Insulation; Interiors
also produce smoke and toxic gases that could enter the building through vents or open windows. Tis potential is further exacerbated by the range of risks that come with flat
roofs. Hot work, for example, is any process that generates flames, sparks or heat and is responsible for 20% of construction site fires and 15% of all fires in commercial and industrial properties. Hot work can pose a fire hazard to flat roofs during construction,
maintenance or refurbishment, with common processes identified by the Health and Safety Executive as posing a significant risk. Flat roofs also oſten house mechanical and electrical equipment, the failure
of which can result in fire. Equally, as more high rise developments are featuring rooſtop terraces and communal gardens, there’s an increase in risk of fire from human activity, whether accidental or malicious. Moreover, as with external walls, there is the risk of fire spreading to the roof
from elsewhere inside the building. But unless it performs the role of a floor, or features an escape route, a flat roof does not count as an “element of structure” and ADB does not provide guidance on appropriate, minimum levels of fire resistance from the underside.
GOING BEYOND Beyond applications impacted by the combustible ban, ADB places a restriction on the combustibility of materials that can be carried over the roof deck in areas 1,500mm either side of a compartment wall. Where this restriction applies, insulation should be Euroclass A2-s3,d2 or better. However, non-combustible insulation is increasingly used across the
entire roof area of buildings, removing any need to design, specify and install individual zones of non-combustible insulation at compartment wall locations. Te use of non-combustible rather than combustible insulation reduces the fuel load available to a fire, and avoids the complication of potentially having to use different insulation materials across multiple zones on the same roof. As non-combustible materials do not contribute to the spread of fire or emit significant toxic smoke or gases, the installation of non-combustible
Insulation Feature
As well as contributing to the fire safety and thermal performance of flat roof build-ups and facade elements, certain insulation solutions can also deliver acoustic performance which improves conditions for residents
insulation in a flat roof build-up can be considered best practice. Installing non- combustible insulation across a flat roof matches the established principle of using non-combustible materials in the most safety-critical elements of building construction – and brings the roof, which is in a sense the ‘fiſth facade’ – in line with the approach mandated for external walls covered by the combustible cladding ban.
LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE As well as contributing to the fire safety and thermal performance of flat roof build-ups and facade elements, certain insulation solutions can also deliver acoustic performance which improves conditions for residents. Tird-party accreditations help simplify routes to compliance, clearly
demonstrating a product’s suitability for applications such as flat roofs and amenities – and where fire safety is paramount, such as in high rise developments, these clear indicators of quality are extremely valuable. To help develop industry knowledge on flat roofs and managing fire risk,
ROCKWOOL has prepared a whitepaper, ‘Flat roofs: Managing fire risk in the fiſth facade’, and a complementary CPD module. To access, visit
rockwool.link/hmam
Will Wigfield is product manager of ROCKWOOL UK
50 | HMMAugust/September 2022 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
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