Firebar

Fire Tests Reports

FIRE TESTS 1981, 82 & 84 TO BRITISH STANDARDS, REAL FIRE, REAL BUILDINGS, REAL PEOPLE 

THE 1984 FIRE TEST INCORPORATED MASONRY AND TIMBER FRAME PARTY WALLS

NOTE: THE 1984 FIRE TEST ON MASONRY PARTY WALLS ONLY, AND THE FIRE STOPPING OF SAME, WAS CHANGED TO PERMIT THE INCORPORATION OF A TIMBER FRAME PARTY WALL. 

In the 1984 fire test, the then Irish Timber Frame Association (ITFA), and the Timber Research and Development Association UK (TRADA UK) requested that I include  for the first time a timber frame party wall.  It was also requested that the timber frame party wall be fitted / fire stopped at the abutment of same with that of the roof covering by the FireBar roof divide system.  Mr Manning responded positively, and generously agreed to the request.

THE BUILDING CONSISTED OF THREE COMPARTMENTS, INCORPORATING TWO PARTY WALLS, ONE OF MASONRY, AND THE OTHER OF TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

MASONRY PARTY WALL / ROCKFIBRE FIRE STOPPING AS PER TGD B / HOMEBOND HOUSE BUILDING MANUAL

To the left of the fire test rig as pictured / viewed below, a Masonry Party Wall was built within, and fire stopped at the abutment of same with that of the roof covering as per TGD B, and indeed as depicted in the HomeBond House Building Manual.  However, with a difference, proper rockfibre with the required fire resistance was used. 

TIMBER FRAME PARTY WALL / THE FIREBAR ROOF DIVIDE SYSTEM

To the right of the fire test rig as pictured / viewed below, a Timber Frame Party Wall was built within, and fire stopped at the abutment of same with that of the roof covering, with the FireBar Roof Divide System as requested.

THE 1984 MASONRY 'V' TIMBER FRAME FIRE TEST, WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE 1983 BBC'S "WORLD IN ACTION PROGRAMME"

Accordingly the 1984 fire test, "Masonry 'v' Timber Frame" as it became known, got under way.  The inclusion of the timber frame party wall incorporating the FireBar roof divide system was viewed by the timber frame manufacturers both here in Ireland, and the UK as an opportunity to respond to the negative findings of the 1983 BBC'S "World in Action PROGRAMME". 

The television programme exposed the poor on-site storage of the timber frame sections to weather conditions, prior to assembly and erection of same.  The BBC team also removed plaster-slabs / linings from the insides of occupied houses, which further highlighted and exposed the poor insulation, and the resulting damp / mould i.e. furry fungi, condition of the family homes as featured.  Further highlighting in the event of fire the vulnerability of such construction methods, to smoke and fire spread.   

THE TIMBER FRAME PARTY WALL WAS SUPPLIED AND ERECTED BY ITFA

The right hand party wall as viewed in the picture below, as stated, was of Timber Frame Construction, supplied and erected at that time (1984), by the Irish Timber Frame Association (ITFA), and supervised by TRADA UK, which was then fitted with the FireBar roof divide system.   

NO FIRE SPREAD

On terminating the fire test, the then Irish Institute of Research and Standards (IIRS) concluded, that the FireBar Roof Divide System performed to the fullest, and I quote, "whilst the temperature rose on the fire side of the Timber Frame party wall to over 1100c, there was no change of temperature, no smoke, no smell within the right hand compartment protected by the FireBar system".  Note: the fire test as referenced was the first of its kind in the World to incorporate a Timber Frame party / separating wall. 

HEAD TO HEAD FIRE TEST

I think you would agree the photograph as depicted, taken at 8 minutes into the fire, speaks for itself.  In this instance, the fire test was one of three such tests.  The FireBar Roof Divide System was mounted on a Timber Frame party / separating wall.  The two previous fire tests using the FireBar Roof Divide System were carried out on masonry constructed walls only.  The results were the same on all three fire tests.  The rockfibre infill party wall fire stopping detail as per TGD B, and as incorrectly copied by HomeBond, failed in all three fire tests.  Note: The FireBar Roof Divide System performed to the fullest as predicted in all three fire tests.  

