Combustible Insulation in Facades

Just Google combustible facades
and sit back and watch the videos.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826
About me
 I started out as an apprentice Carpenter and
Joiner, became a Licenced Builder, then a
Building Consultant .
 I’m now an A1 Accredited Certifier with the BPB
and accredited with the AIBS as a Building
Surveyor .
 The acronym by the AIBS for a Building Surveyor
is BS......
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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My status here
 I am not representing my current employer or any other
group at this meeting. The opinions I express here are
based on my experiences, the research and information
available.
 The use and application of any material must be
assessed against the applicable Building Code and the
individual circumstances that are peculiar to the
development.
 The discussion is generic and must not be taken to apply
to any particular circumstance.
 Thanks to MC and Matthew for their assistance.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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What are we talking about?
Is it
 a composite panel ,
 a finish,
 a lining to an external wall,
 a part of an external wall,
 An attachment to an external wall, or
 insulation.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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What are they?
Sandwich (composite) panels such as:
 Aluminium Composite Materials (Panels) which are
typically two thin sheets of aluminium adhered to a
core material such as polyethylene or expanded
polystyrene (EPS)
 Outer layers may also be of steel or other metal.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Curtain wall or panel wall???
 Curtain wall means a non-loadbearing external wall
that is not a panel wall.
 Curtain wall: A curtain wall is a facade fixed to the exterior of the building and may
not be supported within frames at each storey. See Panel Wall .
 Panel wall means a non-loadbearing external wall,
in frame or similar construction, that is wholly
supported at each storey.
 Panel wall: The difference between a panel wall and a curtain wall is that a panel wall
is supported at each storey, and a curtain wall is not.
Definitions from BCA2014 and the Guide to BCA 2014
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Curtain walls and panel walls
concession for FRL
BCA Spec C1.1 Clause 2.5(d)
 Curtain walls and panel walls — A requirement
for an external wall to have a n FRL does not
apply to a curtain wall or panel wall which is of
non-combustible construction and fully protected
by automatic external wall-wetting sprinklers.
 Of course where the wall is not non-combustible,
then this concession cannot be applied without
an Alternative Solution.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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An external wall: non-combustible
requirements
Section C of the BCA at Specification C1.1 Clauses
3.1(b) and 4.1(b) states:
 (b) common walls and external walls the flooring
and floor framing of lift pits must be noncombustible.
 This requirement applies to both Type A and
Type B construction, but not Type C construction.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Relevant Performance
Requirement (PR)
The use of non-combustible external walls
relates to PR CP 2:
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(a) A building must have elements which will, to the degree necessary, avoid the spread of fire—
(i) to exits; and
(ii) to sole-occupancy units and public corridors (in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part); and
(iii) between buildings; and
(iv) in a building
The risk associated with combustible external walls is that
fire may spread vertically, and possibly more horizontally
(when considering the Bankstown fire) causing the spread
of fire in the building, reducing tenability and access to
exits. This fire spread is less controlled than the
compartmentation that resists the spread of fire between
levels, or between adjacent buildings.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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How do we know if its noncombustible
Non-combustible is a defined term:
• Non-combustible means—
(a) Applied to a material — not deemed combustible as
determined by
AS 1530.1 — Combustibility Test for Materials.
(b) Applied to construction or part of a building — constructed
wholly of materials that are not deemed combustible.
As a defined term in Section A it cannot be subject to
an Alternative Solution. The Alternative Solution is to
Performance Requirements applicable to the DTS
Provisions.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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The Certifier
• The Certifier is constrained by legislative requirements to
determine the compliance or otherwise of materials.
• Compliance with the BCA.
• Evidence of Suitability: In this instance as a defined DTS
term, “a non-combustible element”, assessed under BCA
A2.2 Evidence of suitability.
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Buildings affected by the noncombustibility requirements
Principally the BCA at Part C1 Clauses C1.1 to
C1.5 are used to determine the Type of
Construction required .
The following will be of Type B Construction:
 Class 2, 3 and 9 buildings of more than one
storey, and Class 5, 6, 7 and 8 buildings of more
than 2 stories will require non-combustible
external walls.
The addition of a single storey and two storeys
respectively will require Type A construction.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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The Attachment Question and the
Concession
 Clause 2.4 of Specification C1.1 also provides a
concession for attachments:
 (a) A combustible material may be used as a finish or lining to a wall
or roof, or in a sign, sunscreen or blind, awning, or other attachment
to a building element which has the required FRL if (i) the material is exempted under C1.10 or complies with the fire
hazard properties prescribed in Specification C1.10; and
 (ii) it is not located near or directly above a required exit so as to
make the exit unusable in a fire; and
 (iii) it does not otherwise constitute an undue risk of fire spread via
the façade of the building.
Note: I would consider that a lining traditionally is
located internally and a cladding is external.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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If it is considered an attachment
What is the form of construction used?
• If considered an attachment then the elements
behind the wall will be considered loadbearing.
