- Author
-
Fire Research Station
- Title
- Fire Risk from Combustible Cavity Insulation.
- Coporate
- Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, England
- Report
-
BRE Digest 294
February 1985
4 p.
- Keywords
-
insulation
|
fire hazards
|
fire tests
|
walls
|
fire safety
|
insulating materials
- Abstract
- A popular method of improving the insulation of a masonry wall is to install low density insulants in the cavity. But does the use of a combustible material introduce an unacceptable increase in fire hazard? Fire Research Station tests on walls of this type have indicated that the risk of fire spread is small and that other considerations may dominate the choice of insulant. Fire performance is primarily affected the the degree of air access to the combustion zone and most insulants will provide only a minimal contribution to fire growth if the cavity is sealed. If perimeter sealing is not possible, careful selection of insulant is essential, considering both form and composition. This digest reviews briefly the background to the tests; it discusses the performance of different insulating materials and offer a guide to selection.