UNDERSTANDING FIRE RETARDANCY
Fire protection for your building begins at the planning stage. Minimizing fire risk, particularly in places with
significant human traffic such as major sporting arenas, mass transit terminals, hospitals, schools and high-rise
buildings has become increasingly complex and challenging.
Globally, architects and building owners are required to meet stringent regulations aimed at protecting inhabitants and visitors
but also building structure and surrounding environment from fire hazards, but irrespective of the regulations it is imperative
for the users to choose the right grade of fire retardant building materials which can minimize the damage to human lives and
the structure.
A lot depends on using the right kind of products and stems, and utmost care has to be taken in choosing the right
grade of Fire Retardant (FR) Aluminium Composite Materials (ACM) so as to mitigate the risk caused by fire.
(Illustration on Page 3 shows the fire propagation in case of fire in a building).
It is important to understand the difference between Fire Rating and Fire Retardancy. Any product could have some degree of
Fire Rating but that does not necessarily make it Fire Retardant. Usually, the products and systems have a reaction to fire
and resistance to fire, in a certain way. It is essential to look at these both, and the factors that influence the performance
of a Fire Retardant cladding solution in totality and not in isolation.
These performance criteria are :
- Lateral and Vertical spread of fire
- Smoke emission
- Droplets
- Self-extinction of fire on the ACM
A ‘true Fire Retardant’ ACM should have :
- Ideally recommended mix and density of non- combustible content in the core (not less than 70%).
- Appropriate certifications from a credible 3rd party authority. Not sufficient to have mere test reports from samples provided by the applicant.
- Should be fixed using the recommended systems.
FIRE BEHAVIOUR IN A BUILDING
The Illustration shows the fire propagation in case of fire in a building:
FIRE RETARDANCY VIDEO
FIRE RETARDANCY NEWSLETTER
ALUCOBOND® and Fire Retardancy
Keep up to date with the latest news and industry developments regarding Fire Retardancy and Safety with our newsletter. Staying abreast of current regulations and developments is essential for working successfully on new construction and design projects.
Subscribe here
Download as PDF [2.3 MB]
FIRE RETARDANCY PRESENTATION
ALUCOBOND® Fire Retardancy Presentation
Fire – An ALUCOBOND® Perspective Download as PDF [14.4 MB]
FIRE RETARDANCY BROCHURE
ALUCOBOND® Fire
Due to stricter global regulations and the evermore demanding requirements of modern architecture, choosing the right fire retardancy products and systems is essential. Download our in-depth brochure to find out how ALUCOBOND* meets these challenges through experience and innovation to lead the market.
Download as PDF [14.4 MB]
ALUCOBOND® A2
ALUCOBOND® A2 is the first non-combustible aluminium composite panel used in architecture that fulfils the respective
standards worldwide.
Thanks to its mineral core, ALUCOBOND® A2 meets the strict requirements of some of the toughest fire regulations while
retaining the possibilities for the concept and design of buildings. ALUCOBOND® A2, just like all the products of the ALUCOBOND®
family, allows simple processing, is impact-resistant, breakproof and weatherproof and, above all, non-combustible.
