Achieving robust fire protection throughout the building envelope
A ventilated facade system with Rockpanel provides a robust solution for exterior wall constructions, ensuring effective and reliable fire resistance. Compliant with both local and European regulations, which take into account factors such as building use and height, Rockpanel cladding panels are designed to meet stringent fire safety standards.
With a thickness starting from 8 mm, Rockpanel panels in a compliant ventilated facade system comply with the European fire protection standard EN 13501-1, achieving a classification of A2-S1,d0 (non-combustible). This sets them apart from other cladding materials that may not provide the same level of fire safety. Particularly for high-rise and high-risk buildings, non-combustible building materials are often mandated and recommended.
The integration of non-combustible cladding, non-combustible insulation wool, and effective fire barriers, such as ROCKWOOL, within a ventilated facade minimizes the risk of fire propagation along the building's exterior. This combination is deemed low-risk by fire protection experts, according to the German ventilated facade association (FVHF)
Importantly, it is possible to integrated measures for improving fire resilience seamlessly without compromising design freedom. The critical factor is the careful selection of compliant building materials and components, such as Rockpanel facade cladding.
Technical enhancements for the reliability of ventilated facade construction include:
- Adoption of tested and certified fixing and board systems
- Precise calculation of wind loads and corresponding fixing distances
- Use of products resistant to corrosion and delamination
- Ensuring color stability and long-term protection for Rockpanel boards in construction
