Selection of wall cladding and systems is a vital decision when designing or refurbishing a building for both safety and aesthetic purposes. Internal wall linings are a critical factor in the spread of fire and it gaining hold and consideration must be given to the fire rating and resistance to fire of any product being considered for specification.
This is of particular importance in circulation areas where it can prevent escape. However, the fire rating of wall lining material can be overlooked, and whilst you might assume the sheets you have chosen, or are installing, would
perform to the highest standards, should the worst happen it’s not always the case. Consideration should be given as to how it will react with other parts of the wall construction, since the substrate and adhesive can have an effect on the overall fire rating of the system.
Check
Sometimes fire tests are not aligned with the wall system you are buying. To be confident, carry out the following measures ensuring the fire certificate:
- Relates to the wall system you are about to purchase and install. Is it the same system and the same thickness as specified in the fire certificate?
- Has the test been conducted as per your installation method?
- Is the fire certificate for sheet only? Don’t get caught out as having the wrong adhesive or no adhesive at all can invalidate your fire certificate.
- Is the recommendation for adhesive quantities in the installation guide aligned with the fire certificate?
- Is the substrate on which the wall lining is to be applied of equal or greater fire rating to that used to test the product? If not, you could be in trouble again.
Solution
The Altro Whiterock system has been designed to give you confidence and peace of mind with a Class 0 fire rating when used as described in the installation guide. Our systems can be trusted to do the job in high risk areas such as commercial kitchens as well as general use areas.
Regulations
The fire rating for wall linings varies by area of the building. However, in order to be used in public areas and circulation spaces, wall linings need to achieve the following ratings to ensure they are safe and compliant:
- EN 13501 Class B-s3 d2
- BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 and BS 476 Part 6 Class 0
To find our more contact the team of experts at Resintek Services.