Technical Data Sheet
| THICKNESS | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness of Aluminium Layers | 0.5 | 0.5 | |||
| Weight | [kg/m²] | 5.9 | 7.6 | ||
| Width | [mm] | 1250 / 1500 | 1250 / 1500 |
| TECHNICAL PROPERTIES | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section modulus | W | DIN 53293 | [cm³/m] | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Rigidity | E·J | DIN 53293 | [kNcm²/m] | 1250 | 2400 |
| Alloy / Temper of Aluminium Layers | EN 573-3 / EN 515 | EN AW 5005A (AIMg1) H22/H42 | EN AW 5005A (AIMg1) H22/H42 | ||
| Modulus of Elasticity | EN 1999 1-1 | [N/mm²] | 70.000 | 70.000 | |
| Tensile Strength of Aluminium | EN 485-2 | [N/mm²] | Rm ≥ 130 | Rm ≥ 130 | |
| 0.2 % Proof Stress | EN 485-2 | [N/mm²] | Rp0,2 ≥ 90 | Rp0,2 ≥ 90 | |
| Elongation | EN 485-2 | [%] | A50 ≥ 5 | A50 ≥ 5 | |
| Linear Thermal Expansion | EN 1999 1-1 | 2.4 mm/m at 100ºC temperature difference | 2.4 mm/m at 100ºC temperature difference |
| CORE | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral compound, polymer bonded |
| SURFACE | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacquering | Coil Coating Fluorocarbon based (e.g. PVDF) | Coil Coating Fluorocarbon based (e.g. PVDF) | |||
| Gloss (initial value) | EN 13523-2 | [%] | 30-80 | 30-80 | |
| Pencil Hardness | EN 13523-4 | HB-F | HB-F |
| ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound Absorption Factor | αs | ISO 354 | 0.5 | 0.5 | |
| Sound Transmission Loss | Rw | ISO/DIS 717-1, EN ISO 140-3 | [dB] | 27 | 27 |
| Loss Factor | d | EN ISO 6721 Frequency range 100-3200 Hz | 0.004 | 0.005 |
| THERMAL | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Resistance | R | DIN 52612 | [m²K/W] | 0.002 | 0.002 |
| Thermal conductivity | λ | DIN 52612 | [W/mK] | 1.99 | 1.77 |
| Heat Transition Coefficient | U | DIN 52612 | [W/m²K] | 5.83 | 5.80 |
| Temperature Resistance | [ºC] | -50 to +80 | -50 to +80 |
Fire Classification
| Country | Test accord.to | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AS ISO 9705 AS 1530.3 Indices EN 13501-1 | Group 1 material SMOGR A 0.630 m2 / s2 0 (ignitibility) 0 (flame spread) 0 (heat evolved) 0-1 (smoke development) A2-s1, d0 |
| China | GB 8624-2012 | Class A (A2- s1,d0, t0) |
| EU | EN 13501-1 | Class A2-s1, d0 |
| Germany | EN 1187 (method 1) / DIN 4102-7 | Passed |
| Great Britain England / Wales / Scotland | BR 135 BS 8414 part 1 & 2 | met the performance criteria Passed |
| Malaysia | BS 8414-1 BS 476, Part 6 BS 476, Part 7 Approved for outdoor wall cladding of any type of building without height limit | Passed Class 0 Class 1 |
| Poland | EN 13501-1 BS 476, Part 6&7 (Core Exposed) NFPA 285 Approved for outdoor wall cladding of any type of building without height limit | Class A2-s1, d0 |
| Russia | GOST 30244-94 GOST 30402-95 GOST 12.1.044-89 GOST 12.1.044-89 | G1 (combustibility) W1 (flammability) D1 (smoke development) T1 (toxicity) |
| Singapore | EN 13501-1 BS 476, Part 6&7 (Core Exposed) NFPA 285 Approved for outdoor wall cladding of any type of building without height limit | Class A2, s1, d0 Passed Passed |
| Switzerland | VKF | RF1 |
| UAE | NFPA 285 EN 13501-1 ASTM E84 | Passed Class A2-s1, d0 Class A |
ALUCOBOND® PLUS
ALUCOBOND® PLUS has been developed exclusively for the more stringent fire prevention regulations in architectural products.
Thanks to its mineral-filled core ALUCOBOND® PLUS meets the stricter requirements of most fire classifications.
Its is hardly inflammable and offers all the proven product properties of the ALUCOBOND® family, such as flatness,
formability, resistance to weather and easy processing.
