FIRE SAFETY
ratio a test furnace of appropriate dimensions shall be used. (Section 6.2 ‘Size’, BS EN 1366-4: 2006+A1:2010) The adoption of the test standard,
therefore meant that joint seals above 90 mm in width could no longer be tested as a 900 mm length (10:1). The result was that testing needed to be conducted on the large-scale furnaces, which typically measure 3 m x 4 m for floor furnaces and 3 m x 3 m for wall furnaces. However, even these furnaces could not test linear joint seals greater than 360mm in width on a floor or 260mm on walls. It was therefore commonly accepted within the UK that testing conducted on a small scale furnace ‘generally in accordance’ with BS EN 1366-4: 2006+A1:2010 in the same way all existing BS testing was conducted by using a minimum length of 900 mm, could be used in support of 3rd party certification for the product. The latest revision of the test standard BS EN 1366-4:2021 incorporated a better way to test these larger seals, with a rewriting of section 6.2 of the standard: ‘[…] A typical minimum length to width ratio for a linear joint seal is 10:1 The length to width ratio may be <10:1 in case the heated length of the linear joint seal is 2600 mm.’ The introduction of the ≥2600 mm meant that larger joint seals could be tested relatively easily on UK furnaces, and as such, all linear joint seals could be tested fully in accordance with the test standard. This has meant all classifications and third-party certifications can and should only accept data that has been obtained from testing fully in accordance with the latest test standard, with the linear joints being tested at a suitable test size. Testing that is not in accordance with the new standard should therefore not be used to support performance claims.
Beyond the standard Test standards ensure that claims about the performance of construction materials in specific environments can be proven. They provide an important framework for manufacturers, designers and specifiers to
Linear firestop.
inform their choice of building materials. Standards are updated as new, more
precise testing methods are being developed and new materials enter the market. It is therefore important to stay informed and check to ensure products intended for specification have valid testing, classification, and certification in accordance with the latest standards. Working with certified installers will ensure that correctly certified products are accurately fitted according to the certification. Approved document B states that joints between fire separating elements should be fire stopped – this would include voids between compartment elements and the external envelope of the building. Designers and specifiers should ensure that products used for fire stopping these joints have been appropriately tested to the relevant standards.
In buildings where the ban on
combustible materials applies according to ADB – plus those there the building owner has elected to use non- combustible materials for improved fire performance – increasingly firestop systems manufactured from stone wool are being installed. Stone wool is made from volcanic rock hence is naturally non-combustible. It can
withstand temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, is durable, and retains its fire performance long term. Likewise, impact and changes in temperature or humidity do not affect it. As well as meeting non- combustibility requirements, stone wool also provides acoustic and thermal performance, meaning stone wool firestop systems will not compromise the overall insulation performance of the façade system.
Supporting an evolution in hospital design In recent years, the risk of damage to healthcare properties from fire has been further compounded with the continued integration of retail and food outlets into hospitals. As part of the drive to improve customer experience, risk of fire has been inadvertently increased with the introduction of kitchen and cooking equipment, while stock held on the premises can add to fire load. Fortunately, with appropriate passive
fire protection such as firestopping systems and the integration of non- combustible materials in structural design, if a fire does break out, its spread can be limited and contained, protecting both staff and patients and allowing critical services to return to operation as quickly as possible. Although construction is a fairly
Linear firestop dovetail infill. 62
traditional industry, new methods and materials are being introduced all the time. This means fire protection systems and their testing processes need to be reviewed regularly and adapted if necessary. The new update to BS EN 1366-4:2021 has made the testing of larger linear joints more accurate, further contributing to the fire safety going forward.
IFHE IFHE DIGEST 2024
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