Fire Safety and Building Codes Around the World
Under our feet and over our shoulders, hidden dangers lurk – the unseen spaces within our walls and floors create ideal paths for fire, smoke, and heat to spread. This risk exists everywhere in buildings across the world.
To combat this, and protect us from the hidden threat of fire, building codes give specific directives around passive fire protection, often in the form of cavity fire barrier requirements.
However, the standards for these barriers vary greatly depending on the region, particularly where cavity fire barriers are concerned.
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Cavity barriers
Cavity barriers are critical in preventing fire from spreading within the gaps between walls and floors.
At Tenmat, as a multinational group with representation in the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, France, Germany and Italy – as well as a global network of vendors and distributors – we have a vested interest in ensuring that our passive fire protection products meet safety standards. Worldwide.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the UK, USA, and EU approach fire safety to combat these hidden dangers.
Fire Safety Standards in the United Kingdom
In the UK, fire safety codes are designed to directly address the spread of fire in buildings and specify the use of cavity fire barriers, guidance is given in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations.
Approved Document B stipulates the required fire resistance that cavity fire barriers must provide in order to restrict the movement of fire and smoke through any cavity.
Strict guidelines are put in place which govern both the placement of the cavity barriers and the materials they are made from.
Further reading: UK Building Regulations – Approved Document B
Fire Safety Standards in the U.S.A
In The States, fire resistance requirements within construction, including provisions for fireblocking (the term given to cavity fire barriers in the US market), are outlined by the International Building Code (IBC), supplemented by NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and other NFPA standards.
Unlike the UK, in the US external wall systems, that include ventilated cavities, must be made from non-combustible materials or have passed an NFPA 285 fire test. Fireblocking (cavity fire barriers) are not required in all cases but have proven effective to limit fire and heat spread within NFPA 285 assemblies. Furthermore, some states, such as New York, have introduced tighter Building Codes requiring that fireblocking must be used within many external wall systems.
These requirements for concealed spaces and fire-resistant assemblies are regulated but to a lesser extent. This approach gives fire safety professionals more flexibility to tailor passive fire protection solutions based on fire risk assessments. NFPA standards offer guidance on materials, yet often leave the specific details of fireblocking (cavity barriers) open to interpretation.
Further reading:
NFPA 101 Code Development (Life Safety Code)
The International Building Code – ICC
Fire Safety Standards in Europe
Within the EU, the Euroclass system (EN 13501-1 and EN13501-2) for reaction to fire and fire resistance, respectively, is adopted.
The EU fire codes are general guidelines and are often referenced within national building codes. Individual countries within the EU also have national fire codes that are implemented to complement the Euroclass system. This inevitably leads to variations in requirements across countries.
There are also differences in construction methods, for example, countries such as Germany have fewer buildings with external wall cavities and other countries within Europe have a higher percentage of concrete based buildings rather than timber frame when compared to the UK.
Where cavities exist, most national building codes within Europe require some form of cavity fire barrier to limit fire spread.
Fire Safety Standards - Key Differences
- UK – Strictly regulated, both in terms of installation locations and materials used in cavity fire barriers
- U.S.A – Flexible, focusing on performance outcomes of overall systems rather than specific locations of cavity fire barriers
- Europe – A varying mix of building codes, often set at national level and differences in construction methods
Essentially, for product specifiers, procurement managers and fire safety consultants around the world, understanding and remaining compliant with the local standards is essential. This ensures fire safety and minimises risk.
This is particularly true for multinational projects, where multiple standards are likely to intersect.
How Tenmat can help you meet building code requirements
Wherever you are, whatever your project, Tenmat is here to help. Here are 5 (compelling) reasons to choose Tenmat cavity fire barriers for your next project.
Each region’s building codes vary, so should your project cross borders, it is critical that you take into account multiple building codes to avoid costly shutdowns and delays.
For instance, UK regulations differ from European regulations, and the two are not directly interchangeable. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring legal compliance and safety in global projects.
For further details, you can explore the sources linked above. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us for information and advice.
