Fire Hazards of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components

This SpringerBrief presents strategies for fire mitigation based on combustible assembly systems of exterior walls. Providing background information on common exterior wall systems, the mechanisms of fire spread, and case studies, it examines the difficul

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Fire Hazards of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components

123

SpringerBriefs in Fire

Series Editor James A. Milke

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10476

Nathan White • Michael Delichatsios

Fire Hazards of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components

Nathan White CSIRO Highett, VIC, Australia

Michael Delichatsios FireSERT University of Ulster Jordanstown, Ireland

ISSN 2193-6595 ISSN 2193-6609 (electronic) SpringerBriefs in Fire ISBN 978-1-4939-2897-2 ISBN 978-1-4939-2898-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-2898-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015944257 Springer New York Heidelberg Dordrecht London © Fire Protection Research Foundation 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer Science+Business Media New York is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)

Foreword

Many combustible materials are used today in commercial wall assemblies to improve energy performance, reduce water and air infiltration, and allow for aesthetic design flexibility. These assemblies include Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS), metal composite claddings, high-pressure laminates, and weatherresistive barriers (WRB). The combustibility of the assembly components directly impacts the fire hazard. For example, the insulation component of EIFS and other emerging-related systems (e.g., Structural Insulation Finish Systems (SIFS)) is combustible foam which exhibits rapid flame spread upon fire exposure. There have been a number of documented fire incidents involving combustible exterior walls but a better understanding was needed of the specific scenarios leading to these incidents to inform current test methods and potential mitigating strategies. The Foundation initiated a project with an overall goal to develop the technical basis for fire mitigation strategies for fires involving exterior wall systems with combustible components. The goal of this first phase project