FIRE SAFETY & SECURITY
B2 strikes a fine balance between offering some fire resistance and at a cost that won ’ t hurt budgets – or margins .
Sealants also play a big part in ensuring the integrity of fire resistant seals and joints . These are used in reestablishing the fire-rated integrity of a wall or floor assembly compromised by the inclusion or exclusion of a penetrant . Flames and smoke can spread through the smallest of gaps causing extreme damage to buildings and even human lives . Applying an intumescent sealant to linear joints , around pipes and between cables to close all the gaps and add fire resistance . An intumescent seal slows down the burning process and does not contribute to spread of flames . Therefore , it can minimize the damage by protecting structures , giving fire fighters more time to arrive and take the fire under control as well as fireproofing escape routes allowing for efficient evacuation .
HOW DOES INTUMESCENT SEALANT WORK ?
Intumescent seals are known as means of passive fire protection , but what is an intumescent sealant in practice ? Also known as expansion sealant , intumescent sealant expands when it becomes exposed to extreme heat and can swell up to 40 times its original volume .
The sealant increases in volume but decreases in density forming a char layer . The expanded sealant does not actually catch fire , but the char burns eventually , still much more slowly than most building materials . Depending on the product formulation , application and backing material , an intumescent sealant can be resistant to fire for up to 4 hours . Buildings require different levels of fire resistance depending on their size and whether they have a residential purpose .
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Of course , it would be remiss of Bond It to highlight an issue as grave as current fire foam classification and misclassification without proposing a solution . Thankfully , there is one - and it ’ s also fairly easy to implement .
In its simplest terms , our advice would in every circumstance if you need fire protection from your foams nothing less than B1 is really acceptable as a bare minimum standard and for sealants we would recommend a fire tested sealant . Look for the standards EN1366-4 , EN1366-3 , EN ISO 10140-2 and EN13501-2 on packs - which are proof that the foams and sealants will do their job and you can be safe in the knowledge that you ’ ve chosen a true fire foam or fire rated sealant that will leave people safe in their homes , offices and other buildings .
For more information on Bond Its Fire Rated products contact our Sales Office on 01422 315300 or visit www . bonditgroup . com .
QUALITY FORGED IN FIRE !
Don ’ t risk your life ( or anyone else ’ s ) by using products which aren ’ t fit for purpose . Our fire rated foams and sealants are tried and tested to EN1366-4 , EN1366-3 , EN10140-2 and EN13501-2 .
Head Office : Unit G16 , River Bank Way , Lowfields Business Park , Elland , West Yorkshire HX5 9DN Tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 1422 315300 , Email : salesuk @ bonditgroup . com , www . bonditgroup . com
SILICONES • SEALANTS • PU FOAMS • ADHESIVES • BUILDING CHEMICALS • TILE ADHESIVES & GROUTS • PLUMBING SOLUTIONS • BITUMENS
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