Test of external cladding materials by BRE Global
BRE Global as one of independent and leading company involved in the development and implementation of the ecological standards for protection of nature environment and surroundings from fires, negative impact of business entities’ activity, proposes the certified services and own developments for companies at global level. The scientists and specialists of BRE Global permanently carry out the investigations, researches and supervision, bring new ideas and innovations, provide consultations and presentations for sustain an optimal status of surroundings and nature environment. BRE Global organization develops the standards oriented on fire safety, safety of nature environment and planet in general, management systems, trainings, tests and certification of specialists.
The main standard developed by BRE Global is BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a way of voluntary evaluation of ecological efficiency and rank of energy expenses of building constructions. BREEAM procedure founded on the mode of assessment, determination of notional value and certification of major construction factors, which provide their ecological, economic and social stability for long-running perspective. This method was developed in 1990 by British organization BRE Global for ecological efficiency estimation of building constructions. BREEAM evaluation method addresses to line of stages of life cycle like new construction, refurbishment and operation. BREEAM method aimed to inspire designers, constructors and investors to achieve excellent results in modern green construction, implementation of technical innovations and rational use of existing resources and materials. Due to BREEAM`s attention for sustainable construction and effective resources usage, it does its certification system more attractive for investments and form ecologically stable and safe internal and external environment.
On August 2017 were carried out the researches for establishing how different cladding panels of aluminium composite material will behave in fire. Unfortunately, the reason for such experimental researches was the fire of Grenfell Tower residential building in London. The fire began at midnight when almost all occupants of residential building were sleeping, because many occupants were affected. The causes of the fire today are unknown, but the corresponded authorities appointed the investigation. Experts rely on the fact that most likely, the construction materials used during the construction and repair did not meet the requirements of construction norms and standards.
Therefore, the high-qualified engineers and technologists decided testing the different types of heat-shielding materials (fillers) in combination with cladding panels of aluminium composite material. In total seven tests were conducted. For these tests were used the following heat-shielding and insulating materials as rigid poliisocyanurate foam and non-combustible stone wool, fire-retardant polyethylene filler of phenolic foam and fire-retardant polyethylene filler of stone wool. The main investigated criteria – external and internal spread of fire and mechanical characteristics. According to the results of testing only two tests were successful. In other words, such fire-retardant materials as low flammable poliisocyanurate foam and stone wool comply the requirements of standard BR 135. Other tested materials have not passed the test and characterized by the high level of occurrence the fire.
The presence of national and foreign partners in the sphere of ecology and considerable experience in the sphere of environmental protection provide advantage for MCL, LLC over their competitors in the process of conducting certification according to the international requirements.