Insulated Panels Fire Resistance - Inver Group

The current international standards that regulate the specifications and manufacturing requirements of sandwich panels are a safeguard for the end buyer, which allows them to obtain a product that complies with their specifications.  Insulated panels’ fire resistance is related to the manufacturer’s certifications through American and European standards.  Both standards are very similar in terms of requirements so let’s learn a little more about European standards.

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INSULATED PANELS AND FIRE

Insulating panels fire resistance is one of the most relevant issues when using it as roofing and cladding material. Various types of buildings can be built with this prefabricated product, from those of the agricultural and veterinary type to those of a manufacturing nature, warehouses and leisure centers. In any case, a common question is about its resistance to fire. However, resistance is one of the elements to be analyzed, because more than that, the behavior of the material when fire is present must be known and understood. This means a broader point of view that refers to how the product reacts to spreading flames, generating dripping of molten material and producing smoke.

The answer to this question would be that, in very general terms, insulating panels have a good to excellent reaction to fire, however, this cannot be asserted if it does not comply with the applicable safety regulations.

The objective of this article is to provide general knowledge about panel’s attributes against fire that are available as product of its manufacturing processes, and how to select these according to the specific conditions of each project.

This content is based on European standards for European manufacturers. For American market, it will be necessary to see their equivalences.

EUROPEAN REGULATIONS

Major regulations for the manufacture of insulating panels in Europe:

• UNE-EN : Self-supporting insulating double-sided metal sandwich panel. Factory made products. Specs.
• UNE-EN : + A1: Reaction to fire tests of construction products, excluding floor coverings, exposed to thermal attack caused by a single burning object.
• UNE-EN : + A1: Flat steel products, continuously coated with organic materials (pre-lacquered). Technical supply conditions.
• UNE-EN -1: Classification based on the fire behavior of construction products and building elements. Part 1: Classification from data obtained in reaction to fire tests.

CURRENT VERSION OF THE STANDARD

With the unification of criteria by the European countries, minimum standards of compliance are established in many areas of manufacturing and material testing. This is when the manufacture of insulating panels is governed by the series of rules set out above.

Over the years, the same manufacturers reach significant shares of technological achievements on materials for the manufacture of the insulating panels. With this, the institutions establish more restrictive norms in order to increase the security guarantees in the construction systems and the buildings themselves to make them safer.

The latest version in force to date is UNE-EN : . This requires manufacturing under these criteria as of August 8, in order to be marketed and obtain the CE marking for those insulated self-supporting double-sided metal panels.

The main modification with respect to the previous regulation in its version and its revision is the evaluation of the reaction to fire performance. It is in this section where changes have been seen in the way of conducting tests and a new way of classifying them. This way of categorizing them affects the SBI standard (UNE-EN ) which refers to reaction to fire tests of construction products. With a modification in force in and to the UNE-EN -2 standard, better known as the small burner test.

Among the changes are:

• Possibility of testing panels with covered edges, as long as in the panel manufacturing process, the core is completely protected on all sides by a metal sheet. And that at the time of its installation no cuts or drilling are required.
• Panels with asymmetric faces or with different sheet thicknesses on their sides, must be classified with the one with the lowest performance. Or where appropriate, the values corresponding to the tests for each of the faces must be specified.

To better understand the properties that we can obtain according to our requirements or needs in our projects, we must know the 4 factors that influence the conditions of regulatory compliance with this Euroclassification:

• The steel and its coatings,
• Typology of the insulating core.
• Design of the joint between panels.
• Panel mounting and fixing system.

Each of these sections deserves an exclusive article to talk about its properties, types and attributes; but at present we will focus on getting to know the classifications established by the regulations based on the tests that mainly affect the insulating core, which is one of the elements that have the greatest impact on compliance.

