A Review of Mycelium-Based Composites as a High Fire-Rated Construction Material

Recent studies have aimed to develop sustainable bio-based fire-resistant building materials to replace the conventional building materials. Traditional fire retardants such as halogenated compounds rely on toxic chemicals that pose environmental and health risks. Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs), produced from fungal mycelia cultured from agricultural byproducts, offer a promising eco-friendly alternative with inherent fire-retardant properties. Addressing fire safety in buildings is vital for enhancing resilience, reducing casualties and economic losses, and aligning buildings with development goals. MBCs contribute to circular economies by repurposing waste and making it key to climate-adaptive construction. This study provides a review of MBCs' fire-retardant properties from various studies. The high char formation of MBCs (up to 48% at 600°C) at low heating rates (as low as 33 kW/m²), delayed ignition, and minimal smoke production outperformed those of their synthetic counterparts. This study identifies key research gaps and provides actionable solutions, such as tripartite studies, to disentangle mycelium, substrate, and additive effects.