Fire stands tall with the title of the most feared natural element known to humankind and Fire-related incidents and mishaps affirm the devastation power of Fire over and over again. With high rises clustering the city skylines and new infrastructures sprawling across cities, we remain in constant danger of Fire-related incidents, now more than ever, thanks to a growing number of migrating population in the urban scenario.
The Perils of the Fire Flashover
A Fire Flashover is one of the deadliest killing mechanism which showcases significant growth and development of Fire – it is indeed the nightmare of Fire Fighters, globally. The definition of a Fire Flashover according to the NFPA 921 is “A transitional phase in the development of a compartment Fire in which surfaces exposed to thermal radiation reach its ignition temperature more or less simultaneously and Fire spreads rapidly throughout the space resulting in full room involvement or total involvement of the compartment or enclosed area.”
The Grenfell Tower Fire Tragedy of 2017
The Grenfell Tower Fire Tragedy of 2017 is an example of how a developed nation can face Fire related atrocities when there remains an absence of proper Fire-Safety related Laws and Regulations. The Fire incident was the cause for 72 deaths, earning it the title of the most serious and the deadliest structural Fire incident in the United Kingdom. Starting from a malfunctioning freezer on the fourth floor, the Fire quickly rose upwards, owing to the combustible cladding material that was a part of the building’s external insulation.
In the aftermath of this incident, the National Government of the United Kingdom has taken exemplary actions, which required all cladding materials used for building insulation to be of non-combustible nature. A nationwide warning was issued that required re-fabrication of buildings that boasted combustible insulation or cladding while it became a mandate to clad buildings with only Fire-Retardant, non-combustible cladding materials.
After the heart-wrenching incident at Grenfell, Nations all over the world started taking overnight precautions. It included Germany, evacuating buildings that have similar combustible building claddings. In Australia, the Government decided to remove all sorts of combustible building claddings while the Chamber of Engineers and the Chamber of Architects of Malta urged the Maltese Government to revise the Fire Safety norms of the country. The Government of Netherlands maintained stringent Fire Safety Procedures to combat similar incidents.
The Dangers of Toxic Smoke
Fire spreads 5X to 10X quicker today than it did in the 1950s. The release of toxic smoke from Fire incidents has the potential to kill more people than the Fire Flashover itself. In the United Kingdom, statistics unveil that more than half of the casualties are directly linked to toxic smoke release. Modern-day households are filled with combustible materials, and once they catch Fire, they release significant amounts of toxic smoke. Furniture and furnishings often catch Fire first, and due to their long burning time, they release hazardous smoke. Thick black smoke emitted from common household materials acts as choking hazard for occupants trapped in the building.
After consuming combustible items in the close vicinity, the Fire would inevitably spread laterally across the building and Facades that are made of flammable substances, and it would help the Fire to spread widely from its original start point. Fire spreading upwards makes escape more difficult for occupants and make it challenging for Fire-fighters to reach them. Dense smoke guards vision and slowly chokes people trapped in the building towards death.
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Aludecor FireWall A2 ACP – Safeguard Against Toxic Smoke
Aludecor’s FireWall A2 ACPs guarantee Smoke-free solution to the recurring problem related to Fire incidents. FireWall A2 is the highest available grade of Fire-retardant Aluminium Composite Panel in the world, which is made with more than 90% inorganic mineral content. It has Fireproof properties similar to metals. Effectively protecting high rises beyond 15 meters, Aludecor FireWall A2 ACP releases a negligible amount of heat and doesn’t contribute to flame spread at all. No toxic gases or smoke and flaming droplets are produced, and FireWall A2 ensures negligible damage to property, hassle-free evacuation, and zero chance of casualty.
The Mineral Core of FireWall A2 releases no toxic smoke, thus promising to make evacuation safer for occupants.
Aludecor FireWall A2 has Factory Production Control certification from Exova Warringtonfire of the UK (ewcl5) for reaction to fire classifications of EN 13501-1 Class A2 – s1, d0. Our FireWall A2 ACP is only available in AL45 grade.
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We are also proud to be the first Indian brand to receive the FPC (Factory Production Control) certificate from Exova Warringtonfire (UK).
Stringent Quality Control for FireWall A2 ACPs
Aludecor FireWall A2 ACPs are 100% Made in India. The indigenously researched and developed FireWall A2 ACPs go through the Smoke Density Test at our in-house Testing Labs, where we make sure that no smoke release can occur from our state-of-the-art FireWall A2 ACPs. The test checks if light passes through the smoke produced or not so that it does not blur human vision. Smoke Density Index (SDI) helps to measure the concentration of smoke emitted by burning materials. We know that smoke kills faster than Fire and causes more fatality than heat and thus we have vowed to #BeatTheFire with our innovative range of Fire-rated ACPs.
Visit us HERE to join hands and #BeatTheFire. With the right choice of Building Cladding Materials and awareness, together we can defeat the perils of Fire-related incidents.
To Fire-proof your dream spaces call us on 1800 102 0407 (Toll-free) or drop your ENQUIRY with us today!
