Exterior Insulation Systems Achieve Full Marks in Fire Test

Fire Resistance of External Thermal Insulation Systems Proven Through Scientific Methods

In cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation and the Dr. Robert Murjahn Institute Scientific Research Centre (RMI - Turkey), full-scale fire tests designed to measure the fire performance of external facade thermal insulation systems were conducted for the first time in the country. The tests were carried out at the Kayseri İncesu Organised Industrial Zone with the participation of Selami Merdin, General Director of Professional Services at the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, representatives of TSE, academics and various sector representatives. The fire resistance of external facade thermal insulation systems commonly used in Turkey was tested for the first time using real building-scale scientific methods.  

Why Fire Resistance? Why Full-Scale Fire Tests?

Materials used in buildings must act as retardants, delays or barriers to slow down, rather than accelerate, the spread of fire during a fire. Materials and application techniques that delay fire spread between building sections exist. However, in addition to each technique or material used carrying certain additional costs, they can create additional drawbacks in terms of building lifespan, durability or safety. For this reason, instead of applications that technically maximise fire safety, applications that optimise technical and economic considerations must be identified. To identify the most optimum materials and application techniques, fire tests must be realistic and properly evaluate materials. Although the standards currently in force in our country are insufficient in this respect, correct evaluations can be made and optimum materials and application techniques can be identified through full-scale fire tests commonly conducted in many European countries.

A First: Fire Tests Through Public-Private Partnership

The fire tests conducted in cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation and the Dr. Robert Murjahn Institute represent a first in Turkey as they were conducted through public-private partnership and carried out to identify correct materials and application techniques through scientific methods. The Ministry has used scientific tests as a reference in making correct steps in the regulations for which it is responsible and has directly participated in the tests to properly evaluate the results. This cooperation demonstrates the Ministry's meticulous work and confidence in scientific findings. The tests determined the reaction to fire of various types of external facade thermal insulation systems. Selami Merdin, General Director of Professional Services, who closely monitored the tests lasting approximately 5 hours and provided comments afterwards, stated: We have tested the reliability of external facade systems in particular for an energy-efficient, sustainable and safe building. With the data we have obtained from this experiment, we will make assessments in the laws, regulations and legislation we will enact. Selami Merdin further stated: We have observed that external facade systems applied in different combinations do not cause surface flame spread and do not contribute to fire spread.

Consumers Should Rely on Scientific Results, Not Speculation

In the tests conducted on the largest scale for the first time in the country, four different types of external thermal insulation systems, each measuring 25 m² and totalling 100 m², were subjected to fire tests according to European standards. During the test, the temperature of the test surfaces at 5.5 metres height and whether flame spread occurred on the facade were observed. In the first test, external thermal insulation systems containing 5 cm EPS and in the second test, 5 cm mineral wool were tested for approximately 30 minutes each. As a result of the test, the 5 cm EPS system and the 5 cm mineral wool system demonstrated the same fire resistance performance and passed the tests. The other external thermal insulation systems containing 10 cm EPS and 12 cm EPS with a fire barrier also demonstrated the same performance as the others and passed the tests. Güneş İnan, Director of the Dr. Robert Murjahn Institute Scientific Research Centre (RMI - Turkey), stated in comments after the test: The fire resistance shown by external thermal insulation systems should not be reduced solely to the thermal insulation material used. Our tests show that fire performance is primarily determined by the plaster forming the outermost layer of the facade and the mesh embedded in the reinforcing plaster. These results highlight the importance of consumers relying on scientific results rather than unfounded information.

Correct Materials, Correct Application

Güneş İnan further stated: These tests point out to us that millions of square metres of external thermal insulation applications carried out with correct materials and correct application techniques over the last 15 years in Turkey are safe in terms of fire. The test results showed that external thermal insulation systems containing EPS can be safely used in all buildings without height restrictions or building type limitations. Important steps have been taken in recent years in our country regarding application standards and documentation of professional competency, but both our government and the private sector have responsibilities in generalising these steps. The support given to professional certification through the Vocational Competency Institution in the New Occupational Safety Package announced by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is highly meaningful. Having external thermal insulation applications carried out by certified practitioners improves both application quality and raises personal awareness regarding compliance with occupational safety rules during application. In this context, we must insist on correct materials being applied by certified practitioners. We must not allow confidence in correct applications to be eroded by incorrect applications or information without scientific basis.

