Fire Performance of Insulated Panels

Fire Performance of Insulated Panels

Fire Performance of Insulated Panels

    We are dedicated to providing high-performance, innovative insulated Fireproof Panel solutions that not only deliver superior construction efficiencies and lifetime performance, but that are underpinned by extensive 3rd party insurer-approved system fire testing and proven fire performance.

    What Underpins the Fire Performance of Insulated Panels?

    Large-scale system testing, where a complete wall or roof system build-up is tested, is the most robust way to assess the fire performance of any construction. LPCB and FM Approved insulated panels are subjected to and meet the requirements of rigorous insurance industry large-scale system fire tests. 

    These Approvals provide objective third-party testing, which is underpinned by quarterly, bi-annual and annual factory surveillance audits (depending on the region) to verify compliance. Independent certification bodies take samples of Aluminum Composite Panels from our factories and send them to their own laboratories for testing to verify ongoing compliance. These independent audits also include assessments of change control, formulations, processing parameters, labelling and internal testing. In Ireland and the UK specifically, we have subjected our key insulated panel products to this rigorous insurance industry large-scale testing over the last 25 years.

    In terms of reaction to fire, and in accordance with the Euroclass system, PIR and QuadCore insulated panel systems can be classified as B-s1,d0, which is the highest possible performance for a material that is combustible:

            B - Very limited contribution to fire and will not lead to flashover
       
            s1 - Little or no smoke production
       
            d0 - No flaming droplets / particles
       
    In addition, our insulated Fireproof Boards can also offer high levels of fire resistance.

    QuadCore Insulated Panels have a fire resistance rating ranging from:

            Wall application: 15 to 90 minutes integrity & insulation [ LPCB LPS 1181 EXT A 15 to EXT A 90]*
       
            Roof application: 15 to 60 minutes integrity & insulation [ LPCB LPS 1181 EXT A 15 to EXT A 90]*
       
            Fire resistant building envelope to EXT A 30*
       
            Alternative traditional systems with glass wool insulation in the market obtain maximum EXT-A 15, or 15 minutes fire resistance
       
    Demonstrated not to propagate fire spread in real fires

    We have a significant number of independently investigated real fire case studies, where LPCB and FM approved Aluminum Panel systems have been exposed to fires in a range of building types including school, hospital, retail, distribution, storage, food manufacture/ processing, industrial and car showroom.

    Whilst all these case studies relate to insulated panels with a PIR core, large scale system tests embedded within LPCB and FM approvals indicate that QuadCore insulated panels will perform in a similar or better manner.

    Key findings from these real fire investigations include:

            No evidence to indicate that the PIR insulated panels increased the risk of fire spread;
       
            PIR cores within the insulated panels charred in the immediate vicinity of the fire;
       
            Fires were not propagated within the PIR core of the insulated panel;
       
            PIR insulated panels did not char significantly outside of the area of the main fire;
       
            Building contents were the dominant influence on fire severity, and
       
            The fire severity was not significantly influenced by the PIR insulated panel.
       
    In summary, the combination of large-scale testing, independent auditing, factory production control and the evidence from real fire case studies clearly demonstrates the suitability of LPCB and FM approved Composite Sheet systems to provide a robust fire protection solution that can be relied upon.