Everything You Need to Know About 30-60-90-240 Minute A1 Fire Rated Boards*
Fireresistant board goes by many names such as fire retardant or calcium silicate board. It is also called fireproof board or intumescent board. In fact, it is a type of building material that aims to maximise the temperature reduction on the cold side compared to the fireside.
One of the most important aspects of a fire-resistant board is the amount of time it can withstand fire before it begins to fail. There are several time intervals that fire-resistant board is tested and rated for, including 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 240 minutes. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the 30-60-90-240 minute A1 fire rated board and explore its benefits and applications. Whether you're a contractor, architect, or building owner, understanding the advantages of these fire-resistant boards can help you make informed decisions and ensure the safety of your building and its occupants.
30 MINUTE FIRE BOARD
30-minute fire-resistant board is simply designed to withstand fire for half an hour. This type of board is commonly used in walls and ceilings of residential and commercial buildings. It can provide enough time for occupants to evacuate the building and for firefighters to arrive and put out the fire.
When it comes to fire-resistant board, the 30-minute rating is often considered the basic, minimal, and starting point for fire protection. This type of board is able to withstand fire for a period of 30 minutes before failing, which can be crucial in helping to slow down the spread of fire and giving occupants enough time to evacuate the building.
While 30-minute fire-resistant board is often used in both private and commercial settings, it is more commonly used in private applications due to the fact that there are typically fewer people at risk. For example, a home might use a 30-minute fire-resistant board in ceilings separating floors.
There are several types of 30-minute fire-resistant board available in the UK.
30 MIN MASTERBOARD
One popular option is the Masterboard. Masterboard is a Class O building board with limited combustibility providing up to 30 minutes fire protection. This board is suitable for external use in semi-exposed applications, whilst adding its fire rating qualities. The Promat Masterboard is certified by BBA. It's off-white and has a smooth front surface and a sanded back surface. You can leave it plain or easily decorate it with paints, wallpapers, or tiles. It's a key part of the moisture-resistant system for ceilings and walls in places like swimming pools where humidity is high.
30 MIN KNAUF, BRITISH GYPSUM, SINIAT FIRE PLASTERBOARD
Other 30-minute fire-resistant boards include the Knauf Fireshield board, the British Gypsum Fireline board, and the Siniat Bluclad board. Regardless of the brand, they are all sold in the colour pink and not without reason.
The colour pink is often used to identify fire-resistant materials, including fire-resistant boards. In the case of fire, the pink colour often signifies that the board has been treated with a fire-resistant coating or additive to improve its fire resistance properties.
Additionally, the pink colour can help to distinguish fire-resistant boards from other types of construction materials on a job site, making it easier for builders and contractors to ensure that the correct materials are being used in areas where fire protection is critical.
Fire plasterboard is coloured pink on the front and grey on the back and has tapers down the long edges. Pink plasterboard usually consists of an aerated gypsum core with glass fibre reinforcement and other additives encased in and firmly bonded to strong paper liners.
In fact, the fire board is stronger, harder and heavier than standard plasterboard weighs 28.80kg (12.5mm) and 34.50kg (15mm). When exposed to fire, the chemically combined water absorbs the heat and is gradually released in the form of moisture vapour.
One square metre of a 12.5mm gypsum board contains approximately 2 litres of water of crystallisation in the gypsum core. Its high water content provides up to 90% of the fire resistance protection of gypsum boards.
Fire plasterboard is suitable for dry lining internal surfaces which can be skim plaster finished or directly decorated. Boards come in standard lengths: 1800, 2400, 2700 and 3000mm. Only 2 thicknesses are available - 12.5mm and 15mm. Boards can be plastered with either Gyproc skimcoat, Skim Coat Short Set, Carlite Finish or Carlite Ultra. Tapered edge finish only occurs in two dimensions 12.5 x 1200 x 2400mm and 12.5 x 900 x 1800mm.
According to the guidance, correct installation of 1 x 12.5 mm fire plasterboard with a plaster skim can provide a 30-minute fire protection.
PRODUCTS:
- Masterboard
- Supalux
- Rockwool RWA45, RW3, RW5
- Knauf Fireshield board
- British Gypsum Fireline board
- Siniat Bluclad Board
Overall, while a 30-minute fire-resistant board might be considered the entry-level option when it comes to fire protection, it can still provide valuable protection against the spread of fire and should not be overlooked when designing or retrofitting a building for fire safety.
60 MIN FIRE BOARD
A fire-resistant board with a 60-minute rating has the ability to resist fire for a period of one hour. This type of board is typically used in buildings where occupants need more time to evacuate, such as hospitals and schools. It provides an additional 30 minutes of fire protection compared to the 30-minute board.
In the UK, a 60-minute fire rating is often required for ceilings in residential buildings. This means that at least 2 layers of fire-resistant plasterboard are typically needed to achieve the necessary fire protection ( 2x12.5mm thick fire plaster boards = 60 minutes fire resistance).
