Abstract: A fire-barrier comprises a composite of three types of fire-retardant materials operable sequentially to combat an increase in temperature, e.g. as occurs on outbreak of a fire, by different methods. A preferred combination of materials is an outer layer of heat reflective material, an inner layer of thermally intumescent material and an intermediate layer of endothermal material between the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: A pipe for transporting crude oil comprises a layer of polymeric material for containing oil within the bore of the pipe, the polymeric material being surrounded and supported by a reinforcement structure comprising high tensile reinforcement elements which are protected from corrosion by gases passing from the polymeric layer through the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement element may be provided with a protective sheath, for example of low permeability material or a material which possesses electrolytic action, or the reinforcement element may be embedded in a matrix of high permeability material such that a preferential path is provided for the passage of gases through the reinforcement structure.