Appendix
Merging chapter 3 and chapter 4 of this position paper leads to the following conclusions when applying HPL-panels as cladding of rear-ventilated façade systems.
Safe solutions
Yes, it is possible to construct safe (in terms of fire) rear-ventilated façade systems with claddings made of HPL-panels when considering the following conditions. The European harmonized reaction-to-fire-classification of flame retardant products gives the opportunity to apply the product on buildings up to the high-rise limit. Special compositions that show an A2-classification may be used even in façades on high-rise-buildings.
Flame retardant HPL-boards are also able to withstand the fire scenarios given in national medium and large scale tests, often in connection with special fire protection measures like fire barriers. In all of the tests the authors have knowledge about no flaming droplets have been detected and no horizontal fire propagation has been observed. A fire spread from the cladding to surrounding objects or burning droplets causing secondary fires will not happen with a rear-ventilated façade made of HPL-panels as cladding.
Test reports of accredited testing institutes have to be submitted to prove the positive performance.
General conditions
A rear-ventilated façade made of fire retardant HPL-panels as cladding can therefore be considered as a safe façade solution in terms of fire properties described under the following conditions:
When designing and building façades these details have to be considered – built as tested! The person in charge of the building planning is responsible for the correct tender. HPL-panels have to be subjected to a continuous quality control according to EN 438 including the reaction-to-fire performance.