When you use two layers of 12.5mm fire plasterboard in a partition or ceiling, it can give you up to 1 hour of fire protection. If you opt for a single layer of 15mm fire plasterboard, it provides 60 minutes of fire resistance.
A 60-minute fire rating is also required where occupants may have difficulty evacuating quickly. This includes areas such as stairwells, lift shafts, and corridors in multi-storey buildings, as well as rooms that contain flammable materials or equipment such as server rooms or boiler rooms.
Generally speaking, all other fire-resistant boards with higher fire ratings such as 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 150 minutes, 180 minutes, or 240 minutes can be used for applications that require a 60-minute fire rating. This is because boards with higher fire ratings are designed to withstand fire for longer periods of time and offer greater levels of fire resistance compared to boards with lower ratings.
Therefore, using a board with a higher fire rating than what is required can provide additional protection and peace of mind in case of a fire emergency. Therefore, from this moment forward, all the boards mentioned in this article will provide 60 minutes of protection.
60MIN SUPALUX PROMAT
Promat Supalux fire protection board is a versatile fire protection board with an impressive Class A1 fire rating from 60 min up to 240 minutes. It boasts enhanced moisture resistance and is suitable for a variety of applications in steel and timber frame constructions, mezzanine floors, shaft-wall installations, and doors.
SUPALUX, a durable fire-resistant board, is constructed using fire-resistant fibers and fillers while maintaining a lightweight structure. Its off-white surface offers the flexibility to either remain untouched or be effortlessly personalized with paints, wallpapers, or tiles. Having demonstrated 35 years of reliable performance in high-temperature settings, it maintains its resilience even in damp or humid conditions.
Promat SUPALUX Sanded offers a range of thickness options (6mm, 9mm, 12mm, and 15mm) and is the leading fire protection board in the UK.
60MIN ROCKWOOL RWA45 BLACK TISSUE FACED
Rockwool RWA45 Black Tissue Faced 2 Sides Insulation Slab is a non-combustible fire-resistant stone wool insulation used for concrete car park soffits. It offers fire protection for 30 to 240 minutes, has a standard density, and is excellent for reducing noise.
The black tissue facings on both sides prevent shadowing and fiber migration. Additionally, it's environmentally friendly, free of harmful substances, and effectively absorbs and inhibits sound transmission.
60 MIN GLASROC F MULTIBOARD BRITISH GYPSUM (GRG)
British Gypsum Glasroc F MultiBoard is used predominantly as part of the FIRECASE frameless structural steel encasement system, giving up to 120 minutes fire protection. The British Gypsum Glasroc F are created utilizing paper-free glass fiber technology, serving as the foundation for various steel encasement and specialized lining systems. The British Gypsum Board offers enhanced fire safety, impact resistance, and moisture protection, all in a conveniently applicable single product
60 MIN CEMBRIT FR
One more product on the UK market offering 60-minute fire protection is the Cembrit FR, known for its fire-resistant properties. Additionally, when utilized within a structure along with insulation, Cembrit FR can provide up to 120 minutes of fire resistance. Without insulation, it still provides a commendable 60 minutes of fire protection.
These building boards from Cembrit FR are lightweight yet sturdy, making them a perfect fit for offsite construction.
PRODUCTS:
- BG Glasroc F
- Cembrit FR
- SUPALUX
- ROCKWOOL RWA45 FF
90 MIN FIRE BOARD
A board labeled as 90-minute fire-resistant signifies its ability to endure fire exposure for 90 minutes before losing its protective capacity. Such a rating is often essential in places with heightened fire risks or where swift evacuation might be challenging, such as hospitals, schools, and tall structures. Moreover, specific local building codes or regulations might mandate a 90-minute fire rating for particular structures or locations necessitating stringent fire safety measures.
These boards are frequently employed in facilities storing hazardous materials or housing vital infrastructure, including power plants and data centers.
90 MIN Y-WALL
RCM Y-wall is a non-combustible cement/calcium building board that can be used for applications that require 90 min fire rating.
Y-wall offers very similar properties to that of cement particle board, however due to the calcium additives, it offers a much greater fire resistance.
It is designed for use in ceilings, partitions, exterior cladding and as a sheathing board for buildings over 18m in height.
90 MIN RCM MULTIPURPOSE
RCM Multipurpose has a rating of A1 to EN13501-1 this is a reaction to fire classification and should not be confused with fire resistance.
Applicable for various construction methods, RCM Cement Board Multipurpose is suitable for lightweight steel frames, timber frames, modular, offsite, external cladding and concrete frame structures.
This versatile board serves multiple purposes, including use as a tile backer board and in flooring and roofing applications.
90 MIN STS
Next is the STS board as a heavy-duty fibre cement board boasting impressive fire protection properties for applications both internally and externally.
