Fire Safety
Each year, house fires cause significant destruction across the UK, with over 34,000 incidents reported annually. This translates to roughly 93 house fires occurring per day, or one fire every 15 minutes.
Fires can spread in three primary ways: convection, conduction, and radiation.
Convection
Convection is the most hazardous method of fire spread within a property. As a fire burns, the heat rises and becomes trapped against the ceiling in enclosed spaces. This trapped heat then spreads horizontally, igniting combustible materials in the room and potentially engulfing it within minutes. Convection is a leading cause of fire spread in both residential and commercial properties.
Conduction
Conduction involves the transfer of heat through direct contact with materials. Different materials have varying capabilities to conduct heat, with metal being a notable example. In commercial settings, a fire may travel through conductive materials like steel beams, igniting nearby combustible items. This method can lead to fire spreading between rooms in larger buildings and may also compromise the strength of load-bearing structures.
Radiation
Radiation spreads heat through electromagnetic waves in the air, allowing it to travel in all directions until it meets an object that absorbs it. This method can facilitate fire spread from one building to another, igniting nearby combustible materials, and it can penetrate windows, allowing flames to enter adjacent structures.
To minimize fire spread, it is crucial to evaluate the materials used in construction and how they influence fire dynamics.
A tragic reminder of the potential dangers associated with fire safety is the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 in West London. This devastating event resulted in the loss of 72 lives and left over 70 individuals injured. The fire was initiated when a fridge/freezer caught fire on the fourth floor during the night, rapidly spreading through the kitchen window and igniting the materials used in the building’s external cladding, which fueled the spread of fire throughout the structure.
In the wake of this disaster, a comprehensive revision of building and fire safety regulations has taken place. The introduction of the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022 highlights a nationwide commitment to enhancing safety in high-rise and residential buildings. New building regulations mandate that structures be designed and constructed to limit fire spread and facilitate resident evacuation during emergencies. Additionally, combustible materials that are prone to igniting have been prohibited on the external walls of new high-rise apartment buildings.
Dragonboard – Fire testing
Dragonboard has undergone rigorous testing on both its board and panelised system when it comes to fire. Firstly, Dragonboard holds an A1 and A1FL Fire classification in accordance with EN 13501-1:2018 and has completed BS EN 1364-1 -Reaction to fire and Fire resistance test in accordance with BS EN 1365-1:1999 on a load bearing wall. Both achieve 60+ minutes.
In addition to board testing our Dragon I Panel has undergone a Fire Resistance Test in Accordance with BS 476 Part 22:1987 achieving 243 minutes and also tested The Fire Resistance Performance Of A Load Bearing Wall Assembly, in Accordance with BS EN 1365-1:2012 achieving 198 minutes.
The most recent test carried out by Dragonboard was a Research and Development Cladding Test following the principles of BS 8414-2:2015 with A1 2017 Amendments. This test directly relates to the changes in building regulations post Grenfell. BS 8414 is a large-scale system test that mimics a fire breaking out of a window and exposing a cladding system to a severe fire. It does not test the individual component parts of a rainscreen cladding system in isolation (i.e. the fixings, fire breaks, cavities or insulation), but rather how the full build up behaves in fire conditions.
Although Our SIPs system is not a cladding system and therefore cannot be assessed as such, the results obtained show the system to have successfully completed the BS 8414 and achieved the criteria set for BR 135, demonstrating that the system meets the minimum life safety requirements set out in the building regulations. Which aim to enhance the fire safety of tall buildings and improving building resilience
Summary
In summary, Dragonboard’s flame resistance and fire inhibition capabilities are critical for enhancing the safety and durability of modern buildings. Its role in slowing down and containing fires not only protects lives but also helps preserve the building’s structure, making it an essential choice for any construction project prioritising safety and resilience.
Choosing Dragonboard for your construction projects means investing in a material that goes beyond standard fire safety measures, offering a comprehensive solution that safeguards the structure, its insulation, and most importantly, the people inside.