustained performance of these treatments. Future research will incorporate accelerated weathering tests to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the fire-retardant coatings over time, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of their real-world applicability.

Comment 5: Use photographs of testing setups only if they are unique and adding some insights to the work.

Response: Thank you for the suggestion. We reduced the number of photographs, retaining only those that provide unique insights into the experimental process. In accordance with your feedback, Figures 2, 3, and 4 have been removed, as they did not offer additional value to the scientific understanding of the experimental process.

Comment 6:

We have added the following statement in the conclusion to clarify the study's scope and acknowledge its limitations:

"This study excludes nano-material-based coatings, does not encompass advanced thermal and chemical analyses (e.g., TGA, FTIR), and does not include long-term durability testing. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the applied coatings was not assessed. Future research should address these aspects to provide a more holistic understanding of the fire performance and sustainability of treated spruce wood."

 

We have implemented the requested changes, including clearly defining the study's limitations, expanding the comparison with existing literature, and optimizing the visual presentation of results. Thank you for your constructive suggestions, which have significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of the manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have done a great job of correcting the comments. I believe that the work can be published in the form presented.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We sincerely appreciate your constructive and well-structured comments. Your insights, presented at a high scientific level, have greatly contributed to enhancing the quality of our manuscript. Thank you for your time and effort.

Sincerely.