Technical Data Sheet
| THICKNESS | STANDARDS | UNIT | 3MM | 4MM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness of Aluminium Layers | [mm] | 0.5 | |||
| Weight | [kg/m²] | 5.9 | 7.6 | ||
| Width | [mm] | 1000 / 1250 / 1500 (1575 / 1750) | |||
| TECHNICAL PROPERTIES | |||||
| Section modulus | W | DIN 53293 | [cm³/m] | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Rigidity | E·J | DIN 53293 | [kNcm²/m] | 1250 | 2400 |
| Alloy / Temper of Aluminium Layers | EN 573-3 EN 515 | EN AW 5005A (AIMg1) H22 / H42 | |||
| Modulus of Elasticity | EN 1999 1-1 | [N/mm²] | 70.000 | ||
| Tensile Strength of Aluminium | EN 485-2 | [N/mm²] | Rm ≥ 130 | ||
| 0.2 % Proof Stress | EN 485-2 | [N/mm²] | Rp0,2 ≥ 90 | ||
| Elongation | EN 485-2 | [%] | A50 ≥ 5 | ||
| Linear Thermal Expansion | EN 1999 1-1 | 2,4 mm/m at 100ºC temperature difference | |||
| CORE | |||||
| Mineral filled polymer | |||||
| SURFACE | |||||
| Lacquering | Coil Coating Fluorocarbon (e.g. PVDF) | ||||
| Gloss (initial value) | EN 13523-2 | [%] | 30-80 | ||
| Pencil Hardness | EN 13523-4 | HB-F | |||
| ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES | |||||
| Sound Absorption Factor | αs | ISO 354 | 0.05 | ||
| Sound Transmission Loss | Rw | ISO 717-1 | [dB] | ≥ 25 | |
| THERMAL PROPERTIES | |||||
| Thermal Resistance | R | DIN 52612 | [m²K/W] | 0.007 | 0.009 |
| Thermal conductivity | λ | DIN 52612 | [W/mK] | 0.49 | 0.44 |
| Heat transition coefficient | U | DIN 52612 | [W/m²K | 5.68 | 5.58 |
| Temperature Resistance | [ºC] | -50 to +80 | |||
Fire Classification
| Country | Test accord. to … | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AS ISO 9705 AS 1530.3 Indices EN 13501-1 | Group 1 material SMOGR A 1.385 m2 / s2 0 (ignitibility) 0 (flame spread) 0 (heat evolved) 0-1 (smoke development) B-s1, d0 |
| China | GB 8624-2012 | Class B1 (B- s1,d0, t0) |
| EU | EN 13501-1 | Class B-s1, d0 |
| Germany | EN 1187 (method 1) / DIN 4102-7 | passed |
| Great Britain England / Wales / Scotland | BS 476, Part 6 & 7 BR 135 BS 8414 part 1 & 2 | Class 0 met the performance criteria Passed |
| Malaysia | BS 8414-1 BS 476, Part 6 BS 476, Part 7 Approved for outdoor wall cladding of any type of building without height limit | Passed Class 0 Class 1 |
| Poland | PN-90/B-02867 | NRO |
| Russia | GOST 30244-94 GOST 30402-95 GOST 12.1.044-89 GOST 12.1.044-89 | G1 (combustibility) W1 (flammability) D1 (smoke development) T1 (toxicity) |
| Singapore | EN 13501-1 BS 476, Part 6&7 NFPA 285 Approved for outdoor wall cladding of any type of building without height limit | Class B-s1, d0 Passed Passed |
| Switzerland | VKF | RF2 |
| UAE | NFPA 285 EN 13501-1 ASTM E84 | Passed Class B-s1, d0 Class A |
| USA | ASTM E84 NFPA 285 | Class A Passed |
| Country | Large fire testing | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | ÖNORM B 3800-5 | passed |
| France | Lepir 2 | passed |
| Hungary | MSZ 14800-6 | passed |
| Great Britain | BS 8414 part 1 & 2 | passed |
| Poland | According to ITB guidelines | passed |
| Russia | GOST 31251 | passed |
CERTIFICATIONS
In order to ensure the true capability of the manufacturer and their products, one should insist on a Certification from a trusted third party.
Any reputed third party certification organization will:
- Investigate the manufacturing process, QA process, test reports / documentation.
- Inspect the manufacturing facilities periodically.
- Select production samples randomly for later testing.
- Awards certificate of conformity if they find everything in order.
- Renew certificate only if all of the above are consistently achieved at satisfactory levels.
ALUCOBOND ® products from Germany, China and India are Class 1A Certified which means not only the products but also the processes are inspected on periodic intervals by TUV SUD, which is an internationally known and trusted independent certification organization.
MINERAL CALCULATOR
Download our Mineral Calculator by clicking the link below.
COMMONLY REQUESTED FIRE TESTS
ASTM E-84
This test measures the distance of the flame spread and the light obscuration of the smoke development during a specific time period.
BS 476 – Part 6&7
This test measures the speed and the distance of the flame spread in a specific time period.
EN 13501-1
This test measures the spread of flame and contribution to fire as well the generation of smoke and the production of burning droplets.
NFPA 285
This test method evaluates the inclusion of combustible components within wall assemblies/panels that are required to be of noncombustible construction. Its a simulation of the multistory flammability fire performance of entire exterior wall assemblies.
BS 8414-1
This test assess the behaviour of a non load bearing external cladding system. The test measures fire spread and classifies based on 3 distinct ways: external fire spread, internal fire spreads and mechanical performances.