Glidevale Protect has developed a comprehensive CPD to address the importance of fire rated wall membrane systems and how they can contribute to building safety in higher risk buildings, helping support specifiers and architects in understanding Building Regulation compliance, Approved Document B, the Building Safety Act and Gateway 2 requirements.
The CPD covers the integral role of so-called ‘hidden protectors’ – fire rated wall breather membranes used within the external facade systems and air and vapour control layers. These products play a crucial part in helping structures achieve regulatory compliance as well as being able to offer other benefits such as moisture control, airtightness and the required reaction to fire and thermal performance. The area of correct specification for applications, as well as the importance of independent testing and robust technical evidence is also explored to aid understanding of what is required to progress a project through Gateway 2 of the Building Safety Act via the Building Safety Regulator.
Glidevale Protect’s CPD examines how putting greater emphasis on specifying wall construction membranes which achieve a Class A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire rating and go beyond the current requirement for a Class B-s3, d0 membrane to be used in building heights of 11m and above, can help support long-term specifications as standards evolve and become more stringent. As requirements can vary depending on region, building height and in some cases application, Glidevale Protect’s CPD also looks at the regulatory fire safety requirements in the UK and Ireland, covering the reaction to fire requirements for membranes in addition to focusing on public sector buildings such as schools.
John Mellor, Head of Marketing at Glidevale Protect said: “Quite rightly there has been significant tightening up of fire safety regulations in recent years so with this CPD, we wanted to provide some clarity for specifiers so they can select fire rated construction wall membranes with confidence. We know that the current minimum reaction to fire requirement for an external wall membrane is Class B-s3, d0 which actually accounts for the membrane contributing a relatively high intensity of smoke production and Class B is classified as a combustible material, albeit providing a very limited contribution to fire. By going beyond the minimum requirement and specifying an independently tested Class A2 membrane system, this helps provide long-term reassurance for fire rated performance, adopting a risk-averse approach as regulations continue to evolve.”
Glidevale Protect’s fire rated ‘FR’ range consists of Protect FrameSafe FR, its Class A2-s1, d0 fire rated external wall breather membrane; Protect FrameSafe 5000 FR, its unbranded counterpart for open facade cladding applications; Protect FrameFoil FR, a Class A2-s1, d0 fire rated reflective air and vapour control layer as well as associated Class A2 tapes for both the external and internal membranes. The company’s fire rated membranes and BIM models are available on NBS Source. Glidevale Protect is also an NBS Chorus specification writing partner.
To request the CPD, visit www.glidevaleprotect.com/cpd or to find out more about Glidevale Protect’s fire rated membrane range at: www.glidevaleprotect.com/frsolutions