Achieving it’s Euro Class A1 Fire Rating put’s it into the league of boards with the highest level of fire rated performance within the construction industry.
Along with this, you can achieve up to 118 minutes fire insulation burn time on a very simple party wall build up.
90 MIN Promat PROMATECT®-250
Promat PROMATECT®-250 is a mineral bound lightweight calcium-silicate fire protection board made with PROMAXON® technology, used for the fire protection of structural steel ‘H’ or ‘I’ shaped beams and columns and mezzanine floors. It has ability to receive almost any form of architectural finish treatment.
PROMATECT 250 Fire Protection Boards find primary usage in indoor building applications that demand moderate to high levels of fire resistance.
PRODUCTS:
- Y-WALL board
- RCM Multipurpose board
- STS board
- Promat PROMATECT®-250
240 MIN FIRE BOARD
240-minute fire-resistant board is the most robust type of fire-resistant board and can withstand fire for four hours. This is also one of the highest time requirements.
This type of board is typically used in buildings with high fire risk or where fire safety is paramount, such as airports, tunnels, and military installations.
It's important to note that fire-resistant board is not completely fireproof and will eventually fail if exposed to high enough temperatures for a long enough time. However, it provides a valuable layer of protection that can buy time for occupants to evacuate and firefighters to respond.
240 MIN SUPALUX
Board called Supalux, made by Promat, is Class O fire rated for surface spread of flame as well as being a non-combustible, high performance board.
Providing up to 240 minutes fire protection to any project, Supalux also provides moisture resistance in damp and humid environments.
Supalux is commonly used for internal partitions, external walls, internal walls, ceilings and non-combustible linings.
240 MIN MONOLUX-500/800
Promat MONOLUX (MST-500) is a robust low thermal conductivity rigid fire protection board specifically formulated without asbestos and mineral fibres for use in constructions and insulation linings. Monolux 500/800 High Performance Board is a tough and durable, resistant to impact damage fire panel providing up to 240 minutes fire resistance.
While its 500 version can withstand temperature up to 900°C, Monolux 800 is classified and able to hold temperature up to 1000°C.
240 MIN PROMAT PROMATECT-MST
Promat PROMATECT®–MST is a calcium silicate based building board, a rigid class A1 insulation board with up to 240 minutes fire resistance and low thermal conductivity that can be easily machined to close tolerances.
This firm, non-flammable insulation board is designed specifically without asbestos and mineral fibers. It is employed as a thermal barrier in industrial process plants and as solitary insulation in ovens and dryers.
240 MIN PROMAT PROMAFOUR
Promat PROMAFOUR Fire Resistant Board is a strong non-combustible calcium silicate fire resistant board formulated without inorganic fibres or formaldehyde suitable for fireplaces and wood burning stoves. Crafted to uphold stability, firmness, and safety, this dependable material is endorsed by HETAS and aligns with Building Regulations Part J.
The PROMAFOUR® board has achieved A1 class, which is the highest fire rating for non-combustible material to prevent the spread of fire and can resist continuous high temperatures of up to 1000°C.
240 MIN Promat VERMICULUX-S
Promat VERMICULUX-S is an A1 class non-combustible calcium silicate board which provides up to 240 minutes fire protection for buildings storing high value items or assets, including museums, data centres and bonded warehouses. It also serves as a shield for encasing one, two, three, or four sides of universal columns and beams, joists, lattice beams RSJs, structural hollow sections, bracing, perimeter beams, beams that support composite floors with profiled metal decking, and wind posts. Also suitable during the initial construction phase, especially when the building is not yet weatherproof.
240 MIN Promat PROMATECT®-H
Promat PROMATECT®-H Calcium Silicate Fire Protection Board is a non-combustible matrix engineered mineral fireboard reinforced with selected fibres and fillers that does not contain formaldehyde.
Fire Board Promatect-H can be used as a fire protection of steel and concrete structures, ceilings, partitions, dryers and shaft walls providing up to 4 hours (240 min) fire protection for some fire resistant systems. It's simple to manage and provides an excellent blend of improved mechanical characteristics suitable for self-supporting structures, featuring a temperature classification of 400ºC.
PRODUCTS:
- Supalux
- Monolux 500
- Monolux 800
- Promat PROMATECT-MST
- Promat VERMICULUX-S
- Promat PROMATECT®-H
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, fire-resistant board is an essential building material that can help prevent the spread of fire and save lives. The time intervals of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 240 minutes are critical in determining the level of protection that fire-resistant board can provide. Architects, builders, and building owners should carefully consider the fire protection needs of their buildings and choose the appropriate type of fire-resistant board to ensure maximum safety.
Related articles:
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ENHANCING FIRE SAFETY WITH MINERAL WOOL INSULATION
60-MINUTE FIRE RATING PRODUCTS: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO ENHANCED FIRE PROTECTION
UNLEASHING THE POWER OF 30-MINUTE FIRE BOARDS
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