Cladding solutions FOCUS
specifiers must refer to the Technical Handbook, Section 2, while in Northern Ireland, they must refer to the Technical Booklet E. With respect to ADB Volume 2, the provision
for cavity barriers is illustrated in Diagram 33 (see top image on page 44). Contrast here the internal compartmentation, where we require a firestop to be installed to maintain continuity of fire resistance of the compartment element, which is the case when we install a perimeter barrier firestop between a slab edge and the interface with curtain walling. As the temperature rises, the intumescent
material activates, creating a seal to prevent further spread. Where rainscreen is concerned, we are more concerned with the subdivision of the external cavity. Any building with a compartment floor above ground floor needs cavity barriers. Their use is independent of building height and/ or use category. From ADB, the simplest definition of a
cavity barrier would be a construction to close a concealed space against penetration or spread of smoke or flame. The Building Regulations state specific functional performance requirements in terms of integrity and insulation criteria. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a cavity barrier is required to provide 30 minutes’ integrity (E) and 15 minutes’ insulation (I). In Scotland, there is no requirement for insulation. Fire engineered and insurance driven specifications increasingly require an EI 30
performance requirement: 30:30 and higher has become market standard. The regulations also require that cavity barriers are tested to meet that performance for integrity and insulation. The use of modern building materials and techniques gives rise to many of these hidden challenges that have to be accommodated so that buildings not only look good and work well, but are also safe. Safety from fire should represent the long
term focus in high rise buildings. Whilst specifying the correct product is essential, the quality of installation is equally important. Contractors installing life saving measures such as cavity barriers and firestops must have adequate training on the particular manufacturer’s products, and be qualified to install them in the first place. When it is a question of saving lives and protecting businesses and property, a well designed and installed system can make all the difference
Chris Hall is sales director at Siderise. For more information, view page 5
Reference
1. Rainscreen Cladding Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Raw Material, By Application (Residential, Commercial, Official, Institutional, Industrial), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019– 025, Grand View Research, Inc.
www.frmjournal.com JUNE 2019 45
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