Passive fireproofing in buildings is a requirement under the Building Code of Australia and is achieved by implementing a number of different solutions. Based on a number of factors such as the duration of fire resistance, aesthetic requirements etc. specific solutions are available for the different elements in a building.
Ductwork & Cable Trays
Protecting cables and mechanical services is required to maintain essential services in a building. Air-conditioning and ventilation ducts need to be protected to prevent the propagation of flames, fumes and smoke in buildings. The main options for protecting these assets are Vermiculite Fire Spray, Fire Wraps, Cable Coatings or Fire rated boards. The choice is made depending on the position of the ductwork and cable trays, the duration of fire protection required and the complexity associated with the installation work.If a cable trays continues through a fire rated wall, then it requires to be insulated for a length of 800mm on both sides of the fire wall. This is achieved by wrapping and securing a fire rated blanket around the cable tray.
Fire Spray
Since ductwork in buildings change shape and direction, fire spray is ideally suited for providing passive fire proofing. For ductwork it is necessary to fix a wire mesh around the ducts before spraying them. The wire mesh acts as reinforcement enabling a thick layer of spray to be applied. The thickness of spray applied is dependent on the duration of fire protection required. Additional information on the materials used is provided in the technical data sheets listed below.
Fire Wraps
For both ductwork and cable trays another alternative to fire spraying is wrapping them with a fire rated foil finished wrap. These wraps can provide up to two hours of fire protection. One of the benefits of using fire wrap is avoiding the need to mask around the ductwork or cable trays. Additional information on the material used is provided in the technical data sheets listed below.
Cable Coatings
For the protection of cables, a special coating can be sprayed that provides up to 1 hour of fire protection without impeding the currant carrying capacity of the cables in case of a fire. This coating is suitable for both internal and external applications and is used widely in petrochemical, marine, power stations, and offshore platforms. Additional information on the material used is provided in the technical data sheets listed below.
Fire Boards
Specifically manufactured fire boards are cut to size and installed around the ductwork and cable trays in a building. This is generally done for access panels in ductwork. Additional information on the material used is provided in the technical data sheets listed below.
Typical Fire Rating materials :- www.promat-ap.com
