Banned in Turkey - REDpaint

It was determined that the fire retardant 'Polyisocyanurate' (PIR) added to the plastic foam called 'polyurethane' used in the exterior cladding material of the 24-storey building in London, the capital of England, could not withstand the size of the fire. In Turkey, the fire regulations prohibit the use of plastic foam on the facades of buildings over 28.5 meters. In buildings less than 28.5 meters, even if the facade is completely covered with plastic foam, the 1.5 meters above the ground and the window edges must be surrounded with fireproof stone and glass wool.

Öznur Karslı and Uzay Kesmen from Habertürk News Center asked experts about siding and fire risks in Turkey.
Civil Engineer Ertuğrul Şen, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of İZODER Heat, Water, Sound and Fire Insulators Association, said that the fire retardant material 'Polyisocyanurate' (PIR), which caused the spread of the fire that broke out in the building in London, is not much preferred in Turkey, but they found that plastic foam material is used in residence-type residences over 28.5 meters in Turkey, although it is prohibited.

FIREPROOF STONE AND GLASS WOOL

Noting that according to the Fire Regulation, non-combustible materials called stone and glass wool, which are more expensive than plastic materials, should be used on facades above 10 floors, Şen said, "We detected plastic foam materials in a public hospital and some residences above 10 floors. We have reported the situation to the relevant units."

"DEAF WALL SAVED POLAT TOWER"

Şen drew attention to the following points about the current situation in Turkey. "We experienced a similar fire to the one in London at Polat Tower in 2012. The fire was in the 'deaf wall', that is, the concrete part. Since concrete is not flammable, the fire was narrowly escaped. On top of the concrete, there was 'polyethylene' filling material, a heat insulation material. It was filled between two aluminum. It was found to be in compliance with the fire regulations in force at the time. However, the fire regulations changed afterwards. That material is not the right material for today."

"THERE IS OIL IN THE FOAM"

Stating that the insulation material called 'polyethylene' is currently prohibited according to the new regulation, Şen said, "The materials we call mineral wools are stone wool and glass wool, whose raw materials are stone and glass. Both materials provide thermal insulation and sound insulation. They are fireproof materials. Foams used for thermal insulation are flammable materials. These are examined under laboratory conditions. Foams are materials that do not catch fire but burn as long as the fire continues when the flame is on it. When it burns, a cut smoke comes out because it is a petroleum derivative," he said.

"PLASTIC MATERIAL ABOVE 28 METERS IS PROHIBITED"

Şen explained the conditions for insulation as follows: "In sheathing, foam, stone and glass wool can be used for 28.5 meters (10 layers). However, the fire regulation says that a barrier should be made around the windows with stone wool, that is, with non-combustible material. Since the final coating of the sheathing is artificial, you cannot use foam or plastic after 28.5 meters under any circumstances."

FOAM WARNING IN THE REGULATION

"The fire regulation says that a barrier should be made around the windows with stone wool, that is, with non-combustible material. If the whole facade is designed with foam sheathing, foam material can be used if 30 centimeters from the top of the window and 15 centimeters from the sides are set with stone and glass wool. In the case in London, there is a curtain wall. Curtain walls are used in workplaces, plazas and residences. In buildings over 10 floors, you cannot use foam or plastic materials. This is the same in Turkey."

PLASTIC MATERIAL DETECTED

Stating that despite the regulation, they found that plastic materials are used in Turkey after 28.5 meters, Şen said, "We see such forbidden materials in uncontrolled buildings, especially in residences. We share this with authorized institutions. There are many buildings we have detected. There is no risk we see in public buildings. There are already more inspections. However, we detected a risky situation in a public hospital and saved it from being put at risk. Plastic material was to be used on the facade of the building, when we realized the situation, we notified the interlocutors and the situation changed.

ROCK WOOL MATERIAL MORE EXPENSIVE

Non-combustible mineral wool is more expensive than plastic materials. There is a 30-40 percent price difference between EPS-XPS and mineral wool in the building in London.

FIRE RETARDANT MATERIAL FAILED TO PREVENT IT

The Fire Protectıon Assocıatıon (FPA) in London has made a provisional determination that the fire in the 24-storey building spread due to the flammable organic fire retardant material 'Polyisocyanurate' (PIR). The plastic foam material 'PIR', which is stated to be able to withstand fire for 30 minutes, could not withstand the size of the fire. 'PIR' material, which has a very limited market and production in Turkey, has the ability to burn even if it is fire retardant.

Dr. Jim Glockling, technical director of FPA, shared his assessment of the incident with Habertürk.
Ertuğrul Şen evaluated the FPA's preliminary assessment of the incident as follows: "FPA thinks that the fire spread due to the facade cladding material. The name of the material used on the facade of the burning building in London is a fire retardant material called 'PIR'. However, because the fire load was so high, this fire retardant material could not withstand the size of the fire. The fire retardant material 'PIR' is placed in a plastic material in the form of foam, which we call polyurethane. Polyurethane itself is flammable. But when fire retardant material is added, it can delay the fire for a while.

PROHIBITED IN TURKEY

"Fire retardant material 'PIR' is not used in Turkey. Because our fire legislation does not allow it and it is not suitable. If the fire regulations in London approve it, it means our regulations are better. I was very surprised that this material is used in exterior sheathing. There are no industrialists producing this product in Turkey. Because the market is very small. There is no market for it because it is flammable. The fact that Terasa May ordered the fire regulations to be examined shows that there is a problem here."

SOURCE

https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/10-kattan-sonrasinda-risk-buyuk-762910