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• Warrington Fire Research

Warrington Fire Research - Report for AIM Limited

The Fire Resistance Performance of AIM Linear Gap Seals, Fire Stops and Cavity Barriers in Terms of BS 476: Part 20. WFRC No. C130775

Introduction

This report provides a considered opinion regarding the fire resistance performance of various horizontal and vertical AIM rock wool linear gap seals, fire stops and cavity barriers positioned in or against concrete floors, concrete/masonry walls, external wall claddings and raised access floors.

The purpose of the seals is to maintain the fire resistance of a fire compartment wall or floor or to divide a building cavity. The details of the various seals are described in section 3 to this report.

There is no current British Standard that directly relates to the fire resistance performance of linear gap sealing systems. There is however a draft European test method prEN 1366-4 that refers to fire resistance tests for linear gap seals. Consequently, this report considers the performance of the linear gap seals with respect to the general principles of BS 476: Part 20: 1987 in conjunction with additional guidelines given in the draft European standard. The performance relates to joints with no induced movement at the joint faces.

The various seal systems are required to satisfy the adopted integrity and maximum temperature rise criteria of BS 476: Part 20: 1987 for periods of between 30 minutes and 240 minutes, depending on the size of the seal and the application.

The data referred to in Section 7 of this report has been considered for the purpose of this appraisal which has been prepared in accordance with the Fire Test Study Group Resolution No. 82: 2001.

Assumptions

It is assumed that any supporting concrete/masonry wall or concrete floor is capable of providing a fire resistance of at least that required for the seal in terms of BS 476: Part 21 or Part 22, and to effectively support the seal.

Summary of Primary Supporting Data

Test report - LPC TE 7197
This report describes an ad-hoc fire resistance test adopting the appropriate procedures and criteria of BS 476: Part 20: 1987, that was conducted on a fire stopping system intended to seal the gap between a floor and an adjacent curtain wall. The test duration was 120 minutes. The floor was simulated by a horizontal reinforced concrete slab, nominally 150mm thick, and the wall by another concrete slab, approximately 208mm thick, that was positioned alongside to leave a gap nominally 240mm wide x 1.0m long. The gap was sealed with three strips of AIM 100 Fire Barrier Slab (rock wool of 100kg/m3 nominal density), 150mm deep, two strips being 100mm wide and one strip 50mm wide. The strips had an interlocking joint at about mid-length of the gap and were installed using two steel Z-section securing clips. The performance of the fire stopping system was judged against the integrity and insulation (maximum temperature rise) criteria of BS 476: Part 20. The results obtained were as follows:

Integrity: 120 minutes
Insulation: 120 minutes

Report dated: August 1989
Report Sponsor: Acoustic and Insulation Manufacturing Ltd.

Test report - LPC TE 84925
This report describes an indicative fire resistance test adopting the appropriate procedures and criteria of BS 476: Part 20: 1987, that was conducted on five fire stops installed in openings in a 150mm-thick aerated concrete block wall. The test duration was 240 minutes. Each fire stop consisted of either AIM 100 Fire Barrier Slab or AIM 140 Fire Barrier Slab. All the fire stops were friction fitted into the openings, flush with the fire face of the wall. The performance of the fire stops was judged against the integrity and insulation (maximum temperature rise) criteria of BS 476: Part 20. The results obtained are shown in the table below

Summary of Secondary Supporting Data

BS 476: Part 20: 1987
Fire tests on building materials and structures. Part 20 Method for determination or the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles).

prEN 1366 Part 4
Fire resistance test for service installations: Part 4 Linear gap seals.

Performance of gap seals, fire stops and cavity barriers

The performance assessments arising are to be found in the individual data sheets in this handbook, pertaining to particular products, advising on the application and limitation of each. A full copy of Warrington Report C130775 will be made available to specifying authorities upon request to AIM Ltd.

Seal No.	Sealant	Gap size - mm		Seal depth mm	Insulation - mins		Integrity - mins
	Name	Height	Width		Edge	Centre
a	AIM EHD	150	150	75	170	236	240
b	AIM standard	150	150	75	130	160	240
c	AIM EHD	200	300	100	240	240	240
d	AIM standard	200	300	100	215	240	240
e	AIM EHD 25	300	100	240	240	240

Report LPC TE 84925 dated 1 July 1994. Sponsor Acoustic and Insulation Manufacturing