EUROCLASSES AND SUBCLASSES CLASSIFICATIONS FOR WALLS AND CEILINGS. STANDARD UNE-EN -1:

This classification is composed of a series of letters and numbers in a sequence that establishes the resistance to fire, smoke opacity and droplet/particle fall.

It is important to know this classification, since it will determine the type of panel to be used according to:

1. Its use (commercial, residential, industrial, etc) or
2. Its location or area in the building.

EUROCLASS: FIRE RESISTANCE OF INSULATING PANELS

Ratings begin with a letter and coding starts with the letter A, which are those materials that have the best performance against fire. Its benefits are less as the letters advance, until they reach F, which in simple words means that there is combustion under the action of a flame.

In the case of the sandwich panels, current European regulations do not allow the manufacturers to produce anything lower than C under their least restrictive conditions.

We must be clear that the definition of “contribution to fire” is considered the energy released by a product that influences the growth of fire in situations both before and after the start of it. What is explained in the following chart:

SUBCLASS: SMOKE OPACITY VALUE

This value establishes 3 classifications according to the production of smoke emitted when carrying out the controlled tests. The best value is represented by the S1 rating and the lowest is S3.

SUBCLASS: FALLING DROPS / PARTICLES

During the flame exposure test, it is also analyzed whether the core produces droplets or particles that could be a source of propagation of fire. They are marked according to the following criteria:

This is an example of this classification for a certain insulating panel with intermediate conditions in terms of reaction to fire:

B-S2, d0

The following scheme will better clarify the classification:

Based on the previous image, we can read the classification as follows:

B indicates that it has a limited contribution to fire, s2 denotes that it produces smoke of medium opacity and d0 means that it presents no drop of drops or particles.

The most common classifications that we find in the manufacture of insulated panels are:

• Rock wool insulated panel: A1. The highest
• PIR panel: B – S1, d0
• PUR panel: B – S2, d0

CHOOSING PANELS ACCORDING TO NEEDS AND FIRE RESISTANCE

As a conclusion, it should be noted that in order to choose insulated panels it’s not enough to determine the thickness of the core foam or the gauge of the metal, especially in buildings where the thermal issue and fire resistance is important, for example those that will be used intensively by humans or the if flammable materials will be held inside. It is extremely important to know the fire behavior classification of the sandwich panel that will be used either for roof, walls or floor.

Are you interested in learning more about Fire Rated Coolroom Panels? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

If you want to make further inquiries about this or other European standards, you can directly consult the following links:

Insulated metal panels, or IMPs, have completely revolutionized the construction industry, especially in the design of metal buildings.

Not only does their prefabricated nature make them easier to work with than traditional building materials, but they also offer incredible thermal performance, enhanced structural integrity, reliable fire resistance, and an aesthetic appeal that makes them attractive and functional. 

Today, we will examine two essential engineering tips for incorporating insulated metal panels into the design of a metal building. These tips will help you save time and money and ensure the optimal level of performance from the insulated panels once installed.

10 Tips for Designing with Insulated Metal Panels

1. Ensure a Proper Seal 

Insulated metal panels work best when they are seamlessly positioned beside each other. Not only does this prevent moisture from getting between the panels, but it enhances thermal performance by reducing thermal bridging. 

To enhance the seal, you can incorporate high-quality sealants into your design. You can also design your metal building to be fully outfitted with IMPs rather than just lining a single wall with them. 

2. Incorporate High-Strength Framing into Your Design 

While IMPs are incredibly durable, you need to attach them to framing systems that take advantage of the inherent structural strength of the panels to get the most out of them. You can also use supplementary framing to support the panels in areas where they might be subjected to heavy loads. 

3. Consider Acoustic Performance 

There is no getting around the fact that metal buildings can trap sound, making it incredibly loud for building occupants. To reduce interior noise, select insulated metal panels designed to help absorb and dampen excess noise. Some of the best panels on the market have enhanced acoustic-dampening properties that help them double as sound barriers. 

