Are Non-Combustible Thermal Breaks Required?

Are Thermal Breaks Required to Be Non-Combustible?

Adhering to fire regulations and ensuring that materials are non-combustible is critical to new construction projects especially since the Grenfell disaster. Of course, standards have always been in place to ensure the safety of occupants, however with revelations about the incident continuing to come to light, it is now more than ever before, vital that materials used are non-combustible to limit the risk of fire. Thermal breaks, on the other hand, are still exempt from needing to be non-combustible as per The Building Regulations, Part L Section B.

Why Are Thermal Breaks Exempt from Non-Combustible Requirements?

Although this might seem quite alarming, there are three main reasons that thermal breaks don’t require non-combustible status. They are generally small in size and encapsulated within other non-combustible materials; the risk is minimal compared to the performance benefits of installing them; and there are no other non-combustible alternatives that have the same outcome to ensuring energy-efficiency as thermal breaks do.

Hand placing a wooden block labeled "Regulation" on top of a structure made from wooden blocks

How Does Size and Encapsulation Reduce Fire Risk?

Although the size of our thermal breaks may vary depending on the specific requirements of each project, they are consistently designed to be efficient in a compact structure. In the areas that our thermal breaks are installed, they are almost always encased in non-combustible materials/intumescent paint, regardless of their dimensions. This therefore plays a role in enhancing fire safety, as it ensures that the thermal breaks themselves do not contribute to or accelerate the spread of fire.

Multi-level scaffolding structure surrounding a high-rise building under construction

Do the Performance Benefits of Thermal Breaks Outweigh the Risks?

In addition to working to fire safety regulations, the construction industry must also address issues with thermal bridging due to the obstacle it poses to reaching optimal energy efficiency. The risk of fire is, of course, still a pressing matter but due to the need to construct sustainable buildings especially in the race to hit net zero, it is arguably more critical that thermal breaks are installed to combat heat loss issues. It could be a consequence of this that results in thermal breaks bypassing the need to be non-combustible.

Suspended scaffolding platform with workers on a modern high-rise building façade

Are There Viable Non-Combustible Alternatives to Thermal Breaks?

Due to the above and the need to combat thermal bridging, it is essential to install thermal breaks. Our Armatherm™ FRR thermal break material, although not non-combustible, is made of a reinforced, thermoset resin which is fire resistant. Even though it doesn’t eliminate the risk of fire like non-combustible materials do, it does limit it. Combine this with being surrounded by non-combustible materials, it is one of the solutions that ensures construction projects adhere to regulations whilst also combating thermal bridging and ensuring optimal energy efficiency.

How Does Armatherm Minimise Fire Risk in Its Thermal Breaks?

Even though it is not a requirement for thermal breaks to be non-combustible, here at Armatherm, we have developed products which limit the risk of fire as the safety of occupants is a high priority. To find out more about our range of products please contact one of the team today.