Edith Antonatus, Fire Issue Management, BASF Chair of ... · PDF fileEdith Antonatus, Fire Issue Management, BASF ... ‐ not reliable ... Building surrounded by bamboo plates on

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Expanding into a Sustainable Future

Edith Antonatus,

Fire Issue Management, BASF

Chair of Plastics Europe Fire Working group

EUMEPS Master Class ETICS March 18th and 19th 2013

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Basic properties of EPS

Testing and Approval of ETICS

• Example: Germany

• Example: UK

• European Developments

How to handle Changes of Systems/Components

Fire safety during Construction

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EPS is combustible, as many other construction products, like wood, wool, cork, and all other plastics

Fire retarded (FR) PS foam: • Exposed to heat, FR PS foam shrinks away

from the heat source

• The probability of ignition of the material is significantly reduced

• Small ignition sources, like welding sparks or cigarettes normally will not ignite it

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Old national classifications for example: B1, M1 etc. (Best classes for combustible

construction products)

• not comparable for many products to each other

European classification • SBI is designed for surface products

• For thermoplastic foams European results are

‐ not reliable

‐ Result depending from thickness and density – not material quality

‐ not comparable to old national classes

BUT

Small burner tests also in old systems was critical to show the quality of FR EPS

Class E is now used to qualify FR EPS

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When an ETICS is installed, the insulation is covered with mortar and rendering, including a reinforcement layer

If a flame attacks, it will always first attack the outer side (see presentation Mr. Kotthoff)

So for fire safety, it is important to test the complete system

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Germany was one of the first countries where ETICS were widely applied

Some countries developed a similar approach (i.e. Austria, China)

Some countries developed different approach (i.e. UK)

Now in Europe harmonization is under preparation (EOTA, CEN TC 88)

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For small buildings (highest floor not higher than 7m above ground) • Small burner test for all components • Small burner test for system with cut edges

For higher buildings (< 22m) • Small burner test (as above) • Brandschacht or small burner test for insulation

material • Brandschacht test for complete system • Additional full scale test (see Presentation Mr.Kotthoff)

This means, only FR EPS is allowed in Germany For high rise buildings (>22 m) only class A materials are

allowed

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Tests in small burner according to EN ISO 11925-2 with the following flame application times:

• Test of insulation product – 15 s

• Test of further components – 15 s

• Test of system – 30 s for higher classes

Complete ETICS system in SBI according to EN 13823

• Burner 30 kW

• Test time 20 minutes

ETAG 004 – First step to European harmonization

Similar approach under preparation for European product standard (CEN TC 88)

Full scale test allowed as additional requirement

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A1/A2

B

C

D

E

F

EPS FR

ETICS with EPS FR

SBI test for system

Small burner test for

components and system

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In most countries for higher buildings additional full scale tests are required

Some countries (i.e. Germany, Austria) base them on the most frequent risks (flashover in a room)

Other countries simulate more severe fire sources (i.e. UK)

If these (morse severe) tests are passed, no material requirements are in place (Non FR EPS can be used)

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Either

• all insulation is class A2 s3 d2 or better

and

• Cavity barriers and other measures are in place

Or

• The complete system is tested according to BS 8418

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Minimum height of sample: 6m above chamber opening

Width

• 2.4 m main face

• 1.2 m small wing

Test duration: 30 minutes (observation 60 minutes)

Wood crib with: Peak heat release 3.5 MW, total heat output 4500 MJ

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External fire spread

Internal fire spread

Mechanical performance

System burn through

Burning debris and pool fires

Glowing combustion

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Small buildings – class E products – no further requirements

Medium sized buildings up to 22 m (highest occupied floor)

• Minimum class B or C (former B1 DIN 4102) for the system

• In addition full scale tests for a number of systems

High rise buildings

• Non-combustible products

• Full scale tests may also be needed

Lower and medium sized buildings

• No special requirements (risk assessment)

For high buildings (>18 m) and depending from distance to other buildings higher requirements:

• In principle combustible materials like EPS can be used but:

• A special full scale test has to be passed, with a very hard fire attack and very strict approval criteria

Germany, Austria… UK

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Starting point: Existing national methods use different sizes of fire sources and of test rig. Some use a flat wall and others the more critical corner configuration

For the future European method, the following agreements have already been made

• Two sizes of test rig and fire load

• Corner configuration

• Two different wood cribs as fire load

Parameters to be measured:

• Flame spread (Temperatures)