4. Make Fire Safety a Priority

One of the main advantages of constructing a metal building is fire safety; however, many designers forget to choose fire-rated panels, as they believe the metal outer surface guarantees it will not be flammable. The truth is that low-quality panels are constructed using flammable insulating cores, compromising the entire panel’s fire resistance. 

When designing your metal building, start by choosing fire-rated panels that meet local fire safety requirements. To enhance fire safety, you should also incorporate fire barriers into the design of the building, as this will prevent potential fires from spreading to parts of the building that are constructed with flammable materials or contain them. 

5. Use Panels with a High R-Value 

Like any building material, insulated panels are available in differing levels of quality. The best panels deliver a high R-value, meaning they offer superior thermal performance. As you have probably guessed, better thermal performance means that the installed panels will act as a more impressive thermal barrier, reducing the energy requirements for your HVAC system. 

6. Use Panels that Match Your Building Requirements 

On the topic of R-values, it’s also important to choose panels that offer a level of thermal performance that actually meets your needs. If, for example, you were designing a metal building to act as an industrial cold storage unit, you would need panels with a core thickness and R-value that meets those requirements. 

On the other hand, a simple metal garage that will house equipment that is not temperature-sensitive may have different insulation requirements, so you could opt for panels with a lower R-value. 

7. Consider Durability and Maintenance 

It is easy to neglect a building’s long-term needs when designing it, but considering durability and maintenance requirements during the design phase will enhance the lifespan of the completed structure. 

The best-insulated panels have easy-to-clean surfaces, making them suitable for structures that require high sanitation standards, like food preparation facilities.

You should also look for panels that can withstand physical impacts without warping or denting, as low-quality options made from flimsy metal can become an issue in the long term, especially if aesthetic value and thermal performance are important factors for your needs. 

8. Consider the Visual Appearance of the Finished Structure 

Choosing panels that match your visual preferences will ensure long-term satisfaction with the completed structure. Rather than settle for panels that need to be painted after installation, choose pre-painted panels that complement the look you are going for. 

The best panels are also available with different textures, further enhancing the visual appeal of the completed wall. 

9. Do Not Forget About Water Shedding 

While the best-insulated panels are waterproof and vapour-resistant, you must consider water shedding when designing your building. Water allowed to pool along the ground can penetrate the gap between the walls and the floor of your building.

Incorporate some overhang or drip edging into your design to prevent this from happening and compromising the water resistance of your entire building. 

10. Integrate Ventilation into the Design 

Since insulated metal panels act as both a heat and moisture barrier, it is important to consider ventilation systems, especially if maintaining good indoor air quality is important for the building you are constructing. 

Ventilation systems that can be incorporated into the building design can help manage airflow and control humidity levels without compromising the thermal performance of the panels themselves. 

Why Choose Isowall Fire-Rated & Insulated Wall Panels for Your Metal Building? 

Among insulated metal panels, Isowall Fire Rated & Insulated Wall Panels are the superior option. They have all the features that would make them perfect for any metal building. 

From delivering an impressive R-value of 4.1 per inch to delivering a 300db acoustic rating, their performance makes them a practical solution. They are also much easier to install than alternatives, as their tongue-and-groove edges slide into place and create a secure seal. The panels can also be custom-tailored to any workable height and even field cut to accommodate ventilation systems and fans. 

The key to their outstanding thermal performance and reliable fire resistance is that they are constructed using the highest quality materials, like galvanized, roll-formed 26-gauge steel facings and an expanded polystyrene foam core. They are also pre-painted and available in a wide range of colours and textures. 

A lasting resistance to mould and chemical exposure also makes them suitable for buildings that need to maintain cleanliness, backed by their CFIA acceptance for sanitary room requirements. 

The best tip for your metal building is to design it using the highest-quality insulated panels. For this reason, it is time to learn more about Isowall Fire Rated & Insulated Wall Panels! 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website PIR Wall Panel.