Insulation is best known for its energy-saving benefits but it’s also an effective fire barrier. It reduces oxygen supply, prevents hidden fire spread and reduces toxic smoke and fumes.
Fiberglass insulation is naturally noncombustible and does not require any additional fire-retardant chemical treatment. It’s also acceptable as a fire block when installed with a code-approved barrier.
Reduced Oxygen Supply
Insulation keeps buildings warm and energy costs low but fire safety is also a concern. The right insulation can help keep flames out of areas where they shouldn’t be, limiting damage and giving occupants more time to escape.
To ignite, fire requires three things: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Fire-rated insulation is noncombustible or has a very low combustibility, making it difficult for flames to spread through insulated spaces.
The most common types of insulation are made from fiberglass, mineral wool, and cellulose, but some are better than others at preventing fire. Fiberglass and mineral wool have a UL Classification of UL 94 V-0, meaning they will not burn, but the flammability of cellulose depends on the backing material, which must be either a noncombustible or treated with flame retardants.
In general, cellulose insulation is manufactured from recovered paper fiber and treated with fire-retardant chemicals. It is hygroscopic, which means it will absorb moisture from the air, but the fire-retardant treatments limit the moisture it can absorb, keeping it dry and helping to prevent fungi growth.
It is possible to lower the oxygen levels in a room or space to below 15%, which helps prevent ignition and slows the rate of fire propagation. However, a reduced oxygen system is not an alternative to fire suppression systems and needs to be carefully specified and installed on a case-by-case basis.
Preventing Hidden Fire Spread
Insulation can prevent fire from spreading to combustible areas by acting as an effective barrier, which limits the advancement of flames and smoke into other parts of a building. This can provide occupants with valuable time to escape from the fire and minimize the damage caused by the fire.
The best way to ensure that insulation acts as a fire retardant is to choose products with a high Euroclass reaction to fire classification. This classification indicates how much fuel a material will add to a fire and the extent to which it contributes to the development stages of a fire. Mineral wool, fiberglass and cellulose are common types of fire resistant insulation. Foam insulation, which is sprayed into wall cavities and expands to create an effective barrier, also has good fire resistance properties.
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, these insulation materials can provide valuable fire safety benefits. However, they must be correctly specified and installed to achieve this.
When installing a fire-rated system, it is important to use a combination of these insulation materials to create an effective barrier that stops flames and hot gases from passing between rooms through holes, gaps or cracks. The system must stop these elements from passing through for a specified period to qualify as a fire-rated system. For example, the European standard BS EN 13501-1:2018 specifies a fire-rated system that will not allow flames and hot gases to pass through for 120 minutes.
Preventing Structural Failure
Insulation serves many purposes, from energy efficiency to sound attenuation. It is also a critical fire safety measure.
Fire-rated insulation is gauged by how long it maintains its structural integrity and insulation properties during a fire. It is usually required for compliance with insurance policies. Insulation materials such as fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool and rock or slag wool are all fire-rated and can be used to provide fire protection within a building’s walls.
Different insulation materials react to fire in different ways. It is important to choose a fire-rated insulation that has a low Euroclass reaction to fire classification, as well as a low flammability and smoke production index. It is also essential to ensure that the insulation is installed correctly, so gaps and voids are not created that can compromise fire resistance.
Structural failure is one of the leading causes of deaths and property damage during a fire. Structural failure can occur as a result of unanticipated loads, extreme conditions like temperature or humidity, and material deterioration.
When a structure fails, it is often due to a collapse that occurs as a result of the failure of one or more internal load bearing structural elements. This type of collapse may occur in a complete or partial collapse. The most dangerous type of collapse is progressive collapse, which occurs when the failure of one part of a building leads to the collapse of adjacent parts.
Slowing Down Fire Spread
Insulation keeps heat inside buildings and makes energy bills lower, but it can also reduce the risk of fires. Insulation can help prevent fires from spreading by limiting the amount of oxygen available to flames. It can also keep fires contained and protect structural elements by preventing them from collapsing.
It only takes 30 seconds for a small flame to spread throughout a home and into life-threatening levels of heat. This is because the typical interior of a house contains many combustibles, such as furniture, carpet and paper products. Additionally, the presence of chemicals like cleaning products, paint and pesticides can cause hotter, more aggressive fires that can quickly consume and destroy the entire structure.
A fire-resistant insulation material is made from natural or recycled materials that can resist the intense heat of a fire and delay its progression through the building. All insulating materials are given a reaction to fire classification, which helps determine how much they contribute to the development stages of a fire and whether they produce toxic fumes when burned.
Fire-resistant insulation is available in a variety of options including mineral wool, fiberglass and cellulose. The type of insulation you choose depends on your project, as well as your budget. Professional installation is critical to ensure the insulation is properly installed, creating a reliable fire barrier.