The Italian National Guidelines for the fire safety of facades

Mazziotti, Lamberto; Cancelliere, P.

doi:10.1051/matecconf/20130901005

Cited by 3 publications

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“…The impact of chemical substances emitted in the process of EPS combustion can be compared to hazardous substances and evaluated as a threat. On this basis, a majority of EU Member States drafted and enacted at the national level structural measures used in façade construction, where thermal insulation materials of low reaction to fire class (Euroclass E) are used in order to minimise the possible spread of fire and maximize fire safety (Kumm et al 2013, Lamberto and Cancelliere, 2013, Stromgren et al 2013, Yoo et al 2013. Analysis of national regulations of European countries, which allow or prohibit installation of ETICS systems in reaction to fire class B-s3, d0 or lower during refurbishment of residential multi-storey house (12 floors / >36 m height) without implementation of additional fire safety elements or testing (e.g.…”

Section: Regulations and Previous Fire Safety Experiencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Fire Spread Prevention Measures in ETICS and their Influence on Durability

Šadauskienė¹,

Vasylius²,

Buska³

et al. 2017

Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering

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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 noncombustible lintel above each opening in the façade (windows, doors) to prevent flames penetrating the insulating material. Additionally, firestop barriers can be installed horizontally over the entire façade. 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 thermographic research of building, which was renovated three years ago and has implemented fire barriers.

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Section: Regulations and Previous Fire Safety Experiencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Fire Spread Prevention Measures in ETICS and their Influence on Durability

Šadauskienė¹,

Vasylius²,

Buska³

et al. 2017

Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering

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“…The new building façade and curtain wall topologies 05001-p. 4 could overwhelms concerns for fire safety, therefore the Italian National fire service has released a Fire Code Guideline in order to address the fire safety design for an high rise building façade [13].…”

Section: Matec Web Of Conferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire risk related to the use of PV systems in building facades

Mazziotti

Cancelliere

Paduano

et al. 2016

MATEC Web of Conferences

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Abstract. Nowadays the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings is not only related to the solar energy conversion into electrical one, but these PV modules or panels could also be used with aesthetic features or, even more, as thermal protection systems in building facades.Thanks to the technical development of the photovoltaic industry, PV system can easily be architectonically integrated into building construction elements such as roofs, vertical façade components, both with opaque or transparent surfaces. Furthermore, PV construction facades elements could also be provided by openings like doors or windows.Accident analysis show that the use of PV systems as construction elements could increase the risk of fire in buildings. In fact, international and National data report a growing number of fire caused by PV system applied or integrated in buildings. The Italian National Fire Service, that is the Authority having jurisdiction for fire safety in buildings (in Italy), in 2012 has released a Guideline in order to asses and mitigate the risk of fire when a PV system is put in place on a building as a façade or as a roof. The Guideline addresses not only the reduction of the PV fire ignitions causes and the aspects related to the fire spread due to the combustible parts that constitute PV modules or panels, but also take into account the safety of both the maintenance personnel and the rescue teams. This paper focuses on the fire safety aspects related to the use of fire PV panels and systems in building facades, showing some interesting experimental data related to the fire behaviour of these components and underlining the factors that promote the spread of fire, like the high operating temperature of the PV system itself.

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“…The damage caused in case of fire can thus become considerable, due to greater fire spread, with additional risks for building occupants and endangering rescue team safety, including social, economic, and environmental consequences. [1][2][3] Several fires involving external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) with polystyrene foam expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation in Germany led to an extensive discussion and German building authorities called for tests in a fire scenario representing a burning waste container. As these tests revealed weaknesses, measures were introduced to enhance the systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new test method to determine the fire behavior of façades with etic system

et al. 2020

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New building high-energy efficiency requirements have introduced a significant utilization of combustible materials as thermal insulation in building envelopes and especially in façades. The damage occurring in case of fire can thus become considerable, due to greater fire spread. Risks for building occupants and unsafety for rescue team are added to social, economic, and environmental consequences. Despite the fire behavior of the single thermal insulation materials is known, the fire performance of the finished façade system is not yet predictable.This paper describes a proposal of a new medium-scale test method to evaluate the fire behavior for façades with external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). The project aimed to identify a test protocol conceived to be repeatable, versatile, and able to provide the relevant evaluation fire hazard quantities required for performing a fire risk assessment. Furthermore, the fire hazardous quantities collected during the test could also be useful for a fire performance-based design using fire safety engineering to define building fire safety requirements, occupant evacuation systems, the safety of rescue teams intervention and for estimating residual damage on the building and the adjacent ones after the outbreak of a fire.

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The Italian National Guidelines for the fire safety of facades

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Analysis of Fire Spread Prevention Measures in ETICS and their Influence on Durability

Analysis of Fire Spread Prevention Measures in ETICS and their Influence on Durability

Fire risk related to the use of PV systems in building facades

A new test method to determine the fire behavior of façades with etic system

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