- Author
-
Moss, A. G.
- Title
- Facade Fire Spread in Multi-Storey Buildings. Study Report.
- Coporate
- Building Research Association of New Zealand, Judgeford
- Report
-
BRANZ Study Report SR32
October 1990
59 p.
- Keywords
-
fire spread
|
cladding
|
curtain walls
|
walls
|
fire barriers
|
flame spread
|
high rise buildings
|
standards
|
regulations
- Identifiers
- external walls; facade; multi-storey buildings; spandres
- Abstract
- The advent of curtain wall cladding systems in multi-storey buildings has brought with it problems in preventing fire and smoke spreading from the fire floor to the floors above through the windows, or the gap which sometimes exists between the curtain wall and the floor of the structure. This paper reviews the current knowledge and research on fire spread in this manner, identifying the mechanisms of spread and possible methods to prevent or restrict it. A comparison is made between the current New Zealand code, NZS 1900 Chapter 5 1988, and those of some other countries as well as comparing current and future test methods in these countries. A method for calculating the flame height out of windows and the thermal exposure of the wall above is also investigated.