Protecting the façade when fire exits openings ...
Nothing beats a practical full size test to prove a point!
The ICM was delighted to get an invitation from Ashfire to go to their works to witness a live test on a simple but effective solution to help protect the external façade when an internal fire breaks out beyond the window or door openings where it has the potential to ignite any manner of combustible cladding products.
It was excellent to see the FCAPS product demonstrated in a live test rig and perform well ... there is more on the VIDEO LINK
The rig
The rig is similar to what would be found in a burn hall to test and assess cladding systems using the BS8414 test method and BR135 assessment criteria. In a burn hall would be all the controlled measuring and data logging ─ in this rig we have the intense fire in the combustion chamber
The FCAPS deflector
The flames and intense heat energy is being effectively deflected horizontally beyond the opening ─ the smoke and flames can clearly be seen beyond the external edge of the FCAPS product ─ the energy dissipates and cools as it rises in the open air and loses intensity to ignite the wall above
Combustible Polystyrene
Directly above the combustion chamber a simple panel of highly flammable polystyrene board with a plasterboard face and built onto a timber support structure
During the test and at the point when the fire was at its fiercest in the combustion chamber a person in the observing group was able to put a hand into the space directly above the FCAPS deflector plate to prove the point!
Well done Ashfire for developing such a good product.