Shopping malls, theatres, and other closed public places, which are vulnerable to fire, can be made fire-resistant by using the compound.

Rocket science has found a new trajectory in daily life. A low-cost, fire-retardant material developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to protect the fuel tanks of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle may soon safeguard railway coaches, buildings, and vehicles.

It is christened CASPOL. It is a water-based, ready-to-coat, and easy-to-use flame-proof coating. It has flame-retardant and thermal-control properties. It can be applied on walls, clothes, paper, thatched roofs, wood, and other materials. The new compound contains no toxic materials and is eco-friendly, ISRO sources say.

The emulsion can be sprayed or spread using a brush on surfaces. One litre of the compound can coat 1.5 sq m, with a thickness of 500 microns. This is adequate for fire protection and thermal insulation, sources say.

The compound can also be used as a flame-retardant material for railway coaches and automobiles. ISRO says seats can be made flame-proof without affecting the cushioning characteristics.

Shopping malls, theatres, and other closed public places, which are vulnerable to fire, can be made fire-resistant by using the compound.

It can be applied over concrete surfaces of buildings to prevent water seepage as it can fill micro-cracks and holes effectively. The ISRO says it helps keep buildings cooler by at least 5 to 6 degrees Celsius. ISRO is now looking for a suitable industry partner to commercialise the technology.