Useful Information Fire and Partitioning
Fire and Partitioning
The importance of Fire-rated systems in the workplace.
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It has become a widespread understanding that protection from fire is a major issue in any public or commercial building. It is common to see fire extinguishers in these buildings and fire escapes. The extent to which buildings now have to be fire proof has grown considerably and architects specify requirements to meet the Building Regulations on Fire Safety.
What type of Legislation and guidance on fire is there?
The Building Regulations Approved Document B (AD B) is one of a series of documents that offers a guidance on meeting the requirements of AD B Volume 1 (dwelling houses) and AD B Volume 2 (buildings others than dwelling houses). Scotland is covered by Technical Handbook 2 (Domestic and Non-domestic). The documents categorise the use of a building into purpose groups and stipulate the minimum periods of fire resistance to be achieved by the building elements.
The fire resistance required varies according to the size of the building, including the material used to form the internal surfaces of the building.
How does fire performance affect building designers’ decision making?
The Loss Prevention Council (LPC) Design Guide for the Protection of Buildings both Commercial and Industrial provides guidance on the general principles of passive fire protection: contribution to fire growth; fire resistance; compartmentation and external fire spread. It presents architects and associates of the building design with the national legislation standards with the recommendations of the insurance industry.
What affects fire growth?
“Two properties of fire spread are the rate of flame spread over the surface when it is subject to intense radiant heating, and the rate at which the lining material gives off heat when burning.”
The specification of linings is important when choosing a fire resistant option that reduces the rate of growth and spread of fire. When selecting ceiling and wall materials, the amount of fire resistance that is required can be judged by the British Test Standards.
How is fire resistance defined by the British test standards?
“Fire resistance is defined in BS 476: Part 20: 1987 as ‘the ability of an element of building construction to withstand exposure to a standard temperature/time and pressure regime without loss of its fire separating function or loadbearing function or both for a given time’.”
Where wall partitioning is concerned, BS 476: Part 22: 1987 describes the procedures for determining the fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements.
Requirements for Fire Resistance in partitions
Fire resistant partitions may be required to:
Provide a means of escape or compartmentalise a building in accordance with the Building Regulations BS476 Part 22 sets out the method of testing non-loadbearing separating elements.
Factors affecting the type of fire protection required:
• Duration (Time required for evacuation of building during which screen has to remain in place and intact)
• Integrity (Time for screen to remain intact for prescribed period)
• Insulation (Screen to provide safe protection from radiated heat)
• Types of glass to meet relevant categories (Integrity and Integrity/Insulation)
Requirements for Fire Resistance in glazed partitions
The effective glazed fire resisting partition should incorporate the following features:
• Fire rated glass to meet the requirements of the specification i.e. 30/0; 30/30; 60/0; 60/60
• Be capable of maintaining impermeability for as long as possible especially in the hot state
• Avoidance of through fixings or conducting elements
• An insulating or high thermal inertia framework
• Compensation for expansion
• Correctly designed glass retention system
Fire engineered solutions
• Provision of a means of escape past glazed screens:
Stairwells – Insulated Glass
Long Corridors:
-Half glazed partitions
-Safe dwell areas
What Apton products meet BS 476: Part 22: 1987?
Apton 75/100A, 75G, 100HP, Quartz SG and DG. These products have been tested and approved for fire rating. Even warehouses must have fire rated systems in mezzanine floors, which the 100HP range is particularly suitable for. For more information on our products view our product range.
All aspects of glass including further references to fire resistance are covered in the Glass Fire Resistance article.
