A leading UK manufacturer of fire seals and fire stopping products, Pyroplex has a well-deserved reputation for developing highly effective safety products that are firmly endorsed with industry accreditations and comprehensive testing. To that end, the Worcestershire based company has been undertaking further testing on its CE Marked 200 Series Pipe Wraps, demonstrating the wide range of pipe sizes and pipe materials that can be protected with this product, opening up its use across a much wider, European market, where such variances exist.
Pipe wraps are an essential component in the fire safety strategy of any construction project. Where services such as water, waste and drainage are installed using plastic flammable pipes, openings are required in both floors and walls. A usual fire containment plan would incorporate the fact that walls and floors act as dividers, helping to contain the fire within a certain part of the building for a determined length of time. By installing pipes through them, the containment property is compromised and pipe wraps must be used to reinstate the fire resistance of that wall or floor.
The fire resistance tests in more detail
Pyroplex commissioned Exova Warrington Fire to undertake two further fire resistance tests during June, specifically for pipe wraps. The first was carried out in accordance with EN 1366-3 and the specimen consisted of a floor slab containing 16 multiple penetrations – each one fire stopped with Pyroplex’s CE Marked 200 Series Pipe Wraps. The result of the test was 120 minutes fire performance for all penetrations – total success for all 16 variables which included Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PVC-u, and acoustic composite pipes supplied by Rehau and Wavin.
The second scheduled test followed a week later and focused on vertical fire resistance for pipes that have penetrated walls. 16 different sizes and specifications of pipe penetrated three square metres of specimen wall, each fire stopped with Pyroplex’s CE Marked 200 Series Pipe Wraps once again. Full success was achieved a second time with 120 minutes fire performance demonstrated for all 16 different pipes.
Comments Andy Walsh, Technical Manager for Pyroplex: “Tests such as the two that Exova Warrington Fire have just carried out on our Pyroplex 200 Series Pipe Wraps are now an important and integral part of our business. Specifiers, contractors and builders need to have total confidence that the fire safety products they select will offer the determined level of fire resistance, should a fire break out. Only by specifying products backed up with industry relevant accreditations and reputable test data, can they be certain of this outcome and Pyroplex is fully committed to offer this high level of support and reassurance.
The construction industry has for some time, seen problems in both poor specification and poor installation when it comes to fire containment products. We would urge that corners should never be cut in this area and we welcome enquiries from businesses that require guidance and technical knowledge regarding the correct choice, specification and installation of fire containment products, when establishing the fire safety strategy for a construction project.”
Pipe wraps are easy to install
Fire safety products such as pipe wraps are remarkably easy to install. Choosing a wrap that is suitable for the size and specification of pipe in question, it should be wrapped around the pipe once it has been installed into position, attaching it securely with the adhesive fixings. The pipe wrap should then be pushed along the pipe and into the floor or wall cavity. At this point, the cavity can be closed and sealed with a standard filler and normal decoration can take place.
For more information, go to www.pyroplex.com
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