INSULATION PAUL BARRETT – HEAD OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, ROCKWOOL UK


The building insulation rules have changed


Paul Barrett, head of product management at ROCKWOOL UK, looks at the latest changes to Approved Document B (Part B) of the Building Regulations and examines the role of insulation in healthcare facilities.


Building regulations undergo regular updates, and very rightly so. While many of these updates are designed to make buildings more comfortable, save cost, or reduce CO2


emissions, some will actually


save lives. This is certainly true for the latest changes to Part B of the Building Regulations that deals with fire safety.


What are the changes to Part B? The 2022 updates to Part B of the Building Regulations will have an impact on many aspects of fire safety for healthcare buildings. In this article, we will concentrate on changes to external wall insulation, which can play an important role in mitigating the risk of fire spreading. One of the most important changes


with regard to the healthcare sector is that the revised Part B considers healthcare facilities where people sleep in the same category as dwellings,1


acknowledging that these facilities need the highest possible protection from fire. Why is this so important? From 1 December 2022, buildings over 11 metres high in this category will require external wall insulation classified as A2-s1,d0 or better in the Euroclass fire performance rating.2


This means that the insulation


material has to be non-combustible. All other buildings above 18 metres require insulation with a minimum classification of A2-s3,d0. As buildings of these heights are often constructed using structural frame systems, when considering the latest changes to Part B, a natural place


therefore Ventilated façade.


to start is the examination of insulation in façade applications.


Why insulate and how to choose Façade systems are constructed with external cladding, insulation, and an air gap, which are attached to the structural frame to create a through-wall build-up. The insulation layer provides a barrier against adverse environmental conditions – mainly heat and noise. Specifying the most appropriate insulation for a façade can present


Paul Barrett


As head of product management at ROCKWOOL, Paul is at the forefront of product innovation across the company’s full portfolio. Leading an ongoing programme of independent


testing and certification, Paul is responsible for maintaining the highest quality levels and compliance with the latest


standards. An authoritative commentator on insulation related topics, Paul actively participates in industry discussion and education regarding the importance of non-combustibility in construction.


IFHE DIGEST 2023


challenges for architects and designers, who must navigate sometimes conflicting regulation and performance criteria. To assist with the specification process, particularly now Part B has considerably narrowed down the choice to materials in class A1 or A2-s1,d0, architects can access technical advice and support from major insulation manufacturers. To determine whether an insulation product is rated as A1 or A2-s1,d0, best practice is to request a copy of the Declaration of Performance certificate from the manufacturer. However, one might argue that, in a


healthcare setting, where some of the most vulnerable people are being looked after, non-combustible materials are the safest choice long-term, no matter the height of the building.


Insulating façades – where the practical and aesthetic meet As well as insulation, façade systems also include cladding. To ensure fire safety, all elements of a façade have to comply with the building regulations. Currently, the


75


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97