A number of fires in buildings where insulated
core panels have been used extensively in the
fabric of the building have highlighted the
particular dangers that may be associated with
this form of construction, i.e. where the fabric of
the building can contribute to the fire harzard.
In a fire the following may occur:
• early buckling and falling away of the
facing materials;
• burning of the combustible insulating
material;
• production of large quantities of dense,
toxic smoke;
• rapid heat generation;
• early loss of structural strength can result if
the system has not been properly designed,
and this can lead to the collapse of the
wall, partition or ceiling;
• there may be cavities in older buildings
where the panels are used as an internal
envelope, enabling fire to spread unnoticed
and possibly unchecked by fire barriers.