Which product combinations successfully pass a full scale test such as BS 8414?

Fuente: Duncan C. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/)

As I told you in the post «Grenfell tower fire. Official conclusions of the large-scale tests” a series of full scale tests were carried out on ACM façade systems (aluminium composite materials) in combination with different thermal insulation to evaluate their fire performance. Based on the results obtained, the general conclusions were published by the expert council.

Besides ACM, there are currently multiple products that can be part of a façade system and each of them will have different fire behaviour. In the cases where there are products that do not comply with the requirement regarding a limited combustibility showed in the current British legislation, a full scale test must be completed according to British standard BS 8414 and classified according to BR 135.

But the main novelty and as a consequence of the Grenfell tower fire, it was requested to publish the test results (With the client’s permission). Undoubtedly, this is of great help to all the people involved in the design, installation, maintenance, product manufacturing, prescription, etc., because the publication of the tests results allows us to know which combinations of products for façades are capable of successfully passing a full scale test BS 8414 as well as its conditions. The published data show a general information, so if you are interested in the constructive details of the system, these could be consulted only in the test report that it belongs to the company that it has performed the test.

This database of tests for facade systems is available for public consultation on the page of the British BRE laboratory. On this web page, you can see the contact information of the company that it has carried out the test, the type of system (ventilated façade, ETICS, sandwich panels, etc.), report number, test method, substrate, insulation (mineral wool, polyisocyanurate, phenolic foam, polystyrene), the existence of fire breaks or cavity barriers as well as the external finish presented by the facade system.

In view of this list, a personal conclusion shown in the post referenced at the beginning is confirmed and is that the compliance with the requirements shown in BR 135:2013 and therefore the successful overcoming of the full scale test BS 8414-1, depends mainly on the external finish material, specifically the type of core used in the ACM (Aluminium Composite), not the insulation material. This is an aspect that is often confused.

I hope this list helps you. Finally, it must be emphasized that when façade systems are installed, the instructions provided by the manufacturer must be followed and the maintenance conditions must be respected.

 

Bibliography

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/666190/111217_Advice_note_-_Non-ACM_advice.pdf

https://www.bre.co.uk/regulatory-testing

 

 

Antonio Galán Penalva 

Fire safety consultant

Diseño de Instalaciones de Protección contra Incendios (PCI)