Glidevale Protect launches new CPD on fire rated membranes for building safety
Glidevale Protect has developed a comprehensive new CPD to address the importance of fire rated wall membrane systems and how they can contribute to building safety in higher risk buildings, as well as to support specifiers and architects in understanding Building Regulation compliance, Approved Document B, the Building Safety Act and Gateway 2 requirements.
The CPD covers the integral role of so-called ‘hidden protectors’ – fire rated wall breather membranes used within the external façade systems and air and vapour control layers. These products play a crucial part in helping structures achieve regulatory compliance as well as being able to offer other benefits such as moisture control, airtightness, the required reaction to fire and thermal performance. The area of correct specification for applications, as well as the importance of independent testing and robust technical evidence is also explored to aid understanding of what is required to progress a project through Gateway 2 of the Building Safety Act via the Building Safety Regulator.
In the last number of years there has been a series of changes made to enforce stricter regulations relating to fire safety in buildings, including Approved Document B and the Building Safety Act. Glidevale Protect’s CPD examines how putting greater emphasis on specifying wall construction membranes which achieve a Class A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire rating and go beyond the current requirement for a Class B-s3, d0 membrane to be used in building heights of 11m and above, can help support long-term specifications as standards evolve and become more stringent.
As requirements can vary depending on region, building height and in some cases application, Glidevale Protect’s CPD presentation also looks at the regulatory fire safety requirements in the UK and Ireland, covering the reaction to fire requirements for membranes in addition to focusing on public sector buildings such as schools. By comparing the regulations in the home nations, the CPD highlights any regional variations specifiers must take into consideration.
John Mellor, Head of Marketing at Glidevale Protect said: “Quite rightly there has been significant tightening up of fire safety regulations in recent years so with this CPD, we wanted to provide some clarity for specifiers so they can select fire rated construction wall membranes with confidence. We know that the current minimum reaction to fire requirement for an external wall membrane is Class B-s3, d0 which actually accounts for the membrane contributing a relatively high intensity of smoke production and Class B is classified as a combustible material, albeit providing a very limited contribution to fire. By going beyond the minimum requirement and specifying an independently tested Class A2 membrane system, this helps provide long-term reassurance for fire rated performance, adopting a risk-averse approach as regulations continue to evolve.”
Glidevale Protect’s fire rated ‘FR’ range consists of Protect FrameSafe FR, its Class A2-s1, d0 fire rated external wall breather membrane; Protect FrameSafe 5000 FR, its unbranded counterpart for open façade cladding applications; Protect FrameFoil FR, a Class A2-s1, d0 fire rated reflective air and vapour control layer as well as associated Class A2 tapes for both the external and internal membranes. The company’s fire rated membranes and BIM models are available on NBS Source. Glidevale Protect is also an NBS Chorus specification writing partner.
