QUALICOAT
PPC Aluminium Sheet - tested to BS 8414
ARCHITECTURAL POWDER COATINGS
THE FACTS ABOUT FIRE
By Angus Mackie - QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Chairman
There has been a great deal of discussion that has taken place of late over the combustibility of the external envelope of some of our high-rise dwellings where aluminium composite panels ( ACM ) containing flammable cores have been used . These panels are in the process of being removed and replaced to meet stringent new standards . Insurance companies , mortgage providers and other property stakeholders have also had their part to play to mitigate risk and have forced building owners to check for ACM and other issues such as areas of timber decking . All this will ensure a safer building stock for our city ’ s high-rise dwellings .
The surface spread of flame on a high-rise dwelling can cause fire to spread quickly from floor to floor and legislation is now in place to ensure construction designs slow down the spread of a fire through the building envelope , or to stop it altogether , by correctly specifying the materials used in the building project . As a result , new and refurbished buildings deemed to be high-rise , over 18m in England ( 11m in Scotland ), will be considerably safer .
Of late members of QUALICOAT UK & Ireland have seen a rising number of powder coating specifications that request an ‘ A1 ’ classification for combustibility under BS EN 13501-1 .
When traced back through to the specifier , the origin of this requirement largely stems from property stakeholders who are misguidedly attempting to mitigate their risk by exceeding the current guidance , standards and legislation currently available . This can add both complexity and costs to projects without any benefit or reduction of risk .
When applied at standard industry thicknesses , architectural Polyester Powder Coating ( PPC ) achieves an ‘ A2-s1 , d0 ’ classification . This classification is required for compliance to the amended Building Regulations 2010 ( Approved Doc B : Fire Safety ) Nov 2018 and accepted as providing the necessary protection from the surface spread of flame on high-rise construction and other legislated buildings .
Ultimately , PPC does not promote combustibility or fire spread when tested to BS EN 13501-1 . This is further supported by the testing required for London Underground approval , often lauded as a barometer of fire safety . This requires compliance to EN 45545 , where spread of flame is measured objectively ( ISO 5658-2 ) unlike BS EN 13501-1 which involves visual assessment only . Furthermore , PPC smoke production is extremely low or non-existent ( s1 ) with no flaming droplets ( d0 ). On the chart of combustibility , ‘ A2-s1 , d0 ’ sits just under the ‘ A1 ’ classification .
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