Fire-Resistant Thermal Insulation Materials Prevent the Spread of Fire

İzocam General Director Levent Gökçe stated that all materials used in insulation should be selected from non-combustible materials, and noted that non-combustible glass wool and stone wool insulation materials with high temperature resistance provide high protection in fire insulation

Non-combustible thermal insulation materials significantly reduce loss of life by preventing fire spread and the release of toxic gases. İzocam, the pioneering company in Turkey's insulation sector that introduced the term "izocam insulation" to the industry, drew attention to the vital importance of insulation material selection in fire safety. İzocam General Director Levent Gökçe, noting that in many fires, including major fires that occurred in Russia resulting in many deaths and hospital facade fires that occurred in our country, the onset and spread could largely be prevented through non-combustible thermal insulation materials, said the following: "All materials in insulation, all materials used in curtain facades should be non-combustible. Among thermal insulation materials produced in Turkey, only mineral wool products—that is, stone wool and glass wool—can be used for thermal insulation purposes in such applications. In external facade applications, selecting materials compliant with the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings is very important. For fire safety, in plastered external facade thermal insulation system applications, attention should be paid to the use of class A1 non-combustible "stone wool" and "glass wool." Where plastic-based insulation materials are used in lower buildings, fire barriers should be questioned whether they have been applied. In high-rise buildings, class A materials classified as non-combustible should be used between floors. It should not be forgotten that glass wool and stone wool insulation materials with high temperature resistance provide high protection in fire insulation.

For the safety of life and property, the use of foam-based thermal insulation materials in high-rise buildings with curtain facades must be strictly avoided.

Noting that facade coatings and insulation materials to be used in external facade cladding applications may vary depending on the building type and height, Gökçe stated, "In buildings below 28.5 metres and those we classify as 'normal buildings,' external facades can be at least 'hard to ignite'—that is, class 'C.' In these buildings, the use of foams such as EPS and XPS may be permitted. In high-rise buildings—that is, buildings with a height of 28.5 metres or more—external facades should be at least 'difficult to burn'—that is, class 'A2.' In these buildings, glass wool and stone wool should be used as thermal insulation material," he said. Despite the absence of rules on this matter in regulations, İzocam General Director Gökçe, noting that the use of non-combustible thermal insulation materials in facades and facade coatings of buildings where the risk of loss of life in fire is high, such as schools and hospitals, is of vital importance, said: "Glass wool and stone wool with non-combustible properties are materials that do not emit smoke and toxic gases during fire, and do not contribute to fire and its spread. From this perspective, they are extremely important in preventing fire spread." Levent Gökçe noted that polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) thermal insulation materials are used as filling material providing thermal insulation in sandwich panels, particularly in warehouses and industrial structures, and that We especially encounter these materials frequently in the external facades and roofs of the office sections of these structures.

The fact that the vast majority of our country's industrial facilities, which make significant contributions to our country's development and growth through production, exports and employment, have roofs and facades covered with combustible materials is a major hazard and risk.

According to the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings; in buildings with curtain facades, facade coatings must be non-combustible, and thermal insulation materials must be at least "difficult to burn." Additionally, the facade coatings and thermal insulation materials used must comply with Turkish and European standards, and products with TSE and CE certificates should be preferred," he said. There is market surveillance and inspection practice conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization for building materials; however, products not complying with standards may still be found on the market and used in projects. He noted that particularly when regulations change, existing buildings should be urgently reviewed and brought into compliance with new regulations, and similarly, ongoing projects for which tenders have been awarded should be urgently harmonized and reorganized. Noting that İzocam has recently focused on fire safety in R&D activities, Gökçe stated the following: "We emphasize at every opportunity that the use of non-combustible insulation materials with high fire resistance in places where people gather in large numbers such as shopping centers, industrial structures, sports halls, hospitals and schools is quite important, and we concentrate our work on fire resistance measurements. We know that in possible fires that may occur, non-combustible insulation materials such as glass wool and stone wool will prevent fire initiation and spread, and reduce loss of life and property. Our newest product, İzocam Partition Board, saves time in possible fires thanks to its class A1 non-combustible property, while our sandwich panel products (İzocam Tekiz) can also be seen as designed to provide effective solutions in terms of fire safety. Tekiz products with a stone wool layer in A1 non-combustibility class as insulated fill between two metal sheets provide high fire safety. İzocam Tekiz Stone Wool Insulated Panel holds a fire-resistant panel (EI60) certificate with 60 minutes fire resistance in integrity and insulation criteria and fire-resistant panel (E120) certificate with integrity criteria; With Stone Wool Roof Panel, products holding a fire-resistant panel certificate (REI120) with 120 minutes fire resistance in load-bearing, integrity and insulation criteria. Manto Stone Wool R+ and Glass Wool Facade Panel non-combustible thermal insulation products also provide fire safety alongside energy-efficient facade insulation with their low thermal conductivity coefficients."