FOCUS
Route to protection Chris Hall investigates modern ventilated rainscreen systems and solutions to prevent the spread of smoke and fire
billion by 20251 S
UCH IS the popularity of rainscreen cladding that the market across the globe is expected to generate around $183 . This key construction material
offers superior performance, durability and weatherability. It also provides architects with creative freedom, and is driving the look of tall buildings in our towns and cities. But behind this external skin, passive fire
protection solutions are playing a vital role in these buildings by mitigating the effects of fire, thus helping to save lives and property. Developments in building technology have resulted in the construction of skyscrapers that reach unprecedented heights across city skylines, but at the same time there has been much activity around the safe design of tall buildings. Fire prevention and safety is paramount, and
is a signifi cant area of concern for governments, construction companies, managing agents and developers. Fires in high rise buildings can generate large quantities of smoke, which can spread vertically throughout the building, even if the fi re is contained to one room.
42 JUNE 2019
www.frmjournal.com Movement of air
One of the principal challenges is how to use a ventilated rainscreen system that allows the façade of a building to function by providing the continuous movement of air, whilst at the same time ensuring that the cavities formed by these air movements can be closed in the event of a fire, thereby stopping flames and smoke travelling from one part of the building to another. Ventilated façades comprise a broad
range of panel materials, complex designs and interfaces. In the most simple terms, a ventilated system consists of an outer panel, a ventilated cavity, insulation and an inner leaf. This system allows ingress of air at the base
and egress of air at the top; circulates air to expel moisture; can be drained and ventilated; and is sometimes pressure equalised. Within the cavity, there is what might be considered to be a chimney effect and this needs to be effectively compartmented in order to prevent unchecked fire spread.
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