Non-combustibility of insulation materials

Here at Knauf Insulation we manufacture a large range of glass and rock mineral wool products as well as extruded polystyrene rigid foam boards which are mainly used for applications in all building types from dwellings to schools, office complexes and power stations. As such we have a wealth of experience, knowledge, expertise and test data to support and substantiate the performance and characteristics of the products we manufacture.

Glass and rock mineral wool products are predominantly manufactured from minerals. For glass mineral wool the main raw materials are recycled glass bottles, sand, soda ash and for rock mineral wool basalt, dolomite and slag from steel furnaces

Before we supply products to the market place they are subjected to a wide variety of tests to establish and substantiate their characteristics and performance as determined by the relevant British and European Standards including:

BS EN 13162: Thermal insulation products for buildings - Factory made mineral wool (MW) products - Specification

BS EN 13164: Thermal insulation products for buildings - Factory made products of extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) - Specification

BS 476 - Part 4 - Fire tests on building materials and structures. Non-combustibility test for materials

In order to demonstrate that our products are fit for the purpose for which they were intended we CE Mark them, the CE Mark is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, and a typical CE mark on an insulation product details the products dimensions, thermal performance and its reaction to fire classification.

When it comes to providing a definition for non-combustibility we need look no further than the Building Regulations which defines it as:

"Any product classified as non-combustible when tested in accordance with the requirements of BS476: Part 4: 1970 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Non-combustibility test for materials,

or;

Any product classified as Class A1¹ in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2002 - Fire classification of construction products and building elements. Classification using data from reaction to fire tests when tested to BS EN ISO 1182:2002 Reaction to fire tests for building products - Non-combustibility test and BS EN ISO 1716:2002 Reaction to fire tests for building products - Determination of the gross calorific value."

A product qualifies for a classification of non-combustible as defined by the building regulations if it meets the requirements of either of the above clauses.

You can be assured that when `Euroclass A1` or `non-combustible` is assigned to one of our glass or rock mineral wool products the products have been tested and classified by the relevant method, from the relevant standard(s) referred to above.

On the other hand the extruded polystyrene foam boards we manufacture cannot be classified as non combustible because they fail to meet either of the above requirements.

When building regulations or insurance conditions require the use of a product that is classified as non-combustible, it is important not to be confused by descriptions of insulation materials which do not precisely define the fire performance properties of the material in the way prescribed above.

¹ The Scottish Technical document extend the definition to include materials which are classified as A2 to this method

If you require more information on the fire performance of our products, please contact our Technical Advisory Centre on 01744 76 66 66 or email tech@knaufinsulation.com