Abstract: A fire resistant composite material comprising: a matrix comprising one or more liquid and one or more of silicates of the elements of Groups 1, 2, 13 and/or 14 of the periodic table, phosphates of the elements of Group 13 of the periodic table and/or organo compounds of the elements of Group 13 of the periodic table; and a cooling agent comprising one or more of MOH, M2O, M2 SO4, MHSO4, M(PO3)3, MxH3-xPO4 (where x=0 to 3), M2CO3, MHCO3, borates such as M2 [B4O5(OH)4](where M=Li, Na, K, and/or NH4), M?(OH)2, M?O, M?CO3, M?SO4, M?PO4(where M?=Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, and/or Fe), Al(OH)3, Fe(OH)3, Si(OH)4, SiO(OH)2, FeO(OH), AlO(OH), salts thereof, silica gel, molecular sieves, glycols, polyols, non-flammable organic solvents, dried alkali metal silicates and/or saccharides; and/or an isolating agent comprising one or more of hollow microspheres,foam microspheres, glass flakes, ceramic flakes, wood chips and/or cellulose chips.