Certificated
panels and testing
Introduction
The ABI in their document ‘Technical Briefing; Fire Performance
of Sandwich Panel Systems’ and Factory Mutual (FM) strongly recommend
the use of certificated panels for new build projects. UK manufacturers
have responded to this approach and all EPIC members now offer PIR insulated
panel systems that satisfy the test and certification criteria of The
Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and/or FM Global.
Certification
of panel systems by both organisations is based on their performance
in large-scale room tests incorporating a significant fire
source. The tests indicate the likely performance in the developing stage
of a fire and have a good correlation with actual practice in known fire
scenarios. Additional approval standards are available that incorporate
tests illustrating a level of fire resistance.
The Loss Prevention Certification
Board (LPCB) and FM Global approved PIR cored panels are generally acceptable
to insurers.
Nevertheless ABI also recognise that there is a role
for non-certificated panels used as the external envelope in low/medium
risk applications.
This recognition is particularly relevant to the use of PUR insulated
panels on existing buildings.
The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) tests
LPCB tests assess various levels of fire performance including reaction to fire;
reaction and resistance to fire; and a separate grade for resistance to fire
only.
Panels for external use are tested
in accordance with LPS 1181: Part 1 “Requirements and Tests for built-up cladding
and sandwich panel systems used as the external
envelope of buildings”.
| Under LPS 1181: Part 1, approvals
are given to two standards, A and B. |
| • |
Grade Ext-A panels for wall systems
only and need to attain minimum 30 minutes fire integrity and 15
minutes insulation according to fire resistance test BS 476 part
22 |
| • |
Grade Ext-B approvals for roofs
and walls not requiring fire resistance are to determine that the
panel doesn’t propagate or aid spread of fire by construction |
Both types of approved panels are typically
of the same design. The difference in performance is in the properties
of the PIR core used and the type of joint
detail and method of fixing. Different panel manufacturers’ standards vary
considerably even within the approved ranges. Panel cores are difficult to access
though some are currently subject to identification marks. All PIR cores are
the same colour and it is important that all literature provided with panels
purchased and installed is retained.
Panels for internal use are tested in accordance
with LPS 1181: Part 2 ‘Requirements
and tests for wall and ceiling lining systems for use as internal construction
in buildings’ or LPS 1208 “Fire test requirements for elements of
construction used to provide compartmentation”.
| Under LPS 1181: Part 2, approvals
are given to three standards: |
| • |
Int-3: Panels satisfying the LPS 1181
test as for external panels but tested to the as-built internal configuration |
| • |
Int-2: As Int-3 and satisfying
30 minutes fire integrity and 30 minutes insulation according to
fire resistance test BS 476 part 22 |
| • |
Int-1: As Int-3 and satisfying 60 minutes fire
integrity and 60 minutes insulation according to fire resistance
test BS 476 part
22 |
The alternative LPS 1208 again
offers approvals to two standards, ‘Normal’ and ‘High Risk’. ‘Normal’ relates
to attaining 30 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation. ‘High Risk’ equates
to 60 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation.
LPCB Approved Panels
The ABI technical Briefing ‘Fire performance of sandwich panel
systems (May 2003, rev Sept 2008)’ is
an independent and authoritative document that gives information and guidance
on insulated panel systems.
The document supports the use of approved panel
systems and in particular the LPCB approved panels:
“Where high levels of risk management
are not achievable due to the nature of the processes in the building
and/or the quality of the management demonstrated,
and the risk of ignition is high, the use of panel systems with high fire
performance characteristics should be considered. Systems meeting accreditation
schemes such
as LPCB 1181 demonstrate such characteristics.”
ABI Technical briefing: Executive summery.
The Technical Briefing also makes
a number of other important points relating to LPCB approved panels:
“For insurance underwriting purposes, Insurers use the Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings as a basis for providing guidance on what they require for property protection purposes, subject to a broad based risk assessment. In respect of external composite panels, these must be suitable for the intended end use application and should either have non-combustible cores or be LPCB approved to the appropriate requirements of LPS 1181 (see paragraph 3.11) and fully satisfy insurers fire resistance requirements (insulation and integrity) through appropriate testing.”
ABI Technical briefing on sandwich panels: Clause 4.4, page 11
| This paragraph clearly places suitably tested and certified insulated panel systems on a par with those which have a non-combustible core with a test classification according to the requirements of Approved Document B of ‘limited combustibility’. |
| • |
Sandwich panel systems approved by
LPCB to LPS1181 will not make a significant contribution to a fire.
ABI Technical briefing: Section 3.5, page 6 |
| • |
Panels satisfying the requirements of LPS1181 will
not make a significant contribution to fire growth. ABI Technical
briefing: Section 3.11, page 8 |
| • |
For new buildings, serious consideration should
be given to the use of the better performing LPCB approved sandwich
panels to LPS 1181 for external claddings in any of the following
circumstances taking account of the other factors identified as critical
to fire ignition risk and spread. ABI Technical briefing: Section
4.2, page 10 |
This recommendation refers to higher risk situations such as high financial
exposure, hazardous processes, high risk fire loads etc.
Factory Mutual
Factory mutual is an insurance approval company that proactively supports
good building design by means of a number of written documents and
the approval testing of materials and services through the Factory
Mutual
Research Corporation.
FMRC approval procedures encompass the testing
of specific characteristics e.g. wind uplift and foot traffic, in
addition to fire characteristics.
FMRC approvals encompass a range of
tests leading to FMRC 4880 / 1771 approval.
Links
ABI Technical Briefing
LPCB tests
FM Global
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Also in this section:
Overview on insulated panels | Panel
behaviour in fire | Findings
of fire research on major fires | Fire
research – case histories |
