Protect Yourself from a Possible Fire with Insulation

In our country, the week of 25 September is celebrated annually as "Fire Safety Week". İzocam emphasizes the importance of insulation in ensuring fire safety as part of Fire Safety Week.

Applying correct insulation in buildings in compliance with regulations—from roof to ground, between floors, from installations to partition walls, and on internal and external walls—using rock wool and glass wool products enables protection against potential fires. Under the "Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings", the importance of correct insulation is stressed to prevent loss of life and property during fires.

Potential fires that could occur in buildings, offices, schools, public buildings, factories, industrial structures, and spaces where people gather in large numbers such as hospitals, shopping malls and sports facilities can lead to tragic events. Thick insulation applied with correct materials is of great importance for protecting buildings from fire. When insulation requirements for high-rise buildings are evaluated by experts and applied by qualified professionals using correct materials and thickness, compared to requirements for buildings located between residential areas or on residential streets, this significantly reduces loss of life and property. Noting that effective insulation systems applied from ground to roof, from walls to floors and installations during construction of buildings contribute to energy savings,

İzocam General Manager Nuri Bulut;

"One of the solutions provided by insulation is Fire Safety… The rapid construction development, new projects and urban transformation opportunities in recent years need to be very well utilized for Fire Safety. In particular, the rates of loss of life and property in fires caused by unplanned urbanization can be reduced through this approach. Work should be done with a firm specializing in insulation in compliance with the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings…" he says. Emphasizing that rock wool must be the indispensable choice for exterior facades, particularly in high-rise buildings, in curtain wall and cladding applications, Bulut states, "Just as thermal insulation varies by region, fire insulation also varies depending on the height and location of buildings. The type of insulation required for high-rise buildings must be evaluated by experts separately from that required for low-rise buildings. For example, with a recent regulatory change, in buildings seven storeys or higher, for fire safety in rendered external facade thermal insulation system applications, Class A1 non-combustible rock wool becomes mandatory, and for buildings 28.5 metres or higher, it is required. When plastic products are used, application of fire barriers is mandatory. Glass wool, also Class A1, can also be safely used in curtain wall facades.

What I wish to emphasize here is that for fire safety measures to be effective, regulations alone will not suffice—correct design must also be implemented with correct materials and application," he says.

Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness on Fire Safety, Nuri Bulut states, "It is very important that those planning to purchase new homes inquire about the building's insulation details and fire safety… On the other hand, those planning to apply insulation to existing homes should also be informed about fire safety. According to the relevant regulation, the use of Class A materials classified as non-combustible in the facades and between floors of high-rise buildings has been made mandatory. In addition, to prevent the spread of a potential fire and keep damage to a minimum, fire barriers must be created at the main structural points of the building or between floors, or at points defined by relevant specialists. Particularly in high-rise buildings, in curtain wall applications, the use of mineral wools known as glass wool and rock wool, and in rendered external facade thermal insulation system (cladding) applications, the use of Cladding Rock Wool is of great importance. Glass wool and rock wool, which are resistant to high temperatures, provide high protection in fire insulation," he says. Fire losses are mostly caused by panic resulting from smoke spread and gas poisoning. Thanks to walls that do not lose their integrity during fire and do not conduct heat, sufficient time is gained to safely evacuate the building. To prevent fire spread from one area or floor to another, compartmentalization must be done on each floor. The partition wall system InWall, developed through cooperation between İzocam and Rigips, is a system that provides high fire safety in non-load-bearing walls. InWall Partition Wall Systems with EI30, EI60 and EI90 certifications provide protection for up to 90 minutes in terms of integrity and insulation in non-load-bearing walls and are particularly suitable for application in spaces where people gather in large numbers such as offices, schools, hotels, shopping malls and hospitals. InWall gains up to 90 minutes of time in case of potential fire and minimizes risks of loss of life and property.

Certified İzocam Tekiz panels provide effective solution in fire safety

İzocam, which conducts work on fire safety and develops its products against potential fires, protects with Tekiz rock wool panels holding "EI60 and E120 Fire Resistance" certification. The mineral wool filling in panels that contain no substances harmful to the environment offers effective solutions for high fire resistance, sound and thermal insulation. Mineral wool insulated roof and facade panels are produced with metal sheets on both sides. Not overlooking fire safety in roofs either, İzocam, with the Tekiz Rock Wool Roof Panel holding "REI 120 Fire Resistance Certification", gains time during fire and provides the opportunity to avoid possible major damage. Use of Tekiz Rock Wool Roof Panel in areas with high fire risk such as factories, workplaces, shopping malls and restaurants provides high fire safety.