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Swisspearl has invested heavily in practical fire testing in recent years. The result: the manual for fire-safe facades. It is a complete reference work with validated facade constructions that meet the most stringent requirements. “As a timber frame builder, you're in the right place if you choose from the builds in this manual,” says Harold van Coesant, fire safety specialist at Swisspearl. “In terms of facades, materials and combinations, it's basically: sky is the limit.”
Fire safety of a facade revolves around the combination of materials used. A product with fire class A2 or B may be fire-safe on paper, but together with other materials it can prove quite different in practice. “That's the pitfall,” Van Coesant explains. “You have to test in the end-use situation, that is, exactly as the element is applied in construction. Only then can you be sure how the complete structure behaves in the event of a fire.”
Together with Nieman, Swisspearl took this principle to the extreme. In the Netherlands, complete wall assemblies were tested with common insulation materials such as glass wool and cellulose. Popular with sustainable builders, but also fire challenging. “By taking additional temperature measurements in the cavity during the SBI tests, we were able to get a good picture of the cavity fire momentum. To prevent propagation through the cavity, we worked with Nieman to determine a cavity break frequency based on the results. This allows the contractor to realize a fire-safe building and meet the Bbl requirements,” says Van Coesant. “The well-known Building Balance has also successfully tested our Windstopper and a whole range of various biobased insulation materials, including for residential separating walls.”
The results of several test scenarios are now compiled in the manual for fire-safe facades. Architects, contractors and precast manufacturers can find validated builds here that comply with the Bbl.
In doing so, Swisspearl offers not only knowledge but also certainty, something that is becoming increasingly important in light of the Quality Assurance Act (Wkb).
An important role in many facade buildings is played by Swisspearl Windstopper boards. These fiber cement cavity boards are water-repellent, vapor-permeable and fire-resistant, and protect the insulation behind them, even on open facades up to 20% from the surface. The Windstopper Extreme has been successfully used in Scandinavia for more than twenty years. Tests in the Netherlands confirm its performance: even the 4.5mm variant achieved 60 minutes fire resistance when used with cellulose insulation.
In addition to fire safety, Windstopper sheets provide a wind and watertight building envelope, prevent air leaks and contribute to the rigidity of HSB elements. They are also suitable as temporary cladding: up to six months (Basic) or even 12 months (Extreme).
The substantial investment in testing is now paying off. Swisspearl is increasingly approached by contractors, architects and precast manufacturers who need a fire-safe facade concept. Thanks to the fire-safe facade manual, they can immediately choose a validated structure and build with confidence. “We made a very conscious decision to put some of the responsibility on us,” says Van Coesant. “If you follow us, you avoid problems upon completion and you build demonstrably safely.”
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Built on powerful values - As a Swiss family company, we think about future generations and have been doing what we do best for decades: With curiosity, passion and drive, we transform raw materials into innovative and sustainable fiber cement products for facades, interiors and gardens. Swisspearl Group's headquarters are located [...].
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