Fire Safety
Fire Safety with Permarock
We offer insulated cladding systems that meet the demands of the latest fire safety regulations.
For high-rise buildings and wherever fire safety is a key concern, the Permarock Mineral Fibre EWI system should be specified. It features A1-rated insulation, which may be combined with a range of attractive, weatherproof finishes.
Our Mineral Fibre system is classified as European Classification: A2-s1,d0, in accordance with BS EN 13501:1 when incorporating a Silicone, Dry Dash, Brick Slip, or Brick Effect Render finish.
UK Building Regulations / High-Rise Buildings
The UK Government has amended the Building Regulations to prohibit the use of combustible materials in the external walls of buildings that contain at least one dwelling and that have floors over 11 metres from ground level. This ban was the result of a review of fire safety, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and it applies throughout England.
The regulation also applies to ‘institutions’, which means it covers some residential schools, care homes and hospitals, sheltered accommodation, student residences and other institutional accommodation blocks over 11 metres in height. It excludes hostels, hotels or boarding houses (except those that are being converted into residential accommodation).
Standards Relating to High-Rise Buildings
The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 states that materials that become part of an external wall must be of European Classification “A2-s1, d0” or “A1”.
These classifications are taken from BS EN 13501-1 “Fire classification of construction products and building elements. Classification using data from reaction to fire tests.” Other fire test methods and national classifications (typically specified in the BS 476 series of documents) are no longer recognised when selecting materials for residential buildings over 11 metres; BS EN 13501 is the only route to compliance.
View the latest UK Building Regulations / Standards
Fire Safety: Approved Document B (England & Wales)
Technical Handbook 2: Domestic – Fire (Scotland)
Technical Booklet E – Fire Safety (Northern Ireland)
Fire Safety Evidence
BRE Global Ltd, which carries out fire investigations on behalf of the UK Government, has investigated several fires in multi-storey buildings and some of these have been documented in its report, entitled ‘External Fire Spread – Part 1 Background research’, BRE Global Ltd., April 2016.
The report notes that external fire spread occurred in some projects featuring other manufacturers’ systems. However, BRE acknowledges that a Permarock Mineral Fibre EWI system, installed on a multi-storey high-rise residential block in Glasgow, resisted fire and actively prevented the fire from spreading across the building façade. The fire, which developed on the 11th floor of the 22-storey building, broke out of the windows, exposing the Permarock EWI system to the fully developed fire.
The damage was localised to the immediate vicinity of some of the windows but, beyond this, the effects were limited to surface charring and sooting.
Similar fires have occurred on other high-rise multi-storey residential blocks and, in all cases, the Permarock Mineral Fibre EWI systems have proven to be robust and resilient. They have always prevented fire spread. Moreover, because they are attached by means of both adhesive and mechanical fixings, they have always remained securely attached to the wall face, thereby allowing safe access for Fire & Rescue Services.
Department for Communities and Local Government – Building Safety Programme
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has established the Building Safety Programme to assist landlords and building owners identify buildings which are of concern through a thorough checking and testing process.
For the latest information and advice please visit the DCLG’s Building Safety Programme website.
For the latest advice from Government for high rise buildings:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-building-safety-act
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cladding-safety-scheme/cladding-safety-scheme-overview
