Facade Fire Engineering: Beyond the Combustible Material Ban

Post-Grenfell facade fire safety goes beyond materials. Fire engineering of facades considers cavity barriers, spandrel panels, and fire spread.. Facade Fire Engineering Beyond Materials Material classification is necessary but not sufficient. Facade fire safety also requires: Cavity Barriers Required at every floor level and around openings Must resist fire for the same period as the external wall Tested to BS EN 1364 3 or equivalent Polythene cavity trays must be fire stopped at barriers Spandrel Panels Minimum 1m spandrel between window heads and windows above Alternative: 1.1m fire rated construction projecting 300mm from facade Prevents floor to floor fire spread via the facade Ventilated Facades Drained and ventilated cavities can promote fire spread Cavity barriers must be effective despite ventilation openings BS 8414 large scale facade fire test may be required For facade fire engineering, contact us.