Fire-Resistant Building Membranes: A Necessity in High-Rise UK Construction

Ben Pollard, Operations Director at Kent based membrane specialist Novia Ltd, talks about their approach to launching the new Novia Class A fire rated vapour control layer. Novia’s new EN 13501-1 A1 fire rated Air Leakage and Vapour Control Layer, Novia FlamePro A1 FR, further complements an extensive range of construction membranes which already includes a wide range of Air and Vapour Control Layers (AVCLs), Breathable Membranes, Gas Barriers and BS 1521 Building Papers.

In recent years, there has been a much needed rewrite of UK fire regulations, incorporating changes to the construction of high-rise buildings. Within England, these changes are covered under Approved Document B. The UK has now incorporated EN 13501-1 as the key standard for determining a products’ reaction to fire. This European norm combines a variety of product characteristics, and expresses the achieved performance as a fire class rating. Products undergo extensive testing to achieve a range of fire classifications from ‘A’ to ‘F’, with A1 non-combustible being the highest achievable classification.

Construction products with lower achieved fire classifications have a higher risk of contributing to, and/or causing the spread of, any fire outbreak throughout the external wall structure. In response to the Grenfell Fire tragedy, Regulation 7(2) banned the use of combustible materials in the construction of external walls over 18m in height, requiring materials to achieve a minimum European Class A2-s1, d0 or an A1 fire classification.

Due to the general requirements and limitations of material technology capabilities at the time of Approved Document B being amended, some partial exemptions were allowed within fire performance regulations, which included construction membranes. In regard to construction membranes, the current minimum fire classification required for constructions over 18m (within England) is Class B-s3, d0. By restricting membrane use to a minimum Class B-s3, d0 classification, the aim was to limit the spread of flame and provide very limited contribution to fires. However, since these initial changes to fire regulations came into force, there have been substantial technological advancements within the construction membrane market. Spurred on, no doubt, by the changes in fire regulations, Class A rated membranes are now freely available for membrane installations, for those who are now looking to go one step further than the minimum requirements and to future proof their building designs. Compliance to these amended fire regulations is both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility for architects, developers, and contractors.

Having a construction that is fully non-combustible is clearly the end goal for the entire construction industry, but the individual components making up an external wall still need to be functional in the end use application, in relation to air leakage, vapour control and fire safety, whilst also being mindful of the installation process, construction budgets and ever-increasing labour costs.

Introducing Novia FlamePro A1 FR

As a technical membrane specialist, Novia Ltd is pleased to introduce Novia FlamePro A1 FR; an air leakage and vapour control layer that meets the maximum possible standard for fire safety within the UK construction market, in accordance with Fire Safety: Approved Document B.

Novia already has a wide range of Class B fire rated membranes readily available and so the goal was to develop an innovative and practical product, to the maximum possible level of fire-resistance. We wanted to add a uniquely compliant A-class AVCL product to the Novia portfolio that provided significant improvements to other currently available products on the market. Novia FlamePro A1 FR achieves the maximum EN 13501-1 performance classification, offering a premium level of fire performance. By working closely with our technical team of experts, we were able to create a non-combustible, air and vapour tight product, which effectively manages air leakage and the control of moisture throughout the lifespan of the building. Novia FlamePro A1 FR has been tested free-hanging, and therefore can be installed without the requirement of a Class A fire-rated substrate.

With practicality of use in mind, Novia FlamePro A1 FR is available in a 1.48m x 50m roll width (74m²). By standardising the roll width to a size comparable with traditional AVCL wall membranes, we have minimised the number of overlaps required during the installation process, therefore reducing material wastage for both membrane and sealing tapes, and which also, reduces the associated onsite labour costs, ultimately leading to a more cost effective installation.

Novia’s commitment to innovation and safety ensures that FlamePro A1 FR is the ideal choice for specifiers and contractors looking to enhance fire protection within their projects at an economic price.

To learn more about how Novia FlamePro A1 FR can benefit your next project, contact us today or visit our website for detailed specifications and support.