PRODUCTS & SERVICES ADVERTORIAL
FIRE TEST FOR EXTERNAL CLADDING SYSTEMS
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New and improved testing by SIRIM QAS
xternal cladding systems used in some high-rise buildings pose a significant fire hazard as they can cause flames to spread rapidly in the event of a fire. Case in point is the infamous 2017 Grenfell Tower inferno in London, which resulted in the deaths of 79 people. Later on, after the Grenfell Tower incident local authority imposes the use of external cladding systems as requirement for Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) approval. This is because, the panel test alone is not comprehensive enough to simulate the real life situation on buildings. Following the Grenfell Tower incident, UK-based Building Research Establishment (BRE), a world leading multi-disciplinary building science centre, has proposed an improved testing method on fire safety that complies with the British Standards Institution (BSI). Previously, buildings seeking CCC accreditation are commonly inspected on the type of materials used, under the BS 476 part 6: Fire Propagation Test and BS 476 part 7: Surface Spread of Flame Test. The new and improved tests for cladding systems are BS 8414 1:2015+A1:2017 for masonry face and BS 84142:2015+A1:2017 for structural steel frame, the latest standards developed by BSI in 2015 and amended in June 2017. The new standards, which are being adopted by Malaysia, will represent a realistic fire safety risk pose by a cladding system – all of which will be reproduced in SIRIM’s test lab facilities at Rasa, Hulu Selangor. The competency of our testing services personnel is assured as all of them are trained at BRE and Royal
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Low density timber softwood - Pinus silvestris.
Holloway, University of London. The BS8414-1 and BS8414-2 tests will use low density timber softwood called Pinus silvestris as a source of fire, while a third party, a qualified inspector from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health will conduct the field inspection to check on the smoke level during the commissioning test to ensure on air pollution control. To conduct the test, when the fire is lighted, temperatures at drilled holes in the installed cladding system will be
recorded; the temperature will be taken at 2.5-metre point (Level 1) and 5-metre point (Level 2). Based on the test results, a guideline will be developed by Fire and Rescue Department and SIRIM on fire performance. To date, SIRIM QAS received clients for the cladding systems testing from various part of the world including the Middle East, Singapore and Australia. Each test will take about three weeks and they expected to complete 24 tests per annum.
