Enhancing of fire safety for rainscreen façade systems

Since Dame Judith Hackett’s strong impulse with her report of Building a Safer Future, the industry has been working to implement a truly robust and assured approach to building the increasingly complex structures in which people live. More and more focus will be created on delivering the best quality building possible, in order to ensure that residents are safe, and feel safe. Let’s have a look, what this will mean for rainscreen systems in terms of fire safety and which risks have to be considered.

How can cladding be dangerous?

In fire safety terms, cladding can be dangerous in a few ways. Firstly, there is the makeup of the cladding system itself. If the cladding system in question contains combustible materials, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) or polyurethane (PUR), then exposing these materials to a flame will result in fire spread on the outside of a building. This can occur through either a fire breaking out from one of the windows or doorways, through ventilation shafts or from a fire that has occurred on the outside.

Fire stopping measures are incorporated into nearly every cladding system – however, some are more effective than others. Many are made using mineral based materials, which are non combustible and highly effective at slowing the spread of fire around the outside of the building.

Rainscreen cladding systems require an open cavity to allow the insulation to “breathe” behind the weather resistant cladding panels – however, this is potentially dangerous in a fire, as it creates a chimney for the fire to spread vertically through the building. To allow this, most cavity barriers on the market now incorporate a strip activated by the application of heat which seals the cavity and when applied correctly dramatically slows the vertical spread of fire. This is called an intumescent cavity barrier.

What do building regulations currently say about cladding?

The building regulations were amended in 2018 to implement a ban on combustible building materials on the outside walls of buildings that are taller than 18 metres and contain more than one dwelling. This ban applies to residential housing tower blocks, hospitals, residential care homes, and student accommodation blocks.

So we are clear about the cladding, but what’s about the rear-ventilation level and products which are used in it, e.g. façade breather membranes?

Fire stopping measures are incorporated into nearly every cladding system – however, some are more effective than others. Many are made using mineral based materials, which are non combustible and highly effective at slowing the spread of fire around the outside of the building.

Lifetime Guarantee Euroclass A2 for the facade breather membrane

Specifying an Euroclass A2 classified breather membrane should form part of any overall facade fire strategy

To maintain the functionality of the insulation over a long period of time, facade membranes have UV protection and are used as a water-bearing layer and reliable weather protection. These are also open to diffusion in order to ensure the dehumidification of the building via the rear ventilation level.

What’s often not to be considered, is the fact, that facade membranes can cover a large area of the building envelope and form part of the crucial 'fire safety layer' within the external wall system, this can cause a high risk for fire safety if not supplied to a Euroclass A2-s1,d0 design. Addressing the issue of the right facade breather membrane should therefore form part of any overall facade fire strategy.

Whilst today, according to Approved Document B Regulation 7(2) vertical breather membranes are still exempt from A2 materials, which form part of an external wall. An essential reason is, that latest technologies with facade membranes in Euroclass A2-s1,d0 classification aren’t taken into account for these regulations.

A complete external wall system in Euroclass A2

With Stamisol Safe One facade breather membrane (classified Euroclass A2-s1,d0) it is possible to design a rear-ventilated external wall system completely in Euroclass A2.

It reliably protects against fire spread in the rear ventilation level and with minimum smoke during the evacuation process. It enables architects to combine maximume fire safety with a high degree of design freedom, even for open facade claddings - with up to 50 mm joints or an open area of up to 50 per cent.

Installation of facade breather membrane Class A2 Stamisol Safe One

Don’t residents deserve the highest grade of safety available?

With a new level of competence and compliance for fire safety in future buildings, we can reliable support and protect the people for whom we are building.

This will include

  • specifying a cladding material in Euroclass A1 or A2
  • fitting an Euroclass A2 Stamisol Safe One façade breather membrane
  • choosing a non-combustible insulation.

Everytime when planning or recladding high-rise buildings or high-risk buildings like

  • hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centres
  • universities
  • schools, nurseries
  • office buildings with high public traffic
  • building floor extensions.
Risk Factors Rainscreen Facade Systems

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WHITEPAPER

Rainscreen Façade Systems Completely in Euroclass A2

>>>Please download our new Whitepaper with full technical documentation for realisation of external wall systems completly in Euroclass A2 with Stamisol Safe One façade breather membranes.

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Further topics

Learn more about maximum fire safety and creativity for your full façade system with Stamisol Safe One façade breather membrane Class A2-s1,d0

DCE CPD Webinar September

Please join our next CPD webinar: Learn about the difference between a Class A2 - W1 and a A1 - W2 membrane, in terms of fire safety and water tightness, as part of a façade system I Which certificates and tests are essential for your façade project?

The Webinar is scheduled for 25th of September / 14.00 - 15.00

https://www.directcontactexhibitions.com/online-cp...

DCE CPD Webinar SeptemberPlease join our next CPD webinar: Learn about the difference between a Class A2 - W1 and a A1 - W2 membrane, in terms of fire safety and water tightness, as part of a façade system I Which certificates and tests are essential for your façade project?The Webinar is scheduled for 25th of September / 14.00 - 15.00https://www.directcontactexhibitions.com/online-cp...
DCE CPD Webinar SeptemberPlease join our next CPD webinar: Learn about the difference between a Class A2 - W1 and a A1 - W2 membrane, in terms of fire safety and water tightness, as part of a façade system I Which certificates and tests are essential for your façade project?The Webinar is scheduled for 25th of September / 14.00 - 15.00https://www.directcontactexhibitions.com/online-cp...

Why use a breathable façade membrane

The protective shield for closed and open rear-ventilated façades:
— Ensures dry and functional thermal insulation and protects from deterioration
— No cooling down of the insulation by wind/air
— Building moisture is led to the outside

Read more...

Why use a breathable façade membraneThe protective shield for closed and open rear-ventilated façades: — Ensures dry and functional thermal insulation and protects from deterioration— No cooling down of the insulation by wind/air— Building moisture is led to the outsideRead more...
Why use a breathable façade membraneThe protective shield for closed and open rear-ventilated façades: — Ensures dry and functional thermal insulation and protects from deterioration— No cooling down of the insulation by wind/air— Building moisture is led to the outsideRead more...

The first façade membrane A2-s1,d0

Stamisol Safe One expands the design freedom for architects in creating facades with maximum fire safety:
— Life-saving membrane by being Euroclass A2-s1,d0
— Resistance to water penetration W1
— Excellent UV resistance, ideal for both open and closed façades

Read more...

The first façade membrane A2-s1,d0Stamisol Safe One expands the design freedom for architects in creating facades with maximum fire safety: — Life-saving membrane by being Euroclass A2-s1,d0— Resistance to water penetration W1— Excellent UV resistance, ideal for both open and closed façadesRead more...
The first façade membrane A2-s1,d0Stamisol Safe One expands the design freedom for architects in creating facades with maximum fire safety: — Life-saving membrane by being Euroclass A2-s1,d0— Resistance to water penetration W1— Excellent UV resistance, ideal for both open and closed façadesRead more...
New

Applications Façades A2

Stamisol Safe One can be used both for closed and partially open vertical façades with up to 50 mm joints or an open area up to 50 % especially for apartment blocks higher than 11 meters, hospitals, retirement homes, rehab centres, universities, schools, nurseries and building floor extensions.

Read more...

Applications Façades A2Stamisol Safe One can be used both for closed and partially open vertical façades with up to 50 mm joints or an open area up to 50 % especially for apartment blocks higher than 11 meters, hospitals, retirement homes, rehab centres, universities, schools, nurseries and building floor extensions.Read more...
Applications Façades A2Stamisol Safe One can be used both for closed and partially open vertical façades with up to 50 mm joints or an open area up to 50 % especially for apartment blocks higher than 11 meters, hospitals, retirement homes, rehab centres, universities, schools, nurseries and building floor extensions.Read more...