You are on page 1of 3

FP_MAY.

DATA SHEET 4/23/04 10:56 AM Page 57

Fire Protection DATA

Jonathan Cherry and David Sugden


Passive Fire Protection Federation Fire rated partitions

1 Types of product
Fire rated partitions are internal walls that fibre-reinforced cement, vermiculite board,
provide vertical fire separation, for example or other proprietary materials.
in dividing walls, proprietary partitioning
systems, protected shafts, stairs, lift wells, Materials offering the standard 30-minutes
escape routes and separating roof voids of fire resistance may be fixed onto timber
between properties. In the main, these will studing or patented metal strip studding
be non-loadbearing, although some that is either channel- or angle-section fixed
proprietary systems may have loadbearing with self-tapping screws. Insulation ratings
characteristics. will be provided either by the use of
insulation boards or by mineral fibre or
Products used for the construction of other insulation materials, fitted between
partitions may be either standard gypsum the outer skins of the partition.
wallboards or special fire-rated boards,
depending on the fire rating required. The Some materials will offer a self-finished
majority of partitions are likely to be rated surface, whilst others are decorated in a
for 30 minutes’ integrity and insulation but standard way. But as these partitions may
systems with fire ratings up to 4 hours are form part of an escape route, surface
available from specialist manufacturers. spread of flame ratings for decorative
Specialist boards may be calcium silicate, materials may have to be considered.

ASFP

May 2004 FEJ & FP

57
FP_MAY.DATA SHEET 4/23/04 11:00 AM Page 58

F i r e P r o t e c t i o n D a t a

2 Types of system
When standard structures using rating. Where proprietary systems are used, components that have been tested in an
plasterboard or proprietary materials should the doors, windows and penetrations should appropriate construction. Many system
be tested as a system, providing test be tested as part of the system. Mixing manufacturers also provide the materials
evidence of fire performance to BS 476: Part components from different systems is required for such penetration seals. These
22: 1987: Fire tests on building materials dangerous, since the resulting system will should be used wherever possible to ensure
and structures. Methods for determination not necessarily perform as expected if not that the penetration does not endanger the
of the fire resistance of non-loadbearing installed as tested. fire rating of the structure.
elements of construction or, under the
Manufacturers of all types of boarding Where partitions are installed co-incident
European system, BS EN 1364-1: 1999: Fire
provide comprehensive trade literature on with steel beams, it is important to note that
resistance tests for non-loadbearing
their systems and details of the test if an insulation rating is required, the fire
elements. Walls. Such tests are done in wall
evidence obtained. And, although many protection materials used for structural
furnaces of 3m2 in area; partitioning
materials may be purchased over the protection of the steel may not offer such a
systems are available for multiples of this
counter at specialist suppliers, they are best rating when tested to BS 476: Part 22.
measurement and will have test evidence or
installed by fitters trained by the Manufacturers advice should be sought for
assessments supporting their extended use
manufacturers and supported by third party the detail area around the steel members.
over long runs or at greater heights.
accreditation systems. The use of linear gap seals at the junctions
The system will also be required to include of partitions and roof or floor structures
windows and doors rated to the same level Similar care should be taken when services should also be part of the system test
as the wall itself and any penetrations of the are passed through the partitions as these evidence.
wall will require sealing to the same fire will require sealing with materials or

