Abstract
In recent years, the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) has been applied increasingly in a lot of buildings for energy conservation purposes. However, the increased use of different combustible insulation materials in the ETICS has raised serious fire safety problems. Fires involving this type of ETICS have caused severe damage and loss. Often, the fire spread depends on the thermal material of ETICS. Products of polymeric foams or inorganic fibrous material are commonly used. Practice and case studies of researchers show that involved expanded polystyrene is the most dangerous case of the fire spread. Therefore, it is important to choose the right material. In order to limit fire spread and improve fire safety, fire barriers from were suggested being installed. These measures may include the installation of a non-combustible lintel above each opening in the facade (windows, doors) to prevent flames penetrating the insulating material. Additionally, firestop barriers can be installed horizontally over the entire facade. The fire barriers have to be made of non-combustible materials, such as mineral wool, and are required on every alternate floor in buildings. Energy renovation is a great chance to increase fire safety in buildings. Therefore, the requirements of additional fire safety and prevention are different in Europe. Currently, there are not much data available on the behaviour of different insulation materials (expanded polystyrene and mineral wool) in ETICS and their relevant characteristics during operating life and ETICS durability time. This paper cites the requirements of additional fire prevention in different European countries. Analysis of the physical properties (vapour resistance, thermal transmittance, water absorption and etc.) of the expanded polystyrene and mineral wool products of is presented. This article presents an investigation of Thermo vision of building, which was renovated three years ago and has implemented fire barriers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.17.4.16140
Highlights
Safety is one of the top European Union priorities for a sustainable society
The greatest threat in terms of uncontrolled spread of fire in buildings is the use of polymeric materials for the insulation of buildings, when the walls of the building are insulated using the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) containing expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation material or when walls of the building are assembled from multilayer panels with polyurethane insulation material inside (Sowriraajan and Dixit, 2011, Smolka et al, 2015, Deamsa and Rathib, 2011, Nishio et al 2013)
This shows that different low thermal conductivity values of EPS and mineral wool (MW) insulation materials do not have any influence on the functional operation and durability of the ETICS system
Summary
Safety is one of the top European Union priorities for a sustainable society. accidents, natural disasters, terrorist threats and consequences increase insecurity of the public socio-economic life. For public safety, especially in multi-storey residential buildings, fire prevention measures must be taken. To address this issue, the EU has formed strategic and operational programs lately, in which there are work groups examining cases of fire in buildings, looking for the ways to reduce the likelihood of this threat and making suggestions to the governments. According to the reports submitted, the focus is on the use of polymeric insulation materials produced from petroleum products (expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), rigid polyisocyanurate and polyurethane (PIR/ PUR), etc.) in building structures The greatest threat in terms of uncontrolled spread of fire in buildings is the use of polymeric (plastic) materials for the insulation of buildings, when the walls of the building are insulated using the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) containing EPS insulation material or when walls of the building are assembled from multilayer panels with polyurethane insulation material inside (Sowriraajan and Dixit, 2011, Smolka et al, 2015, Deamsa and Rathib, 2011, Nishio et al 2013)
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