Perimeter Joints Fire Protection:

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Key Learning Points:

1. Risks of Fire & Smoke spreading (statistics)

2. How to Protect the Perimeter joint
3. How to select the correct system according to testing
4. Correct Vs. Incorrect installation
5. UAE Fire Code requirements for Perimeter Joints Fire Protection

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Fire Statistics
Why must we contain Smoke, Toxic Gases and Fire?

3/4 of all fire deaths are caused by

smoke inhalation.
Source: Hall, Jr. John R. NFPA Fire Analysis & Research, Quincy, MA. Burns, Toxic Gases, and other Hazards.

Visibility: 47%of survivors caught in a fire

could not see more than 12 feet (3.6 m).
Source: NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 18th Ed. Table 1-1P. Pg.1-15.

Approximately 57% of people killed in

fires are not in the room of the fires origin.
Source: NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 18th Ed. Table 8-1P. Pg. 8-17.

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What is the leading killer in fires?

Smoke & Toxic Gases

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 How Fast Does Smoke Travel?
Consider this:

A square room 20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft has a pencil hole between

compartments.

How long will it take for the smoke to fill the room to a thickness such
that you cannot see your hands 18 inches in front of you?

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 20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft room

Pencil Hole

3 minutes
40 seconds

Smoke travels 120-420 feet per minute (36 128 m/min), under fire conditions
Source: Estimate based upon ceiling jet velocity calculations for typical ceiling heights and heat release rates.

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We cant rely on any single action or safeguard
to keep people safe

The Balanced Approach to Fire Protection

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Main Risks in Perimeter Joints:

2nd Floor
Chimney Effect
Internal Spread

Floor Slab

1st Floor
Curtain
Wall

Ground
Floor

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Main Risks in Perimeter Joints:
External Spread Leap Frog
Vision glass
3rd Floor

Spandrel panel
(glass, stone, metal...)

Mullions
2nd Floor

Transoms

1st Floor

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Main Risk in Perimeter Joints:
External Spread Leap Frog

Al Tayer Tower Sharjah 2012 Al Nasser Tower Doha 2006

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Testing Of Curtain Wall Systems:

3 Main Testing Standards:

1. ASTM E2307: Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance
of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-Story Test
Apparatus
2. EN 1364 Part 3: Fire resistance of curtain walling systems full
Configuration Fire Resistant Glazing
3. EN 1364 Part 4: Fire resistance of parts of curtain walling Non-
Fire Resistant Glazing

NFPA 285: Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire

Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall
Assemblies Containing Combustible Components

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 ASTM E2307

Standard Test Method for

Determining Fire Resistance
of Perimeter Fire Barriers
Using Intermediate-Scale,
Multi-Story Test Apparatus

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

face back

View from front face Cross-section view

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 ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Vision Glass

Transom above floor

Curtain Wall Test
Assembly Mineral wool insulation at
spandrel area

Pre-Burn Mechanical attachments

supporting insulation

Transom below floor

Mullions

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Assembly
Interior View

Pre-Burn

Thermocouples
measuring temperature
rise

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Video

LSSCWBURN.wmv

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 ASTM E2307 Test Assembly
Interior Burner Lit - Time: 0:00

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 ASTM E2307 Test Assembly
Exterior Burner Lit - Time: 0:05

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Flames Climbing
Exterior

Time: 0:15

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Melting of Mullions
&
Transoms

Time: 0:45

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Vision Glass
Breaks

Time: 2:00

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Burner Off at 2 hours

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ASTM E2307 Test Assembly

Post Test:

Close up Detail of Mullion

and Transom Damage

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 ASTM E2307 Test Assembly
Post Test Interior View

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ASTM E2307 Testing Labs

Only two labs presently perform testing in accordance with

newly developed ASTM test methods:

Northbrook, IL Elmendorf, Texas

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Test result: Laboratory listing with very precise
construction details

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NFPA 285 Testing Method

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NFPA 285 Testing Method

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Perimeter Fire Containment - Basic Design Criteria
1. Provide Backing/Reinforcement Member at
Safing Line

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Reinforcement
Member
1

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Perimeter Fire Containment - Basic Design Criteria
1. Provide Backing/Reinforcement Member at
Safing Line

2. Mechanically Attached Curtain Wall Insulation

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 Mechanically
2 Attached
Reinforcement Insulation
Member
(hangers, clips, impaling
1 pins, weld pins,)

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Perimeter Fire Containment - Basic Design Criteria
1. Provide Backing/Reinforcement Member at
Safing Line

2. Mechanically Attached Curtain Wall Insulation

3. Protect Aluminum Mullions

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 Mechanically
2 Attached Insulation

Reinforcement
Member
1

3
Protect
Mullions

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 Melting Point of
Aluminum - 1220 F1
(660 C) (9 minutes)

Sources:
1. NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 18th Ed.
Table 4-16A. Pg 4-183.
2. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection
Engineering, 1st Ed. Table 1-12.1. Pg. 1-166.
3. Owens Corning SSL I or II Fiberglas Insulation
specification sheet.

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Perimeter Fire Containment - Basic Design Criteria
1. Provide Backing/Reinforcement Member at
Safing Line

2. Mechanically Attached Curtain Wall Insulation

3. Protect Aluminum Mullions

4. Compression-fit Safing Insulation

Install Safing Impaling Clips if required per tested assembly

Vertical fiber
orientation

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 Mechanically
2 Attached Insulation
Reinforcement
Member
1

Compression Fit
Safing & Safing
3 4 Clips (if required per
Protect tested assembly)
Mullions

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Perimeter Fire Containment - Basic Design Criteria

1. Provide Backing/Reinforcement Member at

Safing Line

2. Mechanically Attached Curtain Wall Insulation

3. Compression-fit Safing Insulation - as required per tested assembly

Install Safing Impaling Clips - as required per tested assembly

4. Protect Aluminum Mullions

5. For Smoke Containment - Add Firestop Coating

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 Mechanically
2 Attached Insulation
Reinforcement
Member
1 5 Firestop
Coating
Compression Fit Safing
& Safing Clips (if required
per tested assembly)
3 4
Protect
Mullions

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 Firestop
Coating 5

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 4

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 33%

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 13mm
3.2mm

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Incorrect Installations:

Traditional Method 6mm sheet metal top and bottom, filled with mineral wool:

General Value Proposition

Can be valid when

All voids closed with Fire and

Acoustic sealant
Key Weaknesses

No movement capabilities
High Load
Slow to install
Not tested
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Incorrect Installations:

. Incorrect installation of foil boards leaves space for smoke and flames to pass
through and may fall out
. Foil may be damaged very easily
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Incorrect Installations: Fire Stop

Floor
slab

Fire Stop
Drops

Coated boards are ridged and do not

allow movement
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Overlapping:
Mastic spray

Curtain Wall
Floor Slab

13mm

Firestop expands

13mm

Wall bulges out

Heat and Flames

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Incorrect Installations:

Faade
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 UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of
Practice

2012 Edition

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 UAE Fire Code requirements:

3.2.4. Perimeter fire barriers

Exterior Curtain-wall System

3.2.4.5. Perimeter Fire Barrier System

Ratings shall be established in
accordance with ASTM E 2307 or EN
1364 Part 3 and 4 or NFPA 285 or other
equivalent tests using the Intermediate-
Scale, Multi Story Test Apparatus
(ISMA) as the test method

3.2.4.6. The system refers to all the

necessary components and conditions
in the approved firestop design, which
can include but is not limited to the gap
size, sealant or backing material depth,
and other parameters in the listing.
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 UAE Fire Code requirmeent:

6.8. Installation

6.8.1. For installation of all the systems,

installer shall strictly follow design listed
and certified systems including illustrations
therein and manufacturers installation
instructions.

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 People with complete trust
in the compartmentation

Fire with successful

compartmentation

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 Questions.?

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 THANK YOU

(Protect Yourself & Others)

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 ASTM 2307 EN 1364-3 EN 1364-4 BS 8414-1 BS 8414-2

Curtain Wall Full Full Part Part Part

Assembly
Glazing Non-Fire Fire-Rated Fire Rated & N/A Non-Fire
Rated Non-Fire Rated
Rated
Internal Curtain Wall, Curtain Wall Curtain Wall Not Not
exposure Insulation & & Gap Seal & Gap seal Evaluated as Evaluated as
Gap Seal (partially) a full system a full system

External Curtain Wall, Curtain Wall Evaluated curtain Wall, Curtain Wall,
Exposure Glazing, Partially Over- Glazing,
insulation or cladding & Composite
Composite insulation Panel
Panel

Movement Cycling N/A N/A N/A N/A

requirements
Equipments Internal & Internal OR Internal OR Internal OR Internal
External External External External Burner
Burners Burner Burner Burner

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