Mineral wool panels
What does non-combustible core mean in a wall panel with mineral wool?
Key points in brief
Mineral wool can form the non-combustible core of an insulated wall panel with a mineral wool core. However, this does not mean that all components of the complete product receive the same class as the insulation material itself. When selecting a wall, a distinction must be made between reaction to fire and fire resistance. Each of these pieces of information answers a different question regarding the behaviour of the building element. In addition to the wool, the panel contains steel facings, bonding layers and coatings. The joint may include additional seals. When assessing the product, these parts cannot be omitted and the class of the core material cannot be transferred to the whole. This is a similar error to determining the load-bearing capacity of a wall solely on the basis of the sheet thickness.
The core is one of the components of the complete panel
The wool fibres in the panels have a lamella arrangement intended for the given product. The mere presence of such a core does not yet determine the method of installation. The panel and the wall are successive levels of assessment. Only the complete set of information allows you to check whether the solution meets the required function in the building.
A1 and A2 should not be treated as interchangeable labels
Fire reaction classes describe the product’s contribution to fire development under test conditions. For complete panels with mineral wool, class A2-s1,d0, for example, may be found. The additional designations relate to smoke production and flaming droplets and particles. They do not describe the number of minutes for which the wall will remain sealed.
The s1 designation is not a statement that zero smoke is produced in every situation. Likewise, d0 does not describe all possible events in a building. The classification must be read within its scope. If you see a general “A1/A2” in an offer, ask for the exact designation of the entire panel being ordered.
EI answers a different question than reaction to fire
In fire resistance, E refers to integrity and I to insulation. The number next to the designation indicates the classification time under specified conditions. The result applies to the assembly of the separating element, not to any panel with similar wool. The construction, joints and fixings are of decisive importance in this determination.
Two panels with an identical fire reaction class may have different EI classes or may not have them declared for a given application. EI cannot be calculated from the core thickness. The required class is specified by the design, and the documentation of the selected assembly must confirm that it can be achieved.
The scope of classification includes how the wall is constructed
Check the installation direction, the permissible span and the type of supports. The thicknesses of the facings, the fixing set and the joint detail are also important. Changing one element may go beyond the confirmed scope. Equivalence of a substitute therefore requires verification, not just a similar appearance.
In a small technical back room, the junction of the wall with the roof and the floor is important. A gap left at the top does not disappear just because the panels have a good class in the datasheet. The closing detail should correspond to the entire function of the partition. Ordinary decorative finishing does not replace the solution required for fire resistance.
Openings and later alterations require inspection
Doors, glazing and service penetrations form parts of the partition. Their parameters and the manner of installation must be matched to the required function. An electrical penetration made after acceptance can change the condition of the wall. It is worth leaving the maintenance team a clear description of which partitions have a special task.
Do not use an arbitrary sealant as a substitute for the solution specified in the documentation. A product suitable for limiting water leakage does not have to fulfil a fire function. Also, replacing a door with a different leaf requires assessment. The protection resulting from the design must be maintained throughout the entire period of use.
When handing over the premises to a new user, it is worth indicating where walls with a special function are located. Otherwise, a minor alteration, such as an opening for an internet cable, may be treated as an ordinary finishing activity. Clear documentation helps direct the question to the right person before the change is made.
Verify the documents against the order
The correct declaration and documents describing the classification of interest and its scope are needed. Check the product marking, configuration and intended use. NPD in a column is not a class. It means that a given property has not been declared in that entry, so it must not be added on the basis of intuition.
In the wall specification, record the reaction to fire and the required fire resistance separately. Also leave the installation conditions. This facilitates delivery control and prevents several requirements from being replaced by a single slogan. A good description does not have to be long, but it should indicate exactly which product and which assembly have been accepted.
Short answers
Can the A1 class of the core be assigned to the entire panel?
No. The class of the core itself does not have to be the class of the complete panel. The exact classification of the product must be read from its proper documentation.
Does the reaction-to-fire class confirm the wall’s resistance for 120 minutes?
No. These are different assessments. Reaction to fire does not define the wall’s resistance in minutes. The EI class requires confirmation for the specific partition solution and installation conditions.
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