Fiber cement demonstrated fireproof

Determining the fire safety of a facade from the fire class of each individual product leads in many cases to the wrong conclusion. The legislator even requires a test of the complete facade construction in end-use (end-use) to determine the fire classification. Swisspearl, manufacturer of fiber cement, is taking its responsibility and together with independent agency Peutz has tested its products in different compositions in end-use. It gives the market a clear overview of what tested performance they can expect with a particular construction.

In the past, as a manufacturer, you did a bare product test and the results were listed on the product's CE mark, begins Harold van Coesant, account manager at Swisspearl. "What we see today is that contractors and façade builders are bogged down by the fact that they have to meet the required fire rating of the façade. It is not a sum of the fire class of the individual products. Sometimes products are not tested at all in the intended application. So then they do indeed run aground and our Windstopper is often called upon. We also call it the "aspirin" for the facade. The product is increasingly being used because of its unmatched performance in terms of fire safety."

Windstopper

A major trend in construction is the far-reaching prefabrication of components and thus also the facade, Harold rightly states. "HSB elements, with or without bio-based insulation material, are extremely popular. Our Windstopper is then actually crucial to make the package fireproof. The 4.5 mm thin fiber cement board has all the ability to protect the combustible insulation behind it from fire and replaces the use of a vapor-open foil. The performance of such a thin sheet is enormous. Windstopper makes the life of any HSB builder a lot more pleasant. Incidentally, it is a product that has been around for more than 20 years and has already amply proven its added value in the Scandinavian countries. But Windstopper is also gaining popularity here. Even at DGMR's Fire Safety in a Sustainable Future Congress last March, our Windstopper was part of one of the presentations. A nice compliment."

Fire class A2

In addition to Windstopper, Swisspearl also had its range of aesthetic fiber cement boards extensively tested in common end applications that HSB builders, for example, can gratefully take advantage of. The tests were carried out under the guidance of Nieman Raadgevende Ingenieurs. Harold: "On the basis of this we had a clear construction overview drawn up in which the HSB builder can see what options he has, what performance goes with them and what the classification is in end application. And all this is complemented by 3D drawings. To give a generic example, with our fiber cement cladding on PIR insulation that originally has fire class E, in end application we still achieve a fire class B. Even without applying the Windstopper. This is because our cladding already has a fire class of A2 by nature. This also ensures that you can design and build much more economically."

In addition to being fire safe, Swisspearl's products are also sustainable. "Based on a Category 1 rating in the NMD, our products score better than known HPL alternatives," says Harold. "For example, the MKI of our Swisspearl Patina Original is €1.69 per m2, while our competitors are well above €2 per m2. And of the Windstopper Extreme 4.5 mm, the MKI is even as low as € 0.75 per m2. More and more clients appreciate our fiber cement products. For example, at 'The Performance Factory' project in Enschede, De Groot Vroomshoop makes grateful use of both our facade cladding and Windstopper, and the Luxor Theater has also received a sustainable and fire-safe makeover with our products."