Facade Materials Must Be Non-Combustible

Exterior Facade Materials Must Be Non-Combustible Experts emphasize that exterior facade insulation and cladding materials must be class A1 non-combustible, while noting that firefighting intervention becomes impossible above a certain height in high-rise buildings, underscoring the importance of internal fire suppression. Dr. Rüştü Uçan, Associate Professor and Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar University, and Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce provided assessments regarding the fire that broke out in a 24-storey residential building in Kadıköy Fikirtepe and precautions that should be taken against possible fires. Dr. Associate Professor Rüştü Uçan stated that the residential fire was alarming as the combustible exterior facade material ignited from the first to the top floor, rapidly spreading upwards and entering the apartments through windows.

Dr. Associate Professor Rüştü Uçan, noting once again the importance of not using combustible materials on the exterior facades of high-rise buildings, made the following remarks:

"Polyethylene-filled aluminium composite panels are classified as B combustibility (difficult to ignite). According to the currently valid provisions of the Building Fire Protection Regulation, use of this material is prohibited in buildings with a height exceeding 28.5 metres. These prohibited materials should be removed and disposed of. In fact, especially in high-rise buildings, we recommend using class A1 (non-combustible) materials for exterior facade insulation and cladding. The provisions under the facades section in effect as of 2007 in the Building Fire Protection Regulation should be reinstated." Dr. Associate Professor Rüştü Uçan also stressed that polyethylene-filled aluminium composite panels create a class D metal fire and cannot be extinguished with water.  

Measures must be taken to prevent fire spread to adjacent floors

Dr. Associate Professor Rüştü Uçan recalled the provisions under the "facades" section that were in effect in 2007: ARTICLE 27- (1) Exterior facades must be made of non-combustible material in high-rise buildings and, in other buildings, of at least difficult-to-ignite material. The intersections of facade elements and floor slabs with no gaps through which flames can pass shall be insulated to prevent flames from spreading to adjacent floors for the duration required to ensure floor fire resistance."  

Dr. Associate Professor Rüştü Uçan, noting that in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, a 24-storey building, all floors above the fourth floor were completely destroyed due to combustible exterior facade insulation and cladding materials, stated:

"A fire that started there due to a refrigerator motor malfunction on the fourth floor reached the combustible exterior facade, and as the combustible exterior facade material ignited, it spread along the entire facade, entered through windows, and caused the entire building to burn. This material is now being discussed by all fire scientists worldwide, particularly NFPA experts. In England alone, 1,600 additional buildings with the same exterior facade material are reported to exist."  

The Istanbul fire did not penetrate indoors

This number is higher in our country. Azerbaijan removed and disposed of all combustible exterior facade materials following a similar fire that killed 16 people. In the 2012 fire at the 34-storey Polat Tower in Istanbul, the fire similarly spread rapidly to the terrace floor due to combustible exterior facade material in a very short time. However, because there were no windows in the burnt section, the insulation material behind the exterior facade cladding was non-combustible rock wool, and behind it was a non-combustible concrete curtain wall, the fire did not penetrate indoors.  

External intervention is impossible in multi-storey buildings

Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce underscored that firefighting intervention from outside becomes a handicap and even impossible for such high-rise buildings above a certain height, continuing as follows: "Internal intervention must be conducted. For this, there are fire brigade water outlets (siamese connections) outside the building and fire brigade water intake valves on each floor. Firefighters, in addition to their personal protective equipment, take their hoses and ascend to the floor below where the fire broke out and take position. For them to ascend to this floor quickly, emergency elevators (formerly called firefighter elevators) must function. Additionally, as mentioned above, they are also used for rescue purposes."  

Lecturer Abdurrahman İnce, emphasizing that not only residences but all such high-rise buildings must be properly maintained and secure, particularly in terms of electrical appliances, listed the measures to be taken:

"Fires most often originate from heating-cooling systems and cooking processes. Apart from these, there are numerous other fire causes, including careless smoking. Not only residences but all high-rise buildings—hospitals, hotels, office buildings, dwellings—require extra measures against fire. The relevant part is that exterior facade insulation and cladding materials must be class A1 non-combustible. There is a very high risk of major fire and associated loss of life in this regard. Users of these buildings should periodically use the fire escape stairs to test them, conduct drills, and keep them always ready for use. Every precaution should be taken to prevent fire from occurring. Ventilation outlets of electrical appliances must not be blocked and air circulation must not be hindered."