• Damaged Length

• Falling parts / burning parts and droplets

Parameters not considered:

• Heat Release

• Smoke density and smoke gas composition

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Level 1 • Height: > 5.5 m

• Fire load: ~ 30 kg wood

Level 2 • Height : > 8 m

• Fireload: ~ 320 kg wood

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Increase of thickness of insulation

• Material classification does not change

• Lab test results on system will not change (thickness of samples is limited)

But

• Fire load is higher

• Load of molten material on lintel is higher

Consequence

• Laboratory tests don’t need to be repeated

• Full scale test should be done at the highest thickness (valid for lower thickness)

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Increase of density of insulation

• Material classification may change

and

• Fire load is higher

• Load of molten EPS on lintel is higher

Consequence

• Laboratory tests and full scale tests should be done at the highest density

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Change of Rendering and Mortar

• Material classification may change

and

• Level of protection (stability) of outer layer may change

Consequence

• If type of rendering and mortar is changed product tests have to be repeated

• System tests need to be done for different types and for minimum thickness of outer layer (especially full scale tests)

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Change of Fire Barrier

• In the past only mineral wool was used

• During the last years alternative barriers have been developed

Material classification may change but the important property is stability during a fire (no melting, shrinking, burning away, falling from the wall)

To prove functioning, full scale test is needed

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Design of ETICS with combustible insulation was in the beginning mainly focused on final end-use situation

Safety of construction sites in most countries is not part of legislation

But ETICS are often applied on buildings where people live (renovation)

Some fires have happened, which lead to further questions and research

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China – Shanghai 2010 58 people died

Building surrounded by bamboo plates on

scaffolding and nylon netting

Insulation (not EPS) up to 12th floor, mortar

cladding only up to 8th floors

Insulation with a bad fire performance (worse

than class B2), lower than the requirements in

National Codes.

Welding spark as ignition source

The main reason of this fire was lack of safety

management during construction

Other important factor: Foam not flame retarded

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Façade insulation not completely finished (edges etc.)

Lots of combustible products stored close to façade and ignited (EPS, Bitumen…..) - developed big and intense fire (ignition source unknown)

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Side where the fire source was, has been extensively damaged

Intense heat from burning of stored material

Even concrete partly damaged Not much damage around the corner, where EPS

already was applied, but not covered

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Is there an increased fire risk during construction of ETICS?

Is there an increased fire risk if EPS is stored on a construction site?

Can EPS be ignited by • Accident

• Vandalism

How can safety be achieved during construction of an ETICS? – Reason for further tests and research

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Expanding into a Sustainable Future Flame retarded EPS uncovered, on a wall will not

be easily ignited by small ignition sources (Example: Bengalo)

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Flame retardant EPS will not automatically lead to a spread of fire if a room fire occurs.

This does not exclude the possibility, that other factors in such a situation may lead to a bigger fire (when molten material can collect and is exposed to the fire source for a longer time)

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Ignition Source: Burning Paper

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Ignition Source: Bengalo

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Ignition Source: 1 liter gasoline

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Ignition Source: Gas burner

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Responsible handling of EPS is necessary as for all combustible products (wood, roofing felts, etc.)

If EPS is FR (class E, B2/B1) it will not be ignited by small and medium ignition sources

Safety is always increased by using flame retarded EPS

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As long as an ETICS system is not finished (EPS not covered at all, or only partially) , there is an increased risk for fires

No big amount of combustible material should be stored close to an ETICS under construction

General guidelines for fire safety on construction sites (i.e. for hot works) shall be respected

Guidelines are available (i.e. http://vds.de/fileadmin/vds_publikationen/vds_2021_web.pdf)

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Factors influencing the fire safety of an ETICS are properties of

• Insulation product (type and quality)

• Reinforcement layer

• Rendering and mortar

• Constructive details (fire barriers)

If the covering layers are good enough, anf for higher buildings fire barriers are in place, even non FR EPS can be used safely

But especially during construction safety is always increased with FR EPS

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EPS is combustible, as many other construction products (wood, roofing felts, bitumen, cork, etc.) it has to be handled in a responsible way

If the existing knowledge regarding fire safety is applied, it is possible to use all the advantages of EPS in ETICS without extra risks

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Edith Antonatus, Fire Issue Management, BASF Chair of ... · PDF fileEdith Antonatus, Fire Issue Management, BASF ... ‐ not reliable ... Building surrounded by bamboo plates on