'Today's popular façades are made with cheap and insulation that is not resistant to fire'

EPS facades are the most used and have a cheap insulation that is flammable. In the fire, they act deplorably, while those who use non-inflammable insulation, such as stone wool, fire damages only the final layer ...

Author: Paula Osojnik
Friday, 16.06.2017. U 08:29

http://www.24sata.hr/news/danas-su-popularne-fasade-s-jeftinom-i-gorivom-izolacijom-528781

Two days after the terrible fire in London, the question is whether the tragedy could have been avoided. It is increasingly speculated that the faulty façade system has caused unstoppable fire spread along the building. Stanford London Skyscrapers, but also experts, reportedly repeatedly complained to government institutions about the state of the building and the high risk of fire.

The Grenfell tower was built in 1974 and renovated last year. Fire-resistant panels and fire-fighting system had to be in accordance with regulations. Rydon, who carried out the work, said everything was done by rules, but the owner is hiding from the media from yesterday.

Firefighters and architects disagree with this interpretation. They argue that the spread of the fire was fostered by the fact that the 24-storey building was covered with easily inflammable material, which caused the fire to expand rapidly.

The material was allegedly set to make the building "look better compared to luxurious buildings" and was full of cavities.

Experts from the Department of Materials at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Zagreb stated that façade systems often use flammable materials, all because to improve energy efficiency, reduced water and air penetration and because of aesthetics.

"I do not know exactly what material was used on that tower, but I saw that lightweight insulating hanging panels were used. If that were sheet steel panels, the fire is expanding very rapidly and the object is burning rapidly - says Ivana Banjad Pečur from the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Two years ago, experts from the faculty in cooperation with Fire Safe Europe and the Croatian Fire Protection Association have demonstrated that façades can significantly affect the spread of fire.

- Today, popular EPS facades are the most used and have a cheap inflammable insulation.

They are deficient in the fire, while in those which use non-inflammable insulation, such as stone wool, the fire only damages the final layer - they concluded. In the last few years, in Croatia, new legislation has been put in place for which the Faculty of Civil Engineering considers to be good, but they say that there is a need for some improvements.

- It is necessary to examine the whole structure in fire, not just the behavior of certain materials. It is essential to install the alarm and protection using non-combustible materials. Insulation materials can also be used, but they must have a fire spread prevention category - our interlocutors concluded.

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IZAKOVIC