• This has FRL implications out to 18 metres for
Type B construction and past 3 metres for Type A
construction.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Is it insulation
 What is it? Typically to reduce noise or heat
transmission. Various materials.
 What if it is a composite?
 What is its use? E.g. part of internal lining or an
attachment.
 Is it required to be non-combustible as it is part of an
element required to be non-combustible?
 Based on the particular applications, is it required to
have specific fire hazard properties?
 What tests are required ?
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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What about insulation
 BCA DTS: Where a wall is required to be non-
combustible, it must be wholly constructed of noncombustible elements. This appears not to be
industry practice e.g. fire rated internal walls required
to be non-combustible with timber studs.
 Are there concessions about the combustibility of
the wall but still require the insulation to be
non-combustible (e.g. Spec C1.1, 3.10 concession).
 BCA Performance: Applicable PRs for the specific
DTS matters and the applicable project.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation
June 2014
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That bit between the external wall
and the floor (1)
 Sprinklered building and for Type B construction.
 The elements between the floor slab and the
panels provide fire separation between levels.
 Where the floor is required to have an FRL and
provides separation between levels, the
separation should continue to the inside face of
the non-combustible panel.
 If no FRL does it provide a direct connection?
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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That bit between the external wall
and the floor (2)
Non-Sprinklered building - Spandrel provisions of
Type A construction in BCA Clause C2.6:
 Construction that is not less than 900 mm in height; and
extends not less than 600 mm above the upper surface
of the intervening floor; is of non-combustible material
having an FRL of not less than 60/60/60;
 If it is behind a curtain wall or panel wall and has any
gaps packed with a non-combustible material that will
withstand thermal expansion and structural movement of
the walling without the loss of seal against fire and
smoke;
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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How do we know if it’s deemed
or is “non-combustible”.
The following though not tested as noncombustible and they contain combustible
materials, are accepted for use by BCA
Clause C1.12 wherever a non-combustible
material is required
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a) Plasterboard
b) Perforated gypsum lath with a normal paper finish
c) Fibrous- plaster sheet
d) Fibre-reinforced cement sheeting
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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How do we know if its noncombustible – tests (1)
BCA Clause C1.12 provides a concession through the
Spread-of-Flame Index and or the Smoke –Developed
Index. :
• (e) Pre-finished metal sheeting having combustible surface finish not
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exceeding 1 mm thickness and where the Spread-of-Flame Index is
not greater than 0
(f) Bonded laminated materials where (i) each laminate is non-combustible; and
(ii) each adhesive layer does not exceed 1 mm in thickness; and
(iii) the total thickness of the adhesive layers does not exceed 2mm;
and
(iv) the Spread-of-Flame Index and the Smoke-Developed Index of
the laminated material as a whole does not exceed 0 and 3
respectively
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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How do we know if its noncombustible – tests (2)
The term ‘non-combustible’ is defined in the
BCA as:
 (a) Applied to a material – not deemed
combustible as determined by AS 1530.1 –
Combustibility Test for Materials.
 (b) Applied to construction or part of a
building – constructed wholly of materials
that are not deemed combustible.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Certification of the Building (1)
 As most people know, if you lock two Building
Surveyors or Accredited Certifiers in a room with
a copy of the BCA you may well have four
different opinions when the door is opened.
 To highlight this I direct you to the ongoing
responses and fallout from the Rockdale City
Council Court Case that for some redefined how
to determine Effective Height.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Certification of the Building (2)
Opinions vary –
 As an external wall cladding material complies with the
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Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA.
Determine that ACMs are ‘non-combustible’ and consider
use as compliant.
Some say the material is ‘combustible’, but apply the
concession in C1.12 and consider their use as compliant.
Some consider ACMs are ‘combustible’ and that C1.12 is
not applicable and consider the use of ACMs as noncompliant.
What's the construction of the project and where's the
evidence that it is non-combustible if necessary??
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Certification of the Building (3)
 Determination if a panel or other material is noncombustible as defined – full Test Report to AS
1530.1.
 If no test Evidence of Suitability then it must be
considered combustible and if used where the
external wall is required to be non-combustible,
then an Alternative Solution must be applied.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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What is the simple Evidence of
Suitability
• AS 1530.1-1994 sets out the requirements for a Test
Report from a Registered Testing Authority
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(a) Name and address of the testing laboratory.
(b) Name and address of the sponsor.
(c) Date of the test.
(d) Sample identification including trade name if applicable.
(e) A general description of the material tested together with the form of construction.
(f) The following statement:
‘These test results relate only to the behaviour of the test specimens of the material
under the particular conditions of the test and they are not intended to be the sole
criterion for assessing the potential fire hazard of the material in use.’
(g) Reference to this test method, AS 1530.1.
(h) A statement indicating whether or not the material was deemed combustible according
to the test criteria specified in Clause 3.4.
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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Thank you
Eric Shilson-Josling BPB1826 SFS-EA Presentation June 2014
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