Challenges for fire safety in etic systems with polystyrene insulation
- Several fires involving external thermal insulating (ETIC) systems with polystyrene in Germany started an extensive discussion about fire safety of such systems. The Frankfurt fire service started to collect reports about real fire cases which involved ETICS with polystyrene two years ago. This collection shows that especially fires, which started in front of the buildings led to more severe fires of the facades than fires inside the buildings. In several fires the ignition sources were burning waste containers. Three of the real cases are discussed in more detail: a serious fire in Frankfurt on a building site and two fires of apartment buildings, which developed quite differently. Additionally the plastic waste containers, which started several fires are investigated regarding ignitability and heat release rates. The investigation shows that plastic waste containers are very effective as ignition source and that the usual placement directly in front of combustible facades can be aSeveral fires involving external thermal insulating (ETIC) systems with polystyrene in Germany started an extensive discussion about fire safety of such systems. The Frankfurt fire service started to collect reports about real fire cases which involved ETICS with polystyrene two years ago. This collection shows that especially fires, which started in front of the buildings led to more severe fires of the facades than fires inside the buildings. In several fires the ignition sources were burning waste containers. Three of the real cases are discussed in more detail: a serious fire in Frankfurt on a building site and two fires of apartment buildings, which developed quite differently. Additionally the plastic waste containers, which started several fires are investigated regarding ignitability and heat release rates. The investigation shows that plastic waste containers are very effective as ignition source and that the usual placement directly in front of combustible facades can be a problem for fire safety. Moving these containers and unintentional contact with the facade can lead to damage of the facade coating. These damages were investigated qualitatively and quantitative on a wide collection of buildings. After classifying the damage intermediate scale tests were performed in a modified Single Burning Item (SBI) Test. The damage of the coating was varied as well as the power of the sand bed burner of the SBI apparatus. The damage significantly influenced the fire development on the specimen. In some tests the damaged rendering of the ETIC system collapsed and resulted in a sudden fire growth: after the collapse of the rendering the whole specimen was suddenly on fire. Several effects, which could be seen in the intermediate scale tests correspond to observations which were made in the real cases. As a consequence of the investigations challenges and possible measures to enhance fire safety of ETIC systems are discussed.…
Autor*innen: | Anja Hofmann-BöllinghausORCiD, Sven Kaudelka, A. Ruhs |
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Dokumenttyp: | Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband |
Veröffentlichungsform: | Graue Literatur |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch): | Fire and materials 2015 - 14th International conference and exhibition (Proceedings) |
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2015 |
Verlag: | Interscience Communications |
Erste Seite: | 543 |
Letzte Seite: | 553 |
Freie Schlagwörter: | ETICS; Facade fires; Large and intermediate scale tests |
Veranstaltung: | Fire and materials 2015 - 14th International conference and exhibition |
Veranstaltungsort: | San Francisco, CA, USA |
Beginndatum der Veranstaltung: | 02.02.2015 |
Enddatum der Veranstaltung: | 04.02.2015 |
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 20.02.2016 |
Referierte Publikation: | Nein |