Colorcoat-Online - Fire Performance

Fire Performance

Two major considerations for fire performance are compliance with the Building Regulations and insurance requirements. These are not necessarily the same. The focus here is specifically on the building envelope and understanding how to satisfy these requirements when using pre-finished steel cladding systems. Included is an assessment of the current UK and Ireland Regulations and future changes in line with Europe as well as an overview of the main UK insurance requirements. Guidance is also provided about what to specify in terms of prefinished steel, insulation and cladding system as well as information about the main UK, future European and insurance fire tests used to ensure compliance.

The Building Regulations

The basic concepts are the same in all the regions of the UK and Ireland, but it is worth noting that, because of its inherent strength, pre-finished steel roof and wall cladding complies very easily with the fire regulations in most situations.

The main fire tests

An outline of the various fire tests applicable to the UK, as well as information regarding tests used by insurers. Here you will also find details of future European tests.

What should be specified?

In recent years, a few high-profile fires have caught the attention of the media and the insurance companies. This has raised the level of interest in the choice of roof and wall cladding system and insulation. It can be difficult for the non-specialist to make an informed decision as cladding building system and insulation manufacturers have sometimes published contradictory information in their literature.

Good practice

As regulations can be complex, the following guidelines should be considered when specifying roof and wall cladding systems.