Author Topic: fire containment  (Read 3652 times)

Offline Les Potter(elementalfire)

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fire containment
« on: December 10, 2007, 09:05:27 AM »
is there a formula to calculate the length of time fire will be contained in a room that has for example lathe and plaster ( 16th century )  original and lathe and plaster ( 20th century repaired ) ceilings and walls? taking into account that the doors for example have been upgraded to fire doors?

Offline Fishy

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fire containment
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2007, 09:56:38 AM »
No - there is no "formula" that I know of that enables you to calculate this.  In any case, it's so dependent on fire load, ventilation etc it would be impracticable to do for most situations.  

You haven't said why you would want to try and do this - I assume that you're trying to show some level of equivalent fire resistance, for building control or risk reduction purposes?  The old BRE publication "Guidelines for the construction of fire resisting structural elements" (ISBN 0 85125 293 1) gives nominal fire resistance for floors protected by a 15mm minimum thickness lath and plaster ceiling and min. 37mm joists at 450mm max. centres of modified 30 minutes (i.e. 15 mins integrity) - but this only generally applies to domestic dwellings and there's nothing for walls.

There's loads of free info. on the internet from companies who'll flog you stuff to upgrade this type of construction (e.g. British Gypsum; Envirograf etc etc) and there's also quite a few info. sheets info from local authority building control if you do the right searches.

Offline kurnal

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fire containment
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2007, 11:04:03 AM »
The FPA produced a document entitled "Fire Protection in Old Buildings and Historic Town Centres" ISBN 0902167405 and three pages discuss walls and ceilings, suggesting that 15mm of plaster can be assumed to give 30 minutes fire protection provided there isnt a combustible material filling the space between the ceiling and the floor above.. In my experience with lath and plaster condition is the key. Not only must the ceiling have a good thickness of plaster- 12-15mm- it must also be free from cracks and remain well keyed to the laths. If the ceiling has been patched it indicates that it is probably not generally sound enough to be considered to have any significant fire resistance.