4 Advice to Choose a Architectural Fire Resistance Wall Panel

Wall panels have become a popular choice for interior design due to their versatility, aesthetics, and ease of installation. However, their fire safety performance is a crucial consideration, especially in commercial and residential buildings. This essay explores fire resistance and safety standards for various wall panel types, including Wood Plastic Composite (WPC), acoustic wall panels, and PVC wall panels.

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'Fire safety is paramount when choosing wall panels. While WPC, acoustic, and PVC options offer aesthetic and practical benefits, their fire resistance varies. Understanding building codes, fire ratings, and material properties empowers informed decisions for a safe and stylish interior space.'

Fire resistance refers to a material's ability to withstand fire exposure for a specific time, measured in hours, which is vital for building safety. During a fire, fire-resistant walls help compartmentalize the blaze, preventing its spread to other areas and allowing occupants valuable time to evacuate.

Several regional building codes in North America establish fire safety standards for wall panels. These codes typically reference standardized fire resistance tests conducted by accredited laboratories. A common standard is ASTM E84, which measures a material's flame spread and smoke development indices. Additionally, specific codes might dictate minimum fire resistance ratings for walls depending on the building type, occupancy, and location within the building.

WPC panels, a composite material consisting of wood fibers and plastic polymers, offer varying fire resistance depending on the specific composition and manufacturing process. Manufacturers can incorporate fire retardants into the WPC mix or utilize a non-combustible core material to enhance fire safety. However, untreated WPC panels can be combustible, highlighting the importance of understanding the specific fire rating of the chosen product.

Acoustic wall panels on the other hand which are designed to absorb sound and reduce noise levels, come in various materials with unique fire resistance characteristics. Fabric-wrapped panels often have a fabric surface adhered to a core material. The fire resistance depends on both the fabric, which can be inherently flame-retardant, and the core material, such as fire-resistant gypsum board or other non-combustible materials. Fiberglass panels are non-combustible and offer good fire resistance, but the binder used to hold the fiberglass together can influence performance. It is essential to look for fiberglass panels with a fire-resistant binder. Wood-based acoustic panels might have similar fire resistance to WPC panels depending on the wood type, composition, and presence of fire retardants.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) wall panels, popular for their durability and moisture resistance, require careful consideration regarding fire safety. Untreated PVC is combustible and releases harmful fumes when burned. However, manufacturers offer PVC wall panels with fire retardants added during production, and some have a non-combustible core material, both improving fire safety.

When selecting wall panels, prioritizing fire safety is essential. It is crucial to ensure the chosen wall panels comply with the relevant building codes and fire safety regulations for your specific location and building type. Consulting with a building professional for guidance is advisable. Understanding the fire resistance rating of the chosen wall panel and whether it meets the minimum requirements for your project is also vital. Look for independent test reports to verify the rating. Be aware of the primary materials used in the wall panel and their inherent fire resistance properties. Panels with fire retardants or non-combustible core materials should be prioritized.

In conclusion, fire resistance is a critical factor when selecting wall panels. While WPC, acoustic, and PVC panels offer various advantages, their fire safety performance varies depending on the material composition and manufacturing processes. Understanding fire codes, fire resistance ratings, and material properties allows you to make informed decisions for a safe and well-designed interior space.

Fire protection measures are classified as either active or passive. Active fire protection measures respond to the presence of a fire and includes items such as fire alarms and sprinkler systems.

Fire protection measures are classified as either active or passive. Active fire protection measures respond to the presence of a fire and includes items such as fire alarms and sprinkler systems. Passive fire protection gives protection and resistance to the building structure and the compartments within it to prevent the spread of fire.  It is the passive resistance provided by external walls that we will be discussing in this blog.

The purpose of fire resistance performance with building structures is to prevent rapid fire spread and growth that could trap occupants of the building, allow a safe means of escape and to stop spread to adjacent buildings.

Find out about our PLCB and FM fire testing approvals here.

Through the application of UK Building Regulations, compartmentation is seen as an integral design feature of a building so as to protect life in the event of a fire.

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Almost all buildings require some compartmentation, in the form of fire-resisting walls, doors, floors, ceilings and other structural elements. Generally, however, the compartment will suppress the spread of fire only for a limited period.

When considering an external wall fire resistance depends on its distance from the relevant boundary. Separation distances are measured to boundaries to ensure that the location and design of buildings on adjoining sites have no influence on the building under construction.

The boundary that a wall faces is the relevant boundary (Diagram 13.2 in Approved Document B, below). It may be one of the following:

1. The site boundary.
2. The centre line of a space where further development is unlikely, such as a road, railway, canal or river.
3. An assumed notional boundary between two buildings on the same site (Diagram 13.3 in Approved Document B, below) where either of the following conditions is met.

1. One or both of the buildings are in the 'residential' or 'assembly and recreation' purpose groups (purpose group 1 or 5).
2. The buildings will be operated/managed by different organisations.

Diagram reproduced from Fire Safety: Approved Document B - Building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings.

Note: All systems above do not require internal or external lap stitching

When one or more elevations of a new building fall into the site boundary criteria above, the required design to attain the performance needed can sometimes be costly and require constructions that do not allow the external appearance of the wall in question to fit against unaffected elevations. 

The site assembled Trisomet® systems from Tata Steel have been designed and tested independently to BS 476 part 22 to provide the specifier with fire resistance solutions to these problems.  These offer options that provide 15, 30 and 60 minutes fire insulation resistance all with 240 minute fire integrity resistance.  These performances have been achieved through independent testing and have been optimised to provide performance levels with standard construction methods, that are not only cost effective but provide the option of many Tata Steel external profiles giving the specifier design flexibility.  See below for a summary of systems available.

Please contact our Technical Department for further details or use our online specification tool to help you create the right specification for the performance that suits the needs of your project. Doing this will give you peace of mind that cladding components are compatible and perform together as a system.

Find out about our PLCB and FM fire testing approvals here.

Download our technical brochure for more information on our Trisobuild® systems

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