There was a time when modern glass buildings were all the rage, nowadays architects and façade designers give equal attention on creating structures that are not just visually appealing but groundbreaking in occupant safety and comfort. On one side modern buildings are reaching to newer heights, on the other ensuring fire safety in buildings is something crucial that can’t be overlooked.
In the event of fire, the major concern is to prevent the smoke and flames from spreading to other floors commonly referred as ensuring passive fire protection, which has been generally seen spreading either through the continuous gaps between the façade and concrete or façade glass panels shattering due to excessive heat. Architects and façade designers seal these continuous gaps using non-combustible materials, technically known as Perimeter Fire Barrier Systems or Fire Stops.
Understanding Perimeter Fire Barrier Systems / Fire Stops and It’s Purpose
Perimeter Fire Barrier Systems commonly referred as Fire Stops or Smoke Seals, are solutions designed to fill the gap between the floor and the exterior assembly to ensure spread of fire and smoke to other floors in the event of fire. These systems acts as an integral part in ensuring fire safety in buildings especially in high-risk environments. Fire Stops are made of non-combustible materials, but how much smoke and heat it can prevent from spreading depends on various factors.
There is a standard that governs the resistance of these perimeter fire barrier systems as to how much excessive heat and smoke it can prevent which is known as Indian Standard (IS) 18190. Now, it’s crucial to understand as to why this standard is so critical?
What Makes IS 18190 a Big Deal for Fire Protection?
Through IS 18190 standard, the resistance of a fire stop or fire seal can be tested for smoke and heat for about 120 minutes i.e. it ensures that in the incident of fire in building, the tested fire stop can prevent the smoke, heat and any toxic gases to spreading from one floor to the other. The test is done by stimulating the real life conditions in a ISMA Chamber (Intermediate Scale Multi-Storey Apparatus).
Let’s put IS 18190 to use! Understand how it operates-
- First 30 Minutes: The fire curve mimics the NFPA 285 standard, which evaluates the fire propagation properties of façade systems with semi-combustible materials.
- Next 90 Minutes: The fire follows the time-temperature curve outlined in IS-ISO 834-1, testing the barrier’s endurance under prolonged exposure.
Before the test, the barrier system is subjected to various dynamic movements – thermal, wind, seismic, or a mix of these – to simulate real-world stresses. It is tested at speeds of 1, 10, and 30 cycles per minute for up to 500 cycles before the fire test begins.
The Relevance of Fire Testing!
In majority of modern buildings whether high-rise, residential or commercial, testing of perimeter fire barrier systems through performing IS 18190 standard is not done just to follow the standard, but is regarded as cornerstone of life and property safety.
As in the event of fire we have seen that most of the casualties happens due to smoke or toxic gases, since they travel faster than flames, so ensuring that the continuous gaps are sealed with such fire stops or fire seals that are tested before installation for resistance is utmost important.
A Call of Apprehension!
IS 18190 is more than a set of guidelines; it’s a vital component in the fire safety toolkit for modern buildings. By adhering to this standard, the construction industry demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding lives, protecting property, and ensuring resilience against fire emergencies.
In an era where building design is as innovative as ever, IS 18190 helps keep safety at the forefront.
