Fire Tests on a series of External Wall Insulation Systems.
Mervyn Kirk has been appointed Project Leader for Department of Trade & Industry Dti Partners in Technology Project, Fire Performance of External Wall Insulation; Multi-Storey Fire Tests, to BRE Fire Note 9 on External Wall Insulation Cladding Systems (DOE Research Contract 393370 CC972, March 1997).
The primary objective of the tests is to evaluate the fire spread over the external surface of the facade, fire spread within the system and the mechanical response of the facade against distortion and collapse. The effective of innovative horizontal fire barriers will also be studied and a comparison will be made with tests on a system with fire barriers constructed in accordance with BRE Defect Action Sheet 131, “External Walls: combustible external plastic insulation: horizontal fire barriers”. May 1989.
Advice on the use of thermal insulation materials in external wall construction is given in BRE Report 135 (1988), “Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multi-storey buildings”. The report recommends that “thin renders with glass reinforcement over thermoplastic insulants should be fitted with fire barriers at every storey from the second floor upwards. With satisfactory full-scale test evidence, barriers may be omitted up to the 15m level”.
Tests will be carried out on a range of external wall insulation systems comprising thermoplastic insulants (expanded polystyrene), and thermosetting insulants (phenolic and polyurethane). There are no recommendations in any of the current documents regarding the provision of fire barriers when thermosetting insulants are used.
The FRS test method to be used evaluates the performance of exterior wall assemblies under controlled conditions of fire exposure. The scenario is considered to represent a fully developed (post flashover) fire in a room typical of a residential occupancy, venting through an opening such as a window. This exposes the facade to the effects of external flames.
For more information email mervynkirk@btconnect.com
Mervyn Kirk has many years experience in national business development roles working on major projects and has a proven track record of success specializing in specification sales of innovative thermal energy saving external wall insulation systems, cladding systems, renders, mathematical mortarless brick-tiles, masonry coatings and finishes to supply high quality building envelope solutions. He has been actively involved with lead consultants to Local Authorities and Housing Associations in the design of structural system solutions, maintenance refurbishment, remodelling overcladding and thermal insulation upgrading of Non-Traditional social housing to overcome the problems associated with difficult to treat existing properties to meet the government’s Decent Homes standards, and has worked on major prestigious new build Modern Methods of Construction MMC Affordable Timber-Frame Housing projects.