OVERVIEW: EPIC FIRE TESTS GUIDE
EPIC’s Guide to ‘Performance of Insulated Cladding Systems in Fire’
This 20-page guide presents the results of the first major fire research programme to verify the reaction to fire behaviour of insulated panels and other external cladding systems.
It includes:
External Cladding Systems
The Guide is concerned exclusively with insulated panels and systems used for the external cladding of industrial, commercial and other buildings. The comments and tests described do not relate to panels used as internal walls, ceilings or linings though certain features which benefit the fire performance of external claddings may assist designers of internal systems. A review of the fire performance of both insulated panels and site assembled insulated systems shows that both cladding methods have a good record in actual fires and that very rarely have fires initially involved the external cladding.
Reaction to Fire and Fire Resistance
These often misunderstood terms refer to two different aspects of fire performance and therefore separate classification systems, based on distinctly different test standards and criteria are used for expressing the performance. Their significance in assessing the performance of a system in fire is described together with the associated test methods.
Performance in Fire
The findings of the EPIC programme are summarised and explained. The section highlights the performance of various insulants and the features which lead to structural security and improved fire performance.
Building Regulations
The guide includes a brief summary of the Building Regulations as they concern the fire recommendations for external cladding systems, primarily in respect of England and Wales, but also applicable to N.Ireland. The requirements for Scotland may be different in detail.
Read more by downloading the guide or visit EPIC fire tests and research.