3 Design and installation


It is very difficult to upgrade the fire and whether there has been work carried • ensure the system that has been installed
performance of a system once it has been out on the wall since its original installation. is exactly as per the original specification
installed, so it is important to ensure that Any fittings must be rated to match the wall • look out for constructions that use
the specification is correct at the outset. or ceiling performance, and any subsequent components from several manufacturers
As with all performance systems, fire work to the system must be correctly – it is difficult to check their performance
performance is achieved through the carried out and finished to ensure that
interaction of all of the system components; performance is not compromised. • ensure the systems have been installed
the metal framework, the lining board, the in accordance with manufacturers’
If the fire-rated partition is being specified recommendations
fixings and the jointing products and
and installed from new, it is essential to
techniques. The performance of a fire-rated • ensure any materials used with the
adopt a joined-up approach to its
system needs to be proved via a test or system (doors, windows etc) carry the
installation, in order for integrity to be
assessment. Substituting sub-standard or correct fire rating and have been tested
maintained. Co-ordination between the
untested components could affect the in a similar construction
trades on site, to ensure that the correct
performance and mean the installed system
preparations are made for the introduction • ask to see test-based substantiation
does not meet the performance claimed,
of services must be a priority.
jeopardising the fire safety of the building Third party accredited installer schemes are
and its occupants. It could also mean any It is always safer to specify and install available from FIRAS, operated by
manufacturer’s warranty offered on the proprietary fire-rated systems, supplied and Warrington Fire Research Certification, and
system will be invalidated. tested together by a single manufacturer. In from the Loss Prevention Certification
this case the system will have been Board. All major board manufacturers also
System performance can also be developed as a joined-up solution, and offer training schemes, as a result of which
compromised following installation, as generally tested to prove its performance. fitters will appreciate the importance of the
boards are removed or holes cut for interaction of components within fire-rated
When specifying and using fire-rated
services, or for the incorporation of light structures of this type. Many installations
systems:
fittings, doors etc. A risk assessment should will form part of escape routes and a failure
therefore establish whether there is any • ensure that proprietary warranted to construct them correctly can result in
visual damage to the system – cracks or systems that have been fully tested are danger to the occupants.
holes will downgrade the performance – used

FEJ & FP May 2004


58
FP_MAY.DATA SHEET 4/23/04 11:00 AM Page 59

F i r e P r o t e c t i o n D a t a

4 Inspection and maintenance 5 Relevant standards


From a risk assessment point of view, once
the building has been completed, it can be
This may mean that the wall must run
above a suspended ceiling, or where it is
and other documents
difficult to establish, just by viewing the located on the top storey, it must continue Approved Document B to the Building
surface of a wall or partition, what the through to the roof. Regulations in England and Wales
design fire performance of that element is. If, as recommended, an accredited installer recommends the minimum period of fire
Often, the only way to do this is to go back has been used to construct the original performance for each of the structural
to the Construction Design and structure, then a ‘Certificate of Conformity’ elements of a building, based on the
Management (CDM) file for the building. for the system will have been filed in the purpose group of the building, combined
Every building has its own CDM file, drawn CDM file. This information should form the with the height of each of those elements
up at the construction stage, which will basis of any risk assessment conducted by (see Tables A1 and A2 in Appendix A, as
contain details of all systems installed in the occupier who should: called for in section 6.3 of ADB General
that building. This should include details of Provisions).
where fire-rated systems exist and the • ensure any subsequent work has been
performance they should achieve. carried out to the required standard The fire performance of non-loadbearing
• watch for any damage that may walls is tested to BS 476: Part 22: 1987:
It should be noted that, where the partition Fire tests on building materials and
is a designated compartment wall, Approved downgrade the performance
structures. Methods for determination of the
Document B (ADB) to the Building • ensure manufacturers’ maintenance fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements
Regulations in England and Wales schedules are followed to maintain of construction or, under the European
recommends that it must run to the full protection levels throughout the life of the system, to BS EN 1364-1: 1999: Fire
height of the storey in which it is situated. building. resistance tests for non-loadbearing
elements. Walls. Fire classification is defined
according to BS EN 13501-2: 2003: Fire
classification of construction products and
building elements. Classification using data
from fire resistance tests, excluding
ventilation services.
Insurance companies often require a
building to have standards of fire protection
beyond those specified by the Building
Regulations. Where this is the case the
requirements are set down in the LPC Guide
for the fire protection of buildings and must
be agreed with individual insurance
companies.
ASFP

Published by Fire Prevention & Fire Engineers Journal


Bastille Court, 2 Paris Garden, London SE1 8ND

May 2004 FEJ & FP

59

You might also like