FIRE STOPPING INSULATION

Fire stopping insulation, a so called fire-separating element is designed to stop fire from spreading. This means that the structure of the building will remain largely intact during a fire, which leaves all escape routes clear, reduces the risk of falling debris and ensures safe evacuation while allowing the emergency services a passage back into the building should it be necessary for them to do so. A unique characteristic of this particular fire stopping insulation is that it doesn’t produce smoke, which makes it a great option for commercial and industrial applications.  Moreover, it upgrades your building to a stronger R-value insulation while also fulfilling fire safety requirements. It fills perimeter gaps between concrete flooring, floor and ceiling slabs, exterior walls and firewalls, and can be installed around conduit pipes and duct openings running through floors and walls. Not only is it fire resistant and non-combustible, it also won’t create toxic smoke or allow flames to spread.

Fire stopping insulation can consist of various solutions and materials tailored to the application and purpose of a particular structure. Here are a few techniques and materials related to fire insulation.

TYPES OF FIRE STOPPING INSULATION

Common fire stopping materials used within a building will often include most of the following:

FIRE SLEEVES

Fire sleeves are designed to fill or seal an aperture created by pipes or cables passing through a fire-rated wall or ceiling. In a fire situation the sleeve expands to fill the available space between the service and the substrate. In the case of plastic pipes the sleeve will crush and seal off the pipe preventing the passage of fire and smoke to the adjacent compartment. For more information click here. 

FIRE BARRIERS

These refer to special walls or structures incorporated within a building's sections to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from one zone to another.

FIRE COLLARS

Fire collars are designed to maintain fire resistance levels. They do this by surrounding pipes and other penetrations with intumescent compounds that expand throughout the fire. This prevents flames and hot gases passing into other compartments.

FIRE COVERS

Fire covers are designed for stopping fires of luminaires in fire rated suspended ceilings. 

FIRE SEALANTS ǀ GAP FILLERS

Fire sealants and gap fillers expand when heated at high temperatures, to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. There are different kinds of sealants for different substrates and applications.

FIRE RESISTANT BOARDS

In areas with a higher risk of fire, specific fire-resistant boards are used that react when exposed to fire. These are strong and highly-durable, non-combustible calcium silicate fire resistant boards formulated without inorganic fibres or formaldehyde suitable for fireplaces and wood burning stoves. Boards have 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. For fire boards thicknesses clik here.

FIRE SLABS

Fire slab is a high density, innovative stone wool core pre-coated on both sides with a high performance ablative coating. This Fire Barrier slab has been developed to prevent the spread of flames and inhibit heat and smoke through concealed spaces in buildings and improve sound reduction. For fireslab available thicknesses click here.

All of these products help to prevent the passage of fire through concealed voids within a wall. Highly efficient insulation together with appropriate fire containment is necessary in order to prevent the spread of flames and smoke to other areas of the building. For instance, protecting the structural steel from the heat of a fire will delay the onset of this loss of strength and the possible collapse of the building. This is essential because it allows extra time for both the occupants of the building to escape and fire services to tackle the fire. Most of the stopping components are generally made of fire retardant and intumescent materials, as well as cementitious mortars, silicone, mineral fibbers, rubber compounds and firestop pillows. Firestops should always be used and maintained in accordance with the listing, approval and compliance of a building’s fire regulations and fire rated certification. For more information on fire slabs click here. To see how to install fire batt click here. 

INTUMESCENT PAINT

Intumescent paints are applied on surfaces like steel beams to protect them in case of fire (oral examination program). When exposed to heat, they expand, forming a structure that shields the heated steel.

 30-60-90-240 MINUTE A1 FIRE RATED BOARDS

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.

Several time intervals that fire-resistant board is tested and rated for, including 30 | 60 | 90 and 240 minutes. 

For instance:

 30 MINUTE FIRE-RESISTANT BOARDS

These boards are engineered to endure fire for 30 minutes, serving as the fundamental level of fire protection. They find common use in both domestic and commercial settings, often employed in places where the risk to occupants is relatively lower. For instance, homes frequently utilize 30-minute fire-resistant boards in floor-ceiling partitions.

Variants available in the UK include:

• 30-minute Masterboard
• 30-minute Knauf
• British Gypsum
• Siniat Fire Plasterboard

 60 MINUTE FIRE-RESISTANT BOARDS

With a higher fire resistance capacity, these boards can withstand fire for a full hour. They are commonly employed in settings where evacuation might take longer, such as hospitals or schools, and are often a requirement for residential ceiling installations in the UK. They are also used in areas like stairwells, lift shafts, corridors in multi-storey buildings, and rooms housing flammable materials or equipment.

Variants available in the UK include:

• 60-minute Supalux Promat
• 60-minute Rockwool RWA45 Black Tissue Faced
• 60-minute Glasroc F Multiboard British Gypsum (GRG)
• 60-minute Cembrit FR.

 90 MINUTE FIRE-RESISTANT BOARDS

These boards offer a longer fire endurance of 90 minutes, crucial for high-risk areas or where swift evacuation might be challenging. They are often mandated in hospitals, schools, high-rise buildings, and facilities storing hazardous materials or critical infrastructure.

Variants available in the UK include:

• 90-minute Y-Wall
• 90-minute RCM Multipurpose
• 90-minute STS
• 90-minute Promat Promatect®-250

 240 MINUTE FIRE-RESISTANT BOARDS

These boards are the most robust, capable of enduring fire for an extensive four-hour period. They find application in high-risk environments where fire safety is paramount, such as airports, tunnels, and military installations.

Variants available in the UK include:

• 240-minute Supalux
• 240-minute Monolux-500/800
• 240-minute Promat Promatect-MST
• 240-minute Promat Promafour
• 240-minute Promat Vermiculux-S
• 240-minute Promat Promatect®-H

Fire insulation must adhere to building standards and must be installed in accordance with regulations and guidelines. Its application is crucial for the safety of buildings and the individuals within them.

Picture credit:novotherm

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