Cladding Cavity Fire Barrier Explained
When installing exterior cladding systems, one crucial consideration often overlooked is fire safety. Ensuring that fire cannot spread within the building envelope is essential to meet building regulations and keep occupants safe. That’s where cladding cavity fire barriers come in.
In this post, we'll explain the importance of cladding cavity fire barriers and how these solutions from brand leader Tenmat can enhance the safety and integrity of your cladding installation.
What is a Cladding Cavity Fire Barrier?
A cladding cavity fire barrier is a fire-resistant product installed within the cavity between the exterior cladding and the structural wall of a building. These barriers are designed to prevent fire and smoke from spreading through the hidden gaps between the cladding boards and the building’s framework. Without proper fire barriers, a fire can travel unchecked through the cavity, spreading quickly to other parts of the building.
Fire barriers work by creating compartments that block the path of the fire, buying time for residents to evacuate and fire services to intervene. They are crucial for meeting building regulations, particularly in multi-storey buildings and high-risk structures, where fire safety standards are stricter.
Why Are Fire Barriers Important?
The key purpose of fire barriers is to stop a fire from spreading through the cavity behind the cladding. Since the cavity can act as a "chimney" for fire and smoke, the absence of fire barriers can lead to rapid escalation of a fire event. By compartmentalising the cavity, fire barriers significantly reduce the risk of a fire spreading across the building's facade.
Installing the right fire barriers is particularly critical for non-combustible materials like fibre cement cladding or rainscreen cladding systems, which are common in both residential and commercial projects. Even if your cladding material is fire-resistant, unprotected cavities can compromise the system’s safety.
Tenmat FF012/50 Horizontal Fire Barrier
The Tenmat FF012/50 is a high-performance horizontal fire barrier designed specifically for use in ventilated cladding cavities. Here’s how it works and why it’s an essential component for fire safety in cladding systems:
Features of Tenmat FF012/50:
Fire Resistance: The FF012/50 provides up to 120 minutes of fire resistance, ensuring that flames and smoke are effectively contained within the fire compartment.
Intumescent Technology: This fire barrier expands when exposed to heat, sealing the cavity and preventing fire from traveling vertically through the cavity.
Ventilation-Friendly: Designed for ventilated cladding systems, it allows normal airflow through the cavity under regular conditions but activates in the event of a fire.
Compliance: Fully compliant with UK building regulations and fire safety standards, including BS 476 and EN 1366-4, ensuring peace of mind for contractors and property owners.
Why Use the Tenmat FF012/50 for Horizontal Fire Protection?
In ventilated cladding systems, air needs to flow freely to prevent moisture buildup and condensation. Tenmat FF012/50 ensures ventilation while providing robust fire protection. By expanding when exposed to fire, the barrier seals off the vertical cavity, preventing fire from spreading laterally between floors or across external walls. This is especially crucial in multi-storey buildings, where fire can travel vertically if left unchecked.
Tenmat NVFB-WB Vertical Fire Barrier
Tenmat NVFB-WB is designed specifically for vertical applications in ventilated cladding cavities. Just as important as horizontal fire protection, vertical fire barriers stop the upward movement of fire through the cavity, reducing the risk of it spreading rapidly up the building.
Features of Tenmat NVFB-WB:
Vertical Fire Protection: The NVFB-WB provides fire resistance of up to 120 minutes, making it highly effective in stopping vertical fire spread through the cavity.
Non-Combustible Materials: Made from non-combustible, high-density materials that meet strict fire safety standards, ensuring that no flame or smoke can bypass the barrier.
Adaptable Design: This vertical fire barrier is flexible enough to be used in a wide variety of cladding systems, including fibre cement cladding and rainscreen cladding installations.
Easy Installation: The NVFB-WB is easy to install, making it a practical choice for contractors working on large-scale or high-rise buildings.
Why Use the Tenmat NVFB-WB for Vertical Fire Protection?
Vertical fire spread is one of the biggest dangers in multi-storey buildings, where fire can travel quickly through cladding cavities. The Tenmat NVFB-WB acts as a crucial firestop, blocking the vertical path that flames and smoke would otherwise take. This fire barrier ensures that in the event of a fire, it cannot climb unchecked up the structure, keeping other parts of the building and its occupants safer.
How to Install Tenmat FF012/50 and NVFB-WB Fire Barriers
Installing fire barriers requires precision and adherence to fire safety guidelines. Here’s a brief guide to installing the Tenmat FF012/50 and Tenmat NVFB-WB fire barriers:
Prepare the Cavity: Ensure the cavity is clean and free of debris before installing the barriers. Check for any obstructions that could affect installation.
Install the Horizontal Barrier (FF012/50): The FF012/50 should be placed horizontally, above and below all openings and at floor levels. Where possible it should be installed as a continuous barrier with the timber batten being but and stopped above and below the barrier. Where this isnt possible the Tenmat FF102/50 should be cut and installed inbetween each of the timber battens at 600mm centres. It should be securely fastened to the blockwork using at least 4no 5.0 x 60mm stainless steel fixing screws.
Install the Vertical Barrier (NVFB-WB): The NVFB-WB should be installed vertically at all openings and at all party wall locations. It is held in place using 1no 5.0 x 120mm stainless steel fixing screw and as the horizontal cladding is installed the pressure holds the Tenmat NVFB-WB in place. A small cut needs to be made to the fire barrier with a stanley knife above each board to allow the fire barrier to expand back out filling the void.
Ensure Compliance: Always follow manufacturers fixing details and verify that the product selection meets building and fire safety regulations.
Using the Tenmat FF012/50 horizontal fire barrier and Tenmat NVFB-WB vertical fire barrier is essential for ensuring comprehensive fire safety in ventilated cladding systems. These high-performance fire barriers not only meet strict fire safety standards but also offer up to 120 minutes of fire resistance, significantly reducing the risk of fire spread within cladding cavities.
Whether you’re working on a residential or commercial project, installing the correct fire barriers will enhance safety and meet regulatory requirements, ensuring that your cladding system performs optimally in the event of a fire.
For more information on cladding cavity fire barriers, view our dedicated Fire Barrier page, if you have any questions feel free to get in touch!
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