The United Kingdom Example

When asked about the need for large-scale full-scale tests, Güneş İnan responded: The standards in our country and Europe are insufficient to determine the true fire resistance of external thermal insulation systems. Many countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria have been conducting such large-scale tests for many years. External thermal insulation systems in our country should also pass through these tests and through regulations prepared by the Ministry, especially in buildings with high fire risk, systems that have been successful in these tests should be permitted for use. We believe that In the United Kingdom, regulations permit the use of only facade systems that have passed these types of tests in buildings higher than 18 metres. Similar regulations based on scientific methods and tests should exist in our country. External facade thermal insulation systems that successfully pass fire tests also stand out regarding the benefits and advantages they provide to end users.

We Want to Be Followed, Not Following in Our Field

The Turkish external thermal insulation market has become Europe's largest external thermal insulation market as a result of rapid growth over the last 10 years. According to the European Association for External Thermal Insulation EAE, while 63 million m² of external thermal insulation applications were carried out in Turkey in 2013, Poland, among the closest followers, had 40 million m². Güneş İnan, providing comments on the subject, stated: The size of the external thermal insulation market, with Germany having 36 million m² of applications, indicates the importance given to energy efficiency in our country. This is extremely gratifying. Due to the market size reached, our country has come to be exemplified by European and Middle Eastern countries. This is also extremely gratifying. We do not want to stop there. We want to sustain the leadership our country has achieved in terms of market size through leadership we will achieve in technical fields. We want to be followed, not following in our field. This includes laws and regulations. External facade thermal insulation systems, which hold an important place in reaching our country's 2023 energy efficiency targets, provide end users with many benefits beyond economic gains. External facade thermal insulation systems that successfully pass fire tests also stand out regarding the benefits and advantages they provide.

Benefits and advantages of external facade thermal insulation systems:

• Thermal insulation reduces heat loss from the building, providing energy savings. • Provides approximately 50% fuel savings and recovers its cost in 2 to 5 years. • Reduces not only heating costs in winter, but also cooling costs in summer. • Provides balanced heat distribution in spaces. • Through balanced heat distribution within the building, creates a humid-free, healthy and comfortable living environment in occupied spaces. • Prevents mould growth, black stains and plaster or paint blistering resulting from condensation on internal surfaces. • Extends the structure's lifespan by ensuring durability. • Reduces building repair costs. • Improves the building's external appearance. • Reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, contributing to reduced air pollution and environmental protection. Dr. Robert Murjahn Institute Scientific Research Centre (RMI - Turkey) The Dr. Robert Murjahn Institute Scientific Research Centre (RMI - Turkey), as an accredited laboratory on paints, coatings and external facade systems, began operations in 2007 to provide test services and conduct research and development activities. As a research and testing centre, the activities of RMI – Turkey extend from laboratory analyses determining the physical and chemical properties of products within its field of expertise to large-scale tests in which the performance and durability shown by these products at real dimensions and under real climate conditions are recreated in a laboratory setting. To develop new test methods according to sector needs, RMI – Turkey participates in relevant working groups of national (TSE) and international (CEN) standardisation bodies and makes significant contributions. It transfers the experience gained from the sector to these institutions and ensures that service quality is maintained at the highest level with the experience gained from these institutions. RMI - Turkey has been accredited by the Turkish Accreditation Authority (TÜRKAK) in many tests required by the sector (Accreditation No: AB-0169-T/30 May 2008). Through its activities and position in the sector, RMI - Turkey aims to contribute to the development of current technologies and an increase in the quality of products in the sector and their environmental sensitivity.