“Cladding Materials Used Should have 120 Minutes of Fire Resistance Level”

By: AR. AMIT SINGHAL, GPM Architects and Planners

Any cladding material being used in the building structure maintaining a fire resistance of at least 120 minutes on the fire resistance level makes for a fire-safe material approach for any project. One of the most critical approaches toward fire safety is using solutions that can control the spread of fire. For example, smoke seals and fire-stop sealants with a rating of 120 minutes on the fire resistance level used on the horizontal and vertical gaps can avoid the spread of fire to upper floors.

STANDARD FIRE TESTS

For full configuration non-loadbearing curtain wall systems, the EN 1364-3 test is carried out, which is a European Standard determining fire resistance. It does not cover double skin façades, over-cladding systems and ventilated façade systems on external walls. Every material used in a conventional façade system has its own melting point. Using ACP/Solid Aluminium sheets with a fire resistance level of 120 minutes as a cladding material for façades, along with consulting test reports from third-party agencies, are efficient ways of ensuring fire-resistant façades/fenestrations.

SOLUTIONS:

An expensive but innovative and new solution is using fire retardant glass for façades, which can stand for 120 minutes in case of a fire. Another solution, as mentioned earlier, is using smoke seals in the gaps between floors and façade systems.