ALUCOBOND®, from 3A Composites GmbH, is a non-combustible, fire retardant composite panel, the result of over 20 years of research and development, and the company is developing a range of tools to not only explain their popularity with architects but also to educate about the different core materials and each’s performance with respect to fire.
Available for viewing on YouTube [www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZY0TKtUkNs], the document takes the viewer through the most important fire safety factors for ventilated cladding systems, including its supporting structure, insulation, cavity barriers, substructure and cladding.
It continues to explore in detail the fire safety factors and relates these to fire safety, with the many types Aluminium Composite Materials (ACM) and their classification – Questions 1 through to 3 explained according to each’s calorific potential, derived from its differing reaction to fire of the materials, relevant considering blanket definitions of such panels following incidents such as Grenfell Tower.
The video also explains how the ratings A through to D are defined and how its products – [ALUCOBOND®] carrying the A2 and PLUS classification – have “no significant contribution to fire” and are described as non-combustible by most countries. It explains graphically how the different core materials can impact on a cladding’s fire rating.
Additional aspects such as fire spread, such as that possible through the concealed cavity between the cladding and the insulation in the external wall – the chimney effect – and how cavity barriers can reduce the propagation of fire.
The video is just the first of many educational tools available from the 3A Composites GmbH, with a “Guide to ACM” to follow, which will focus the companies own ALUCOBOND® A2 (mineral filled core) and ALUCOBOND® PLUS (mineral filled core) products, and each’s performance in relation to fire performance with recommendations for their use.
To learn more about ALUCOBOND®, the video or to sign up for further updates about its products and services visit the company’s website at www.alucobond.com or call + 44 (0) 75 84 68 02 62.