Hunter Panels Provider No. K169 Course Number HP 105

Continuous Insulation: Code Compliance and the NFPA 285

in Commercial Wall Assemblies

AIA Continuing Education

• Hunter Panels, is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

• This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using distributing or dealing in any material or product.

• Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Copyright Materials

This presentation is protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Copyright ©2014 Hunter Panels

Learning Objectives

• What is the NFPA 285 Fire Test and why is it so important?

• What are common concerns encountered with NFPA 285 assembly design and installation ?

• What are the different types of CI Options that offer NFPA 285 compliance?

• What are the advantages and challenges of CI Board Products in NFPA 285 assemblies?

What is the NFPA 285 Test?

• Pass Fail Fire Performance System Test

• Measures the performance of wall systems and their components when wrapped in combustible materials

• Required by code(Chapter 14 and 26 IBC)

National Fire Protection Association The authority on fire, electrical, and building safety

NFPA 285 – what does it look like

• Base Wall Type

• Cavity Insulation • Exterior gypsum

sheathing • Water/vapor barrier • Continuous Insulation

Layer

• Exterior Finish

The Fire Chamber The Assembly Components

NFPA 285 Pass/Fail Criteria

NFPA 285 Burn Video

NFPA 285 Burn Video

Why is the NFPA 285 Important?

• Building occupant & firefighter safety • CI codes are increasingly being adopted

into state code • Without proper documentation:

• Project could be halted until documentation provided

• One or multiple materials maybe removed or changed

• Building envelope redesign may be required

NFPA 285 is triggered by MANY Products

• Air and Water Barriers

– Section 1403.5

• Combustible Claddings

– EIFS Section 1408.2

– MCM Section 1407.10

– FRP Section 2612.5

– HPL Section 1509.10

• Foam Plastic Insulation

– Section 2603.5.5

NFPA 285 and Engineering Evaluations

• Engineering evaluations are unavoidable – Cost

– Infinite material combinations

• IBC Chapter 17 Special Exceptions and Tests – Approved agency can provide affirmation of code compliance of

materials or systems through testing evaluation and reasoned judgment

• Examples of approved agencies – ICC-ES, IAPMO, Intertek, UL, DRJ Engineering, Hughes & Associates,

Priest & Associates and Others

NFPA 285 Assemblies: Common Issues

• Improper combination of materials

• NFPA 285 and mineral wool

• Metal cladding specified with XPS

• Window and Door details not installed

• Transitions between different claddings

NFPA 285 Assemblies: Common Issues -Improper combination/order of materials

Metal Panel Cladding

Example:

XPS often specified in assemblies with metal claddings *without gypsum board applied to exterior of insulation

NFPA 285 Assemblies: Common Issues -Window and Door Header Details

Additional field installation details for XPS (and EPS) are rarely installed to match the passed assemblies.

Intense fire

exposure occurs at the head

of the opening

NFPA 285 Assemblies: Common Issues -Window and Door Header Details

NFPA 285 Assemblies: Common Issues– Transitions Between Cladding Types

Need a picture of a building

NFPA 285 Facts: Misperception

Mineral Wool Boards do not necessarily offer a free pass to the NFPA 285

Many other building envelope products commonly combined with MW trigger the NFPA 285

NFPA 285 Facts: Overlooked Triggers

MCM and HPL (metal and plastic combustible cladding) require NFPA 285 compliance

NFPA 285 Facts: Common Areas of Question

• What is compliant and what is not? – Continuously evolving as more tests are conducted – No centralized directory – UL attempting to build a central directory

• Many commonly used exterior components

DO NOT have NFPA compliant assemblies

• Window and door header details are crucial to NFPA 285 compliance with some materials

What are my exterior CI Options?

What are my exterior CI Options? Do they offer NFPA 285 Compliance?

Board Insulation

Insulated Claddings

Spray Insulation

EIFS

Insulated Concrete

CI Options- Polyisocyanurate Boards

Steel Frame Yes, Many

CMU

Yes, Many

Concrete Yes, Many

NFPA 285 Compliant Assemblies

YES, Varies By Manufacturer, Lots of Design Flexibility

CI Options- Polystyrene Boards-XPS or EPS

NFPA 285 Complaint Assemblies

Yes- Some limitations

Steel Frame

Yes—Can be limited by cladding and may require special fire

protection detailing

CMU Yes—Can be limited by cladding

and may require special fire protection detailing

Concrete Yes—Can be limited by cladding

and may require special fire protection detailing

CI Options- Mineral Fiber/Slag Wool/Fibrous Boards

NFPA 285 Compliant Assemblies

None- Other components in the wall system may trigger the test

Steel Frame Yes-Many

CMU Yes-Many

Concrete Yes-Many

CI Options- Spray Foam - SPF

NFPA 285 Compliant

Assemblies Some- May have limitations

Steel Frame Some-Limited assemblies passed

CMU Yes-Limited assemblies passed

Concrete Yes-Limited assemblies passed

CI Options- Insulated Claddings

NFPA 285 Assemblies

Compliant Yes- Many are proprietary

*Note some insulated claddings are not true continuous insulation

Steel Frame Yes- Many are proprietary

CMU Yes- Many are proprietary

Concrete Yes- Many are proprietary

animations style in slide 2 match for slides 1, 3,4,5

CI Options- EIFS and Concrete Panels

Concrete Panels & Pre-Cast

NFPA 285 Compliant

Assemblies Yes-Most are proprietary

systems

EIFS

NFPA 285 Compliant Assemblies

Yes- Most are proprietary systems

What does a typical NFPA 285 compliant wall assembly look like for each of these CI options?

Spray Foam – very limited option

Insulated Metal Panels – different application

PreCast , Concrete Sandwich Panel, Tilt Wall – N/A

Lets discuss the more commonly used board insulations Polyiso, EPS/XPS, Mineral Wool…..

Common Assembly Comparisons Utilizing Board Insulation

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Steel Stud with Masonry R-10

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Steel Stud with Masonry R-10

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

XPS 2” Polyiso 1.5” Mineral Wool 2 Layers 1.5” 1”

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Steel Stud with Masonry R-10 – Wall Cavity Width

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

2” Two Layers 1” 1.5”

1.5”

Thickest profile Thinnest profile Thicker profile

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Maximizing Interior Space/Reducing Concrete Required

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Window and Door Headers

Standard window and door header

Non-Standard window and door header

Standard window and door header

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Steel Stud with Metal Cladding R-19

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

Minus Gypsum 1.5” Thinner Cavity

Non-Compliant Cavity Thickness 4.5”

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Concrete Masonry Unit with Metal Cladding R-19

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

Non-Compliant

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Polyiso Moisture Properties and Airflow

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly EPS/XPS Moisture Properties and Airflow

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Mineral Wool Moisture Properties and Airflow

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Board Insulation Moisture Properties and Airflow – Placement of WRB

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

NFPA 285 Compliant Assembly Attachment Methods

POLYISO XPS MINERAL WOOL

CI Options and NFPA 285 Recap

Polyiso gives you more design choices on components with proprietary and nonproprietary systems

Future of the NFPA and the IBC

Learning Objectives

• What is the NFPA 285 Fire Test and why is it so important?

• What are the common misinterpretations of the NFPA 285 ?

• What are the different types of CI Options that offer NFPA compliance.

• What does a typical NFPA 285 compliant wall assembly look like for each of these CI options, how do they differ?

Questions?