Fire‐Safe Polymeric Insulation Foams for Energy‐Efficient and Low‐Carbon Buildings

Polymeric insulation foams, including rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF), phenolic foams (PF), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and extruded polystyrene (XPS), are indispensable passive thermal‐regulating materials. By significantly lowering building energy consumption, they alleviate operational loads on energy grids, supporting global carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability. Their low density, low thermal conductivity, and scalable processability make them widely utilized in energy‐efficient buildings. However, their porous organic structures often lead to rapid ignition, intense heat release, and hazardous smoke, creating a conflict between fire‐safety and energy‐saving performance. Conventional flame‐retardant modifications can disturb foam morphology, increase thermal conductivity, and weaken mechanical reliability, compromising their intended energy benefits. This review provides a critical overview of recent advances in fire‐safe polymeric composite foams, focusing on the interplay among polymer chemistry, cellular architecture, combustion behavior, and thermal insulation. Advanced strategies, such as reactive flame retardants, nanofiller additives, and interfacial coatings, are systematically discussed regarding their roles in condensed‐phase carbonization, gas‐phase inhibition, barrier protection, catalytic regulation, and smoke suppression. Particular attention is paid to multiscale performance trade‐offs among reliable flame retardancy, thermal resistance, mechanical robustness, and long‐term durability. Moving beyond material‐level assessments, this review connects foam thermophysical properties with building cooling energy demand and operational CO 2 emissions through EnergyPlus simulations across diverse climatic regions. Ultimately, this materials‐to‐systems perspective outlines an engineering roadmap for designing next‐generation polymeric insulation foams that reconcile effective fire‐safety, thermal management, and practical carbon reduction for a sustainable future.