Quadcore fire demonstra­tion

Today, I had the opportunity to attend an informative presentation that provided insights into the fire reaction and fire resistance of sandwich panels. This event was organized by KIM Nederland B.V. and Isocab By Kingspan at Jansen Logistics in Urk. It highlighted significant differences between panels that, though identical in appearance, vary greatly in core material—a key factor in their fire behavior.

Core and assembly: keys to safety

The presentation emphasized that not only is the core material of the panel crucial for its fire response, but the assembly process is also a decisive factor. It can make the difference between a collapse or a controlled burn-out of a structure. A fire department representative explained the importance of having detailed information about the type of panels used, as it directly affects the firefighting tactics deployed.

Practice

The tests conducted for Quadcore to achieve its fire class of B-s1, d0 are impressive. This material is not only FM Approved, indicating a high level of risk mitigation, but it has also proven to emit almost no smoke during fires and to maintain its structural integrity for up to an hour. These features can lead to significant differences in both damage limitation and safety during fire incidents.

A highlight was the demonstration of the fire performance of various materials such as Rockwool, PUR, Quadcore, and EPS. In these tests, Quadcore emerged as the top performer.

This was an extremely educational event that underscored the importance of continuing to innovate and inform in the area of fire safety within the construction industry.