Which parts of buildings is fire insulation applied to?
Fire insulation in buildings can be applied in various areas depending on the type of the building, its structure, and its intended use. However, the primary purpose of fire insulation is generally to contain the fire within the area of origin for a certain period, allowing people to safely evacuate and providing time for fire crews to respond.Fire insulation should be implemented in areas with a high likelihood of fire and where evacuation is critical. These areas should be insulated according to current regulations and safety standards within a certain framework.
Key areas where fire insulation is necessary include:
Fire Compartments:
Regulations require that walls and floors of areas shared by two or more buildings, such as boiler rooms, parking garages, main electrical distribution rooms, transformer stations, medium voltage centers, generator rooms, and other enclosed areas with a fire hazard, must have fire compartment wall properties.
However, fire compartments are not limited to the areas specified in the regulations. Depending on the fire evacuation plans of the building, any section with a high fire risk can be designated as a compartment. To prevent the spread of fire and ensure safe evacuation, the walls, ceilings, and floors of these compartment areas should be made fire-resistant for at least 60 minutes.
The fire resistance of the walls and floors in fire compartments can vary based on the building's intended use, the number of floors, and the areas where fire-risk equipment is located. The minimum fire resistance durations set by current regulations are:
- Residential, office, and commercial buildings: At least 60 minutes
- Industrial facilities and high-risk areas: At least 90-120 minutes
- High-rise buildings, hospitals, and shopping centers: At least 120 minutes
Escape Corridors:
No combustible materials can be used on the walls, ceilings, and floors of escape stairways. These stairways must be separated from other areas by walls resistant to fire for at least 120 minutes and doors resistant to fire and smoke for at least 90 minutes.
When separating different fire load areas within the same building or between two buildings, vertical elements that stop the progression and spread of fire for a certain period are called fire walls.
Fire walls should not have any holes or gaps. However, if gaps such as doors or fixed light windows are unavoidable, these structural elements must be as fire-resistant as half the duration of the fire wall. Doors should close automatically and be smoke-proof.
When utilities such as water, electricity, heating, and ventilation pass through a fire wall, the surrounding gaps must be insulated to be as resistant to fire and smoke as the fire wall itself.
In high buildings, vertical utility shafts and flues for garbage, communications, documents, and technical equipment must have walls that are fire-resistant for at least 120 minutes and covers that are fire-resistant and smoke-proof for at least 90 minutes.
Floors:
In concrete buildings using non-precast toothed floors, the filler material placed between the teeth should be at least hard to ignite. If filler materials of the normal ignitability class are used, the system created by the filler material and ceiling covering materials together must be at least hard to ignite, and its fire resistance class must comply with Annex-3/B, certified by an accredited laboratory under relevant standards. Additionally, the details of this system must be included in the product's market documentation.
Floor coverings should be at least of normal ignitability, and in high buildings, they should be made of at least hard to ignite materials.
Insulation made of easily ignitable materials on the floor is allowed provided it is covered with at least 2 cm thick screed layer.
In buildings other than detached houses built in detached order, ceiling coverings and suspended ceilings must be made of at least hard to ignite materials.
When utilities such as water, electricity, heating, and ventilation pass through the floor, the surrounding gaps must be insulated to be as resistant to fire and smoke as the floor's fire resistance duration.
Facades:
In buildings taller than 28.50 meters, exterior facades must be made of hard to ignite materials, while in other buildings, they should be made of at least hard to ignite materials.
To prevent flames from spreading from one floor to another, a surface filled with fire-resistant facade elements at least 100 cm high should be created between unprotected gaps such as windows, or automatic sprinkler heads should be placed inside the facade at intervals of no more than 2 meters and no farther than 1.5 meters from the facade.
Traditional Facade Systems:
In buildings shorter than 28.50 m with an exterior of hard to ignite material or system, the first 1.5 meters above the natural or leveled ground level must be completely covered with non-combustible material.
Additionally, in buildings taller than 6.50 meters, the sides of windows and similar openings must be covered with non-combustible material at least 15 cm wide on the sides and at least 30 cm wide at the top to create fire barriers.
Cladding Facade Systems:
In buildings with open or ventilated cladding facade systems, the facade and insulation materials used must be at least hard to ignite.
Roofs:
Roof coverings should be made of BROOF class materials, and the surface or insulation underneath the roof covering should also be made of at least hard to ignite materials.
However, if completely non-combustible materials are used for the roof covering, the surface applied on top of this covering may be made of materials of at least normal ignitability.
While the roof covering provides fire resistance, the heat spread underneath during a fire could cause the insulation material to ignite. Therefore, regardless of the building's height, it is recommended that both the roof covering and the surface underneath be made of non-combustible materials.
Electromechanical System Transitions:
Fire-insulated fire compartments, fire walls, and escape corridors are designed to allow people to safely exit the environment. In these areas, high-level insulation is targeted to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to other areas in case of a fire.
Therefore, it is mandatory to insulate the gaps created at the transition points of electromechanical system elements entering these areas in both horizontal and vertical directions. This ensures a safe environment by providing airtight protection against smoke, fire, and heat.