Aerogels based on sodium montmorillonite clay, epoxy polymer, and tannic acid as a flame retardant additive were fabricated through a simple environmentally-friendly freeze-drying process in which water is used as solvent. A one-step coating method using a coordination complex of natural polyphenols and Fe(III) ions will also be presented. Both the blended and the coated aerogels exhibit low flammabilities, which will be presented (the parameters measured are the time to ignition, the critical heat flux for ignition and the heat release rate) along with the effects of tannic acid upon the aerogel compressive mechanical properties