Fire

Fire - gypsum as nature's sprinkler

Gypsum is naturally contained in seawater. Over millions of years gypsum has been deposited naturally in seawater basins. Today gypsum is found in thick strata from which it is excavated. In terms of weight the gypsum crystal consists of 20% crystalline water, which is released in the form of steam on heating. In popular terms, gypsum contains a natural sprinkler, as the crystalline water makes gypsum products well suited for fire protection.

Gypsum is fire protective
When the gypsum is to be used for suspended ceilings, it is required to meet the stipulation of being fire protective. The requirement includes testing energy content, fire propagation and smoke formation. In certain countries the test is supplemented with a toxicity test. Danogips’ products meet the most rigorous national fire requirements and score among the best fire ratings.

Cladding classes I and II (Scandinavian requirements)
When cladding is mounted directly onto a structure, the class I or class II cladding requirement must be met. Claddings must be able to meet the temperature requirement within a space of 10 minutes, based on a given fire load. Class I claddings are used where intensified demands are made of the material’s fireprotective properties. Gypsum products are placed in class l. In Sweden and Norway suspended ceilings can additionally meet the 10 minute requirement.

Fire protection structures
Danoline gypsum products are often incorporated in structural engineering designs that need to be fire resistant. Perforated ceilings, for example, can form an integral part of designs with fire resistance of up to 30 minutes. In addition, perforated ceilings can have structures added to meet tougher fire requirements. In the UK, Danoline tiles, mounted suspended in a T-rail system, can meet the requirement of protecting a steel structure for 30 minutes. The German F30 fire class requirement is met by the product Corridor F30. This requirement stems from the German DIN standard, which is known to be one of the world’s most demanding classification systems for building and other materials.

Relevant classifications are reviewed below by country.

Europe
Material class A2-s1, d0 covers following products: Contur, Markant, Linear, Plaza, Belgravia, Tectopanel, Danopanel, Designpanel. Material class B-s1, d0 covers following products: Corridor, Combipanels, Danoline tiles, Contrapanel, Kwik-up.

Germany
Baustoffklasse nichtbrennbar, DIN 4102-1,05/98. P-MPAE- 01-656. Includes all products 13 mm thick, e.g. Plaza, Markant, Belgravia, Contur, Linear. Baustoffklasse schwer entflammbar B1, DIN 4102. Includes products 12.5 mm thick, e.g. Danotile and Combipanel. F-30 A. Unterdecke allein. Brandbeanspruchung von oben (Zwischendeckenbereich) und Unterdecke allein Brandbeanspruchung von unten (Deckenunterseite). Feuerwiderstandsklasse F30 gem. DIN 4102 ,Teil 2, Ausgabe 09/1977. Includes Corridor F30.

Finland
Construction and ignitability class REI 30. Test report no. YM275/6221/2003. Covers Danopanel, Tectopanel, Designpanel

Sweden
Tändskyddande beklädnad: Tectopanel SITAC nr 2979/80, Combipanel SITAC nr 2981/80, Markant 600 (600 x 600 mm, min. 200 mm nedpendlat) och Plaza 600 (9,5 x 600 x 600 mm för perforering Globe, Micro och 12,5 x 600 x 600 mm för perforering Quadril, min. 200 mm nedpendlat) SITAC nr 0054/02. Byggnadsdel: Danoline undertak EI30 (Tecto-, Design- och Danopanel) SITAC nr 0612/01.

Norway
K1-A ln 1. Sertificeringslicens nr. 544. covers following products: Tectopanel, Designpanel 900, Combipanel, Danopanel, Plaza, Markant, Contur and Corridor.

Denmark
Klasse 1 beklædning, MK 6.31/0426. covers following products: Tectopanel, Designpanel, Combipanel, Pind Op, Danopanel.

Last modified : Mar. 29, 2006