Note: all three fire tests were independently witnessed and scientifically monitored by the relevant authorities here in Ireland and the UK.

FIRE TEST PICTURES / SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

The fire test as viewed was one of three such tests carried out by Noel C. Manning in 1981, 82 & 84.  In all three fire tests a terrace of 3 single story buildings / compartments were built and fire tested.  The fire tests were scientifically monitored by The Irish Institute of Research & Standards (I.I.R.S), now known as the National Standards Authority of Ireland (N.S.A.I) ref: Enterprise Ireland and witnessed by all the relevant authorities here in Ireland, and in the UK, and televised live.

The 1984 fire test was witnessed by Wicklow County Council Members / The National Fire Services / The Department of the Environment Ireland / The Building and Fire Research Establishment Bourehamwood (B.R.E) / The Timber Research & Development Association (T.R.A.D.A UK) / The Department of the Environment (UK), and filmed live by BBC's Tomorrow's World, which went out in 14 languages through out the world, and by R.T.E as a television news item.

1. Before Ignition		2. After 8 Minutes		3. After 15 Minutes

Note: The masonry party wall on the left hand side of the picture did not fail.  However, the fire stopping attached to same as per Regulations / TGD B as witnessed and seen above failed within minutes.  This was also the case in two previous fire tests carried out at the Institute of Higher Education Limerick, Ireland, in 1981 & 1982, on a terrace of three houses, similar to above incorporating two party walls of masonry construction.  The results were the same, the fire stopping of rockfibre infill attached to the left hand party wall, in all fire tests failed within minutes.

Note: The 1984 fire test incorporating a Timber Frame party wall to the right of the picture performed only because the FireBar Roof Divide System was attached to same.

DESIGNERS / SPECIFIERS / CERTIFIERS / BUILDERS / DEVELOPERS / INSURERS / THE LEGAL PROFESSION / PURCHASERS, BEWARE

ITFMA / HOMEBOND

To-date the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association and HomeBond continue to permit / certify the use of, that is where applied, the failed party wall fire stopping as referenced, and pictured above.  Such has been allowed to happen in the knowledge that they are putting people and property at risk !  See Photograph Album for further examples, reference two semi detached houses (masonry party walls), at Swords, Co Dublin / apartments Airside, Swords, Co Dublin (Timber Frame) / apartments Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.  

THE NSAI / IAB, AID AND ABET REGULATORY NON-COMPLIANCE

The NSAI / Irish Agrément Board also continue to permit / certify, similar non-descript failed party wall fire stopping as referenced, i.e. through the issuing of Irish Agrément certificates to the Irish timber frame industry, for example: see the NSAI / IAB website, certificate no. 04/0198 page 12, reference enlarged detail at the head of a compartment wall.  Note: compare same with TGD B, and more importantly compare same with the HomeBond House Building Manual, 5th edition, pg 314 ! 

Note also: Contrary to the claims made, such party wall fire stopping as referenced, and as illustrated in TGD B, and or as per the HomeBond House Building Manual, such methods simply do not work.  Therefore such is not in compliance with the intent and content of our National Mandatory Building and Fire Regulations ! 

See Photograph Album with reference to the fire that occurred in the timber frame constructed apartments at Airside, Swords, Co. Dublin.  Note: The failed party wall fire stopping at the abutment with that of the roof covering.  Note also that there were no eaves blocks in place behind the fascia board !  Such non-descript failed party wall fire stopping is as per the IAB certificate as referenced above, and not as per TGD B as claimed !     

Please note that such statements by me are statements of fact, of which evidence in support of same can be provided and indeed demonstrated in the majority of all semi detached, terrace type houses and or apartments built of timber frame construction, and or masonry throughout Ireland.

For further information on the issues as raised, please contact Noel C. Manning. 

“FIREBAR WORKS”

                     Building in the Hot Form                     
TO CONTROL STRUCTURE IS TO CONTROL FIRE